BLACK OWLS

Two American bands made our list of the top 10 new independent rock bands of 2012 - Austin Texas based Bright Light Social Hour and Ohio's Black Owls. Two incredible live acts with stellar songcraft. - T-Mak Toronto Canada - NXNE

The Owls tore into their hour-plus set with the alcohol fueled bravado of Guided By Voices, the razor sharp choogle of T. Rex, the mutated Folk Metal of Mott the Hoople and the blazing Punk edge of everything good about the New York scene in the mid-’70s.
? Black Owls translate their influences into a tumult from the grimy floor of their glitter garage, a Glam-slam-thank-you-maam assjacking that is as familiar as it is fresh. Their new eponymous double album (available digitally at Bandcamp) is a marvel, and the Owls turned out hypercaffeinated versions of the new songs, including the visceral ballkick of “She Was There,” the Stonesy rumble of “Skynyrd” and the Bob Dylan-meets-Tom Verlaine Bowie tribute of “Octopus Flat,” as well as older classics like “Glorious in Black,” sounding like Marc Bolan fronting Steppenwolf and the cloudbursting joy of “Julius Morningstar.” Ed Shuttleworth and Brandon Losacker craft a solid wall of guitar squall (without a single solo, mind you, or
one so subtle you’d never identify it as such), Alan Beavers attacks his bass with lead guitar precision and power and Brian Kitzmiller is still the most amazingly solid drummer on the scene and the absolute perfect foil for the Owls’ brand of contempo/retro Glam Punk. And at the front of it is David Butler, a lanky bundle of coiled energy with a voice that channels David Byrne’s tremulous warble and Ian Hunter’s power howl.
? If you have the slightest affinity for any of the artist noted here, a single exposure to Black Owls will have you on your knees and singing the praises of Granville’s favorite sons; if they were any better, they’d be banned as a controlled substance. Black Owls are your new favorite band … do something about it.
? - CityBeat - Brian Baker

Black Owls don't plunder '70's Glam Rock for influence, they pound it down like a Jack and Coke, let it soak into their flesh and then launch it back into the modern world with the visceral impact of pissing on an electric fence. Of course, there's that Tabasco dash of New York '70's Punk heat in there as well, but the quality that binds the whole concoction together is Black Owl's sturdy Midwestern foundation, a Rock solid belief that what the do is not only important but essential. - Citybeat

"Last night at NXNE, there were the Black Owls and then there was everyone else. For me, the Black Owls are like a cross between the Talking Heads and the Tragically Hip led by frontman David Butler whose quirky vocals brought images of David Byrne. Incredible performance and I'm looking forward to following them in the future. " - TMAK TORNOTO

"Images of Neil Young meets Black Sabbath meets Bob Dylan meets The Who. Blahhh, why try and define their sound. They are the Black Owls and they are classic rock made for the current decade. Along from a great set, we spent some time with the band and they are 5 of the nicest dudes I have ever hung out with." - TORONTO NOW

"References to Guided By Voices commonly appear in write-ups for Granville, Ohio, four-piece rock band Black Owls, who, like GBV, are amplified to rock and have a good feel for personalizing a late-’60s, early-’70s classic-rock sound. " - METROMIX

"The blazing favorite sons of Ohio, the Black Owls headliner show at Midpoint Music Festival - nothing short of astonishing. For over an hour, the Black Owls howled like a summit meeting between Mott the Hoople and the Voidoids, blistering Punk anthems butting up against Hard Rock nuggets to create a third sound that references much but sounds like nothing else. And the capacity crowd at Arnold’s loved every original note of it, begging for more and getting it at the end of a fantastic set. The Black Owls are a sound salvation, the Black Owls are cleaning up the nation. Don’t miss them, the next or any time. " - Midpoint by Brian Baker

This is "put your back into it" song craft. These guys lay it out. Lyrics, structure, power. It's almost a lost art, but thank God there are dudes like the Black Owls preserving the national trust of rock. Check out June '71 on their own Amish Girl label on itunes or bandcamp. - Compare/Contrast: Rolling Stones, Guided by Voices, Mott the Hoople, Bowie, Jim Carroll Band - Warren Epstein, Dresdon Press Music

With Guided by Voices long gone, the Black Owls are filling a real void in our lives, creating pompous, over-the-top-rock without making pains to show how tongue-in-cheek they are. Black Owls have a knack for well-crafted, substantial rock songs that are catchy as hell. - Rick Allen, the other paper - Columbus, Ohio

