The Morning After: Mellow Owl by Peter and the Wolf

The Morning After is a new column featuring thoughts on a quick tryst with a just-released album. No regrets.

Mellow Owl, released November 14 on Whiskey and Apples Records

It’d be nice to say Mellow Owl is a marvelous piece of work signaling a return to big picture viability for today’s somewhat uninspiring folk genre. But, regrettably, a cutesy clever band name does not a savior make, so Peter and the Wolf will have to do as a somewhat-paler parallel to Bowerbirds or Bonnie “Prince” Billy, because where those acts are either, A. musically large and engaging, or B. sensible and wise, Mellow Owl too often suffers from neither, resulting in a thin take on folk that even lovely bouts of classical guitar and earnestness cannot cure. But beyond the album’s general lack of virtuosity, perhaps the number one problem here is too much juvenilia, as mentions of booze and dope happen more often than is appealing, and in contexts far too romantic for this truly to seem like the work of a fully-wrought artist. And while that romance occasionally results in a genuine and captivating vigor, too often the result is a sort of melancholic staggering.

There are some nice numbers to be found, though, such as smoothly disconcerting second track “Moondance of Nightowl,” and “Bottle Rockettes,” which, like some other tracks, is nicely backed with female vocals. And, as mentioned, the guitar can be pleasant. But even these subtle attractions feel undercooked, and demonstrate that it is, in fact, still early in the album-making career of Red Hunter, the young Texan behind the band. So while songwriting potential is definitely present, with the folk genre suffering of late from an uncommon irrelevance (Americana rock acts such as Fleet Foxes aside), Peter and the Wolf have a little way to go before they become something strikingly more impactful than just another in a long line of blasé folk acts.

Report Card: C+

Peter and the Wolf [MySpace]

For more hot off the press album reviews, including TV on the Radio, Little Joy, Deerhoof, Of Montreal, and many more, stop by Austin's own Transmission Entertainment.

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By Nick Courtright in Arts & Entertainment on December 5, 2008 12:00 PM 0 Comments

Comments [rss]

whatevaz

#1. "it is, in fact, still early in the album-making career of Red Hunter, the young Texan behind the band"

-dude, this is the guys like 6th album. and he's not even from texas i don't think.

#2. "with the folk genre suffering of late from an uncommon irrelevance (Americana rock acts such as Fleet Foxes aside)"

-FLEET FOXES???? you gave yourself away here. douchebag.

REPORT CARD FOR THIS REVIEW: F-

get a clue.

planman

hunter is average. just because he lives here doesn't change that.

JudyinAustin

Nick, I think this review is way-harsh. Red Hunter is some of the best song-writing coming out of this town right now, not to mention one of the most interesting performers touring the US these days. And it sounds like you missed a great opportunity to drop your cynicism--one thing Red is always striving for is something genuine--I think you missed that entirely, and probably don't even recognize its importance. I'll take something real over virtuosity any day of the week.

Fine, take issue with some sophomoric lyrics, but seriously, this review is way over-cooked, steeped in something that sounds like envy.