Despite it seeming as if everyone and their uncle are picking up acoustic guitars at the moment under the deluded impression that such an action allows you to call yourself a singer-songwriter, the real deal is actually in very short supply. What this relentless deluge truly accomplishes is nothing short of diluting the very essence of the scene; searching for anything worthwhile becomes akin to hunting for a needle in a haystack.
Yet, amidst this cacophony, now and then, a musical beacon emerges from the depths, shining bright in the darkness of the musical night. And recently, I had the pleasure of basking in the glow of such brilliance, all thanks to the one and only Owen Young.
His latest EP, Town Line, continues the sonic story that will eventually fit together to make up a full album, Muddy River, a sonic chronicle of life and love, past and present, in Southern Ontario.
And what a great collection of music this proves to be, a suite of songs that seems to link the traditional folk troubadour with 60’s singer-songwriters such as James Taylor. But more than that, it is music that is somehow both timely and timeless.
The album’s central theme, love—love for his partner, for the simple life and the rural existence that he leads—is set out in the opening song, “Everything I Do.” This gorgeous folk piece is built of cascades of piano and flurries of strings, sublime weaves of vocal harmonies, and serene sentiment. It also serves as a template for the album as a whole.
“Walk Down The Lane” is a country groover, a celebration of simple love put to a dexterous, life-affirmingly joyous rhythm forged of beats, banjos, and beautiful narratives. “Old Muddy River” is sweeping and balladic, and “Ontario Home” is a love letter to the land he calls home.
As I said, everyone seems to be a singer-songwriter these days. It’s one of the downfalls of making it so easy to record and distribute music. But in reality, almost all of those people who assume such a title for themselves fall away when compared to music makers like Owen Young. He is the real deal.