With Guided by Voices long gone, the Black Owls are filling a real void in our lives, creating pompous, over-the-top-rock without making pains to show how tongue-in-cheek they are. Black Owls have a knack for well-crafted, substantial rock songs that are catchy as hell. - Rick Allen, the other paper - Columbus, Ohio

The thing that Black Owls does infinitely well is mash their British Invasion/Punk influences into a thick paste and apply it in broad trowel strokes to their distinctly Midwestern presentation, crafting a sound that is both maddeningly familiar and strikingly original. Dig: A parallel-earth Ian Hunter is born in Detroit and forms a garage-band Mott the Hoople after seeing Mitch Ryder and Iggy Pop, and still manages to obsess over Dylan and Bowie. - Midpoint Music Festival

The thing that Black Owls does infinitely well is mash their British Invasion/Punk influences into a thick paste and apply it in broad trowel strokes to their distinctly Midwestern presentation, crafting a sound that is both maddeningly familiar and strikingly original. Dig: A parallel-earth Ian Hunter is born in Detroit and forms a garage-band Mott the Hoople after seeing Mitch Ryder and Iggy Pop, and still manages to obsess over Dylan and Bowie. - Citybeat

Black Owls (as in the name of this band is "Black Owls") are a dark horse in Amish country. In this hilly agrarian footprint of Ohio you could expect something harvest rootsy, something campfire acoustic, even collegiate. There's plenty to be found. Nevermind all the rustbelt rock & dormitory metal. But that's the thing about Ohio isn't it? You just never know. From the ashes of spent industry come bands like Black Keys, Guided by Voices, Nine inch Nails, Ass Ponies, Pere Ubu, and yes of course, Devo. Lessons are written on empty factories, rusted cars, and grey snowfall. (You've no doubt heard Chrissy Hinde's syllogism.) But Black Owls have a unique perspective. They have left the dirty cities, and reflect on their lessons in a fortress of solitude. Like so many classic rockers before them, inspiration comes with a newfound simplicity, focus, and isolation.
Nestled in their comfortable recording studio in the rolling, forest hills, David Butler & Ed Shuttleworth along with bassist Alan Beavers drink beer, don headphones, and create winsome yet powerful rock songs that meld glam, punk, & classic rock to a uniquely ardent voice. That voice thumps and dances, like a dead tree dancing in the wind. It's all very Edgar Allen Poe you see. They are the perpetual sound of late fall, infusing the impending cold with the warm sounds of harvest celebration. They are the things that go bump in the night.
Black Owls sing "cautionary tales of excess" on their label Amish Girl Music. Irony breathes. Addictions and bad timing, tornados, handgun-laden benders, broads & booze, giant white dragons & horrible pilgrims and the darkest trees you've ever seen. Like a stovepipe belching coal smoke or Lincoln's woolen tailcoat. That shade of glorious black. The kind that gives you a Nicholson smile while you furl your brow. Stories set out to sea on a rickety boat, swelling and rolling on a perfect storm of dark sonic waves. Majestic tones & just right notes. Black Owls wear their influences on their sleeves, but the sound is their own.
- - Chris Brown, ReFueled Magazine

June 71 is the latest Black Owls release . I had David Butler and Ed Shuttleworth of the band as my guests Saturday night on John Talk Radio . Alan Beaver is the bassist although he was not able to join . It was a very cool interview, I really enjoyed talking to these very talented musicians.
In my journey through the vast musical landscape I have to say I have not enjoyed any interview more than this one. I can go back to some cool ones. Talking to Bernie Shaw lead vocalists for Uriah Heep as he walked with his family through a London UK mall was pretty cool. Talking to various musicians throughout the world and meeting many amazing people is mind blowing.
Talking about the music purely for music sake is the most amazing thing I can possibly imagine talking about in an interview. You may ask what else is there? I would answer, everything but that. David and Ed get it. June 71 is about the movement of music from the 60's to the 70's. The metamorphosis of rock into the a darker more real level. Where lyrics did not take a back seat to the music. The song meant something. This is not for everyone. People listen to music for many reasons, this is one of many. I can remember hearing the lyrics to I am the Walrus for the first time. Then matching the lyrics to the music , that was an experience. Transcending the surface of the song and going into the thought of the composer. That is what I heard listening to David and Ed’s songs. David’s lyrics perfectly compliment Ed’s music composition. The songs are a birth of music complexity and lyrics that go beyond simple romantic relationships. I was able to understand the art of David Butlers lyrics. It is a absorption of life. Then match that with the complexity of Ed Shuttleworth’s guitars riffs. Pretty cool stuff.
Check the new album out on www.blackowls.com. It will take you back to June 71, even if you were not there.
- Posted on December 13, 2010 by John Talk Radio

June 71 is the latest Black Owls release . I had David Butler and Ed Shuttleworth of the band as my guests Saturday night on John Talk Radio . Alan Beaver is the bassist although he was not able to join . It was a very cool interview, I really enjoyed talking to these very talented musicians.
In my journey through the vast musical landscape I have to say I have not enjoyed any interview more than this one. I can go back to some cool ones. Talking to Bernie Shaw lead vocalists for Uriah Heep as he walked with his family through a London UK mall was pretty cool. Talking to various musicians throughout the world and meeting many amazing people is mind blowing.
Talking about the music purely for music sake is the most amazing thing I can possibly imagine talking about in an interview. You may ask what else is there? I would answer, everything but that. David and Ed get it. June 71 is about the movement of music from the 60's to the 70's. The metamorphosis of rock into the a darker more real level. Where lyrics did not take a back seat to the music. The song meant something. This is not for everyone. People listen to music for many reasons, this is one of many. I can remember hearing the lyrics to I am the Walrus for the first time. Then matching the lyrics to the music , that was an experience. Transcending the surface of the song and going into the thought of the composer. That is what I heard listening to David and Ed’s songs. David’s lyrics perfectly compliment Ed’s music composition. The songs are a birth of music complexity and lyrics that go beyond simple romantic relationships. I was able to understand the art of David Butlers lyrics. It is a absorption of life. Then match that with the complexity of Ed Shuttleworth’s guitars riffs. Pretty cool stuff.
Check the new album out on www.blackowls.com. It will take you back to June 71, even if you were not there.
- Posted on December 13, 2010 by John Talk Radio

his central Ohio three-piece (vocalist/drummer Dave Butler, guitarist Ed Shuttleworth and bassist Alan Beavers) pimps the kind of stripped-down Classic Rock (think more T Rex than AC/DC) that’s been the soundtrack to beer-swilling pub dwellers for more than four decades now. Butler’s high-pitched delivery comes through loud and clear, giving voice to simple, dark-hued stories laced with the occasional head-sticking nugget, such as “When I’m cremated you’ll smoke my ashes.”
Dig it: The Who, The Rolling Stones cut with Midwestern menace, Guided by Voices. - JG- CityBeat, Cincinnati

Dark and effervescent sophomore release from Ohio USA based Black Owls. Harrowing and infectiously hook-laden songcraft that put them in league with noted Ohioana Black Keys, Heartless Bastards, and Guided By Voices. Influences on their sleeves, bleeding immediacy and passion, Black Owls deliver a proper rock record to get you dusting off your Mott the Hoople, Bowie, Grand Funk, Guess Who, Iggy, Alice, Clash, Television, Jim Carroll, Neil Young, and Zepplin. Against the indy zeitgeist of choir vocals and shimmery haze, this album oozes guts and glamour. Take special note: Magic Lantern, Stone, Her Normal Courtesy. Seek them out. One of our 10 best of 2010. - Matter Sounds UK

Dark and effervescent sophomore release from Ohio USA based Black Owls. Harrowing and infectiously hook-laden songcraft that put them in league with noted Ohioana Black Keys, Heartless Bastards, and Guided By Voices. Influences on their sleeves, bleeding immediacy and passion, Black Owls deliver a proper rock record to get you dusting off your Mott the Hoople, Bowie, Grand Funk, Guess Who, Iggy, Alice, Clash, Television, Jim Carroll, Neil Young, and Zepplin. Against the indy zeitgeist of choir vocals and shimmery haze, this album oozes guts and glamour. Take special note: Magic Lantern, Stone, Her Normal Courtesy. Seek them out. One of our 10 best of 2010. - Matter Sounds UK

t's no retro trip, it's a philosophy about how rock should be made. About lyrics, about sound, about giving a shit. Just put in June '71 and crank it loud. If you don't remember the '70's you'll get the idea. If you do remember the '70's you'll take another toke and revel in it. This is an album, not a collection of filler. Every song sticks to the ribs. - Jonah, Free Press LTD

t's no retro trip, it's a philosophy about how rock should be made. About lyrics, about sound, about giving a shit. Just put in June '71 and crank it loud. If you don't remember the '70's you'll get the idea. If you do remember the '70's you'll take another toke and revel in it. This is an album, not a collection of filler. Every song sticks to the ribs. - Jonah, Free Press LTD

The internet sea is awash of self-produced Americana rock. The Black Owls steer the schooner across the giant waves of mediocrity. The boat carries a handful of killer deckhands. At least that's what I imagine. I could be confusing them with a Somali pirate brigade, but they carry illicit anti aircraft artillery in the form of heavy guitar. At the very least, they are here to board the cruise liner and loot the mundane. I like these guys. And I've never met the bastards. - Brett, LA Sound

The internet sea is awash of self-produced Americana rock. The Black Owls steer the schooner across the giant waves of mediocrity. The boat carries a handful of killer deckhands. At least that's what I imagine. I could be confusing them with a Somali pirate brigade, but they carry illicit anti aircraft artillery in the form of heavy guitar. At the very least, they are here to board the cruise liner and loot the mundane. I like these guys. And I've never met the bastards. - Brett, LA Sound

I've given a listen to this June '71 by Black Owls and admittedly I fucking get it. Not only do I fucking get it, but I want to roll in it like a dog masking scent. It's as rock and roll as it gets. It hides the stench of the wider offerings of indy rock manifest. Here's to the balls nasty. Here's to the Owls. Glorious in Black is my new anthem. - Darrick Thomin, WicksBeat Mag

Fancy all the black-listed (wink) retro-fusion blues punk bands from North America? BLack Keys, Black Mountain, Black Owls. And they all so perfectly dialed in to the vintage Supro rock sound. Here in the UK it resounds. It reflects upon the 60's London blues movement that spawned the Rolling Stones and countless minion. Two of the bands are from Ohio nonetheless. Admittedly I didn't even know where Ohio was until I did a little digging. And I dig it. Indeed.
Delve further: Everlasting Light on Brothers by Black Keys, Stormy Mountain on In the Future by Black Mountain, Stone on June '71 by Black Owls (Upon further inspection I find that both Black Keys Brothers and Black Owls June '71 were mastered by the same bloke in Ohio too. Something in the water then.)
- Analog Ink - Manchester UK - Terel Smith

Fancy all the black-listed (wink) retro-fusion blues punk bands from North America? BLack Keys, Black Mountain, Black Owls. And they all so perfectly dialed in to the vintage Supro rock sound. Here in the UK it resounds. It reflects upon the 60's London blues movement that spawned the Rolling Stones and countless minion. Two of the bands are from Ohio nonetheless. Admittedly I didn't even know where Ohio was until I did a little digging. And I dig it. Indeed.
Delve further: Everlasting Light on Brothers by Black Keys, Stormy Mountain on In the Future by Black Mountain, Stone on June '71 by Black Owls (Upon further inspection I find that both Black Keys Brothers and Black Owls June '71 were mastered by the same bloke in Ohio too. Something in the water then.)
- Analog Ink - Manchester UK - Terel Smith

Somebody recommended several weeks back that I check out Black Owls, a band from Ohio, describing the music as a mixture of psychedelic blues and glam-punk. Good call.

The band's second album shows off a sense of classic, take-no-prisoners rock 'n' roll, with an undercurrent of just enough artsy pretention. The rambling poetry and insouciance with which David Butler—who also plays drums—attacks his vocals recall Ian Hunter, and the band kicks it into overdrive like Mott the Hoople jamming with The Faces, but with the threat of the English punk-rock movement breathing down their necks.

In comparison to the relative innocence of 1960s psychedelia on the group's debut album, Lightning Made Us Who We Are, this one is darker and a little more confrontational. With the spirits of Iggy, Morrison, Bowie and early Alice Cooper hanging over it, the album feels genuine and a little stoned, as if it's observing a culture in which Woodstock is long over, and Altamont has left the music world with a sour taste in its mouth.

June '71 still has shambling acoustic guitars, but they are subordinated to motorcycle-roar electric guitar by Ed Shuttleworth and occasionally the warm charm of Mellotron, as Butler pounds on the drums convincingly. Decadent and ramshackle and glorious, it kinda makes me cry. - Gene Armstrong - Tucson Weekly Feb 2011

Imagine my surprise to have wandered into a central Ohio pub last week (while back home on vacation) to find the most stunning rock trio I've seen since Supergrass. I know, come on! But seriously, it is the land of Guided by Voices and Pere Ubu after all, (and let's not forget the Pixies - Kim Deal). Turns out these guys are punk vets from the local underground, and I recognized a few of them from the Columbus, Ohio scene. Well, something has clicked. Imagine vintage Rolling Stones and Talking Heads, Guided by Voices, and the Jam - rolled into one. The set list was all original, but the songs felt like I'd known them all along. That's the best pleasure, hearing something that feels familiar but you've never heard it before. Anyway..
I arrived for a Stone Brewery tasting party, and the Black Owls followed with their performance. Okay, I did have a few beers, and maybe the band did too. But I was clear enough to become immersed in the most amazing little set. First off, the drummer is singing, which can always be a train wreck. Especially in the soft-rock or Genesis wannabe world. But this was different. Full-on blazing throw-down (imagine the Clash, early days, as a trio) and these guys railed out tunes that captivated the audience (of loyal, local followers surely) and, of course, me. They actually printed out small "hymnals" and left them on the tables. So I would occassionally glance at one I stuffed in my pocket to see what was coming next. Songs like "Lightning Made Us Who We Are" and "Shipwrecks" and the lyrics to follow along too. I admit I loved that idea and care from indy rockers. These tunes are original, so here's a way to get people to understand them. The song lyrics were smart, the riffs strong and melodic, the hooks unimaginably addictive, and the energy of these guys, obviously having fun, taking the music serious, but not the event, and not themselves.. well the whole thing left me wanting more.
The show went late, and I didn't have time to stop and talk with them. I was surprised to see they didn't have any merch. for sale. I guess it was a local gig. They seemed content to just do the show. But if word ever gets out about these chipper lunatics in the small town of Granville Ohio...we might consider paving the way for their unique sound. Meanwhile, I'm back in prettyboy, glam, L.A. and I feel a bit homesick for the keenly smart, non-poser rockers covered in rustbelt love.
JB Dixson (the rover) - Interspool Audio - Online Reviews

Something rock, yet dark, yet folk, yet metal, yet old-school, yet punk. A psychedelic, R-rated, Irish children's show by Sid and Marty Kroft. I don't know how else to define 'em. Doesn't matter. They're the F'-in Black Owls! See 'em if you can. Hear 'em as soon as you can.

-Terry Ringer - Mattertimes NYC - Music

Rock/Garage Forging a decidedly rural take on Retro-Rock, this authentic crew isn’t just in the Garage to make a fashion statement. They’ve put a lot of miles on their amps and drums assembling their hard-driving, Blues-based style and picked up some skanky hitchhikers along the way. Complementing their revival-tent Rock & Roll are intelligent lyrics full of rust belt imagery and quirky humor. Listening to the Black Owls is like taking the back roads through the countryside — for every moment of breathtaking beauty, there are perplexing visions, depressing vignettes and a ramshackle trailer threatening to come loose from the hitch on the pickup in front of you. While you’re waiting for their debut to drop, contemplate the fact that they are geographically centered between the Ass Ponys and Pere Ubu. Dig It: The Rolling Stones, The Talking Heads meet The Kentucky Headhunters. (EW)
- CityBeat Magazine

Black Owls - Lightning made us who we are... CD Insert disc, grab a MILLER HIGH LIFE and press play. THE BLACK OWLS are now going to take you on a journey through the history of Rock n' Roll and what has become what I call it ( The Heartlands influence on modern Rock) and how it has shaped the way of music and how it's still enjoyed today. Ohio natives THE BLACK OWLS have put together some of the best well crafted songs influenced by some of this country and others best known musicians that still make their mark today. This disc is loaded with hints of (The Rolling Stones, The WHO, The Ramones and Georgia Satellites) to say the least with a vibe of your favorite local BAR band playing their hearts out till all hours of the night. Plenty of danceable tracks, a few absolute anthems and creative music abilities that make this band stand apart from the past and make the future seem more pleasant while staying true to this worlds music roots and making it fun again. Sometimes you have to go back a step and appreciate what was...before ever understanding what will be. History has made it's mark and it is time for the present to do the same and THE BLACK OWLS have a firm foothold in creating a new history for Rock n' Roll. This CD is a complete celebration of music at it's finest and should not be ignored. Dave Fishwick the Neus Subject 11/07/2008 - the Neus Subject

...for those about to rock, you may want to make the introduction of Columbus outfit, Black Owls. We were fortunate enough to have the band's debut, Lightning Made Us Who We Are, come across our desk the other day and, quite frankly, we're rather enamored with it. Chocked full of windmill-worthy tracks, Black Owls sift through their collection of Cheap Trick, Bowie, and The Who albums and serve up something distinct from their respective source material. No worries though, this is much more than a retro trip. These guys seem to have a pretty good sense of humor which keeps the whole thing firmly in the fun department. You like fun with yr rock n' roll, right? - Meltones, the buddha den

Judging from the neo-psychedelic sounds found on its debut LP, "Lightning Made Us Who We Are," Granville, Ohio-based Black Owls is an anomaly in Amish country. Rather than dabbling in something rootsy, Ed Shuttleworth (guitars, vocals), Mike Brewer (guitars, vocals), David Butler (vocals, drums) and Dan Cochran (bass, vocals) push a garage-rock agenda that also draws from the British Invasion, new wave, glam and '70's post-punk. And despite the varied influences, this crew has fashioned its favorite styles into a focused and infectious sound. The new album, released on the group's own Moholy Pop Records, is sure to get listeners moving. Black Owls recorded at Central City Recording in Columbus with Jon Chinn, who gave "Mr. Tornado," "Julias Morningstar" and other killer cuts a muscular, timeless qualilty that serves the material well. Clever arrangements, outstanding twin guitar play and a keen sense of dynamics heighten the listening experience. - Don Thrasher - Active Dayton, Dayton Daily News Sat. Jan 10, 2009

...for those about to rock, you may want to make the introduction of Columbus outfit, Black Owls. We were fortunate enough to have the band's debut, Lightning Made Us Who We Are, come across our desk the other day and, quite frankly, we're rather enamored with it. Chocked full of windmill-worthy tracks, Black Owls sift through their collection of Cheap Trick, Bowie, and The Who albums and serve up something distinct from their respective source material. No worries though, this is much more than a retro trip. These guys seem to have a pretty good sense of humor which keeps the whole thing firmly in the fun department. You like fun with yr rock n' roll, right? - Meltones, the buddha den

Strange, beautiful things take place after the sun goes down, and the Black Owls revel in an all-nighter guitar sound that burns brightly in the dark. Lightning Made Us Who We Are, their 2008 debut album, is a masterful slice of booze-fueled super rock.
In Lightning Made Us Who We Are, you'll find traces of everything from the Rolling Stones to Roxy Music to Husker Du. It all adds up to their own infectious brand of rust-belt glam-rock, with "cautionary tales of excess" sardonically disguised as soaring guitar anthems.
The exuberant "Julius Morningstar" sets the tone for the rest of the record: pulsating drum stomps, righteous guitar riffs, and Butler's slicing tenor. The title track takes on lean, efficient tones reminiscent of the Cars and early Cheap Trick, and showcases the band's ironic proclivity to meld the majestic with the pitifully ordinary.
Kinetic energy courses through Lightning's world of lost mid-western souls and cosmic guitars. The band's unabashed desire to dish catchy, corn-fed power cords while giving songs titles like "We Travel on the Backs of Whales" and "My Guitar Might Kill You" reveals the Owls' sarcastic charm, but there's no denying Lightning's appeal as an exceptionally well-made rock record. - ADAM SCOPPA - 614 MAGAZINE

Strange, beautiful things take place after the sun goes down, and the Black Owls revel in an all-nighter guitar sound that burns brightly in the dark. Lightning Made Us Who We Are, their 2008 debut album, is a masterful slice of booze-fueled super rock.
In Lightning Made Us Who We Are, you'll find traces of everything from the Rolling Stones to Roxy Music to Husker Du. It all adds up to their own infectious brand of rust-belt glam-rock, with "cautionary tales of excess" sardonically disguised as soaring guitar anthems.
The exuberant "Julius Morningstar" sets the tone for the rest of the record: pulsating drum stomps, righteous guitar riffs, and Butler's slicing tenor. The title track takes on lean, efficient tones reminiscent of the Cars and early Cheap Trick, and showcases the band's ironic proclivity to meld the majestic with the pitifully ordinary.
Kinetic energy courses through Lightning's world of lost mid-western souls and cosmic guitars. The band's unabashed desire to dish catchy, corn-fed power cords while giving songs titles like "We Travel on the Backs of Whales" and "My Guitar Might Kill You" reveals the Owls' sarcastic charm, but there's no denying Lightning's appeal as an exceptionally well-made rock record. - ADAM SCOPPA - 614 MAGAZINE