From the opening call of “Whooo Ah” that comes accompanied by a beautiful acoustic guitar, Freak Owls have you trapped into listening to Taxidermy until the end. Luckily, Taxidermy is a wonderfully dreamy sequence of nine songs that only get better with each listen. Considering the opening song, “Little Things”, is easily as addictive as crack mixed with coffee, you can imagine that the rest of the album is very hard to turn off.
Freak Owls is the creation of Josh Ricchio who has spent twelve years touring in various rock bands such as “Pela”, “Ladycrop”, and “The Symphony Case”. In his press release for this album it states that, “the desire to lock himself in a room and write what he calls “catchiness incarnate” became too great.” I’d say that if this is the product of Josh locking himself in a room and writing than I propose to keep him in there churning this music out like an Amish woman on speed. With the help of Eric Sanderson, Kobly Wade, Cody Geil, and Kerry Beach, Josh creates a beautiful soundscape that is gorgeously produced as to sound as if they are playing in your head.
The album feels very light and airy largely do to the clarity of the production. Every time a cymbal gets struck it feels like it is somehow inside of you. This clarity allows you the opportunity to get fully absorbed into the album like water into a sponge. Taxidermy creates a total atmosphere that wraps around you and truly seems to slow things down and quiet the rest of the world. The opening song “Little Things” is catchier than the common cold in a pediatrician’s office. The bouncing vocal line seems tailor made for a private sing along in the shower. “Optimistic Automatic”, my personal favorite, has one of the catchiest melodies I’ve ever heard. It’s the kind you’ll find yourself singing without realizing it. “Online (and in Love)”, displays a beautiful mandolin backed by a perfectly subdued beat made by Kolby Wade. All nine of the songs blend together perfectly using the same style and dreamy instrumentation as if this album is one giant dream that is subdivided for the benefit of your mixes.
Freak Owls’ Taxidermy is a wonderful album of acoustic rock that blends well thought out songwriting with music that could relax a charging rhino. Music like this should be piped into your life and thus leave you vastly better off.
Key Tracks- “Optimistic Automatic”, “Little Things”, ”Seaquid”
Doug Morrissey- MuzikReviews.com Staff
July 9, 2010
