#odd owl

Odd Owl makes delightfully diverse pop gems that co-opt different styles from 80's pop to today. It makes for an interesting blend. Take The Way Home which is a revamped version of the original song that appeared on the 2010 EP, Fly By Night, (and will re-appear in its current form on the band's forthcoming EP, The Call, later this year) for instance. Fun jangely uke and keyboards blend with guitar and drums in a way that will have your body bobbing and weaving while you listen.

Songwriting team Carmen Caruso and Phil Jacobsen do wonders with a melody, creating catchy yet interesting (not the same old thing) hooks. Coming off a successful Kickstarter campaign, the band is preparing for the release of The Call and looking to the future.

I've got only a couple of gripes about the band's bio page on their web site. New member Steve is not mentioned and it is difficult to determine who is at the instruments for The Way Home, other than Carmen at keyboards and drummer Adam Wadenius. You should always assume that we are new listeners just discovering your group, and give us more information than we need. Let's be clear, though, these are minor complaints.

It was a delightful treat to run across Odd Owl last night at the Hi Dive in Denver. Songwriter and keyboardist/singer for the band, Carmen Caruso, has this amazing ability to be incredibly vulnerable and also pierce your heart with her sound. She's got a pure natural talent. Additionally, the boys of the band - Philip, Adam and Stephen - all bring a lyrical musicality and strength to what they do. Every one of the members of this band plays with their heart on their sleeve, which I greatly appreciate. It was a gift to see them as they're working toward getting recognized.

I was bummed, however, to hear that Odd Owl won't have their official first EP released until next January. For now, the good news is that you can find some tracks on BandCamp and their 2010 Fly By Night EP on Spotify, which I highly recommend.

Sounds like: Vampire Weekend, Ra Ra Riot, Milo Greene and The Weepies

Artist: Odd Owl

Album: Fly By Night EP