Owen
photo by Shervin Lainez

Owen announces 'The King of Whys,' shares "Lost" (prod. S Carey)

Mike Kinsella will release a new Owen album, The King of Whys, on July 29 via Polyvinyl (pre-order). It follows his 2014 covers album and it’s his first album of original material since 2013’s L’Ami due Peuple. After the full-band approach he took on that one, the new album’s single “Lost” is something of a return to form. It’s got him back in soft acoustic mode, back saying “fucking” with oomph over an otherwise delicate song. But he covers new ground here to. It was produced by S. Carey (who opened for Mike’s band American Football recently) of Bon Iver, who also plays on the album, and it also features contributions by Bon Iver member Mike Noyce, plus other S. Carey collaborators Zach Hanson, Ben Lester, Jeremy Botcher and Andy Hofer. Probably thanks in part to S. Carey’s influence, the song’s got some orchestral arrangements that go beyond your standard Owen song. “Lost” makes it seem pretty promising that we’re getting another quality album from Mike Kinsella this summer. Listen below (via NPR).