JOE KOWAN *REVIEW*
JOE KOWAN
DISCOHOG THE ALBUM
1. FAITH IN THE ECONOMY
2. GIRL WITH THE HAZEL EYES
3. CLOSEST THING TO PRAYING
4. IGNORANCE IS BLISS
5. GRAVITY
6. SHAUNA MAE
7. ELABORATION ON A DREAM
8. DISCOHOG
9. ON THE RISING TIDE
10. TIGER WANDERING
11. GO TO SLEEP
12. blank track
13. DOUBLESIDED (live)
I have to admit I've been a huge Joe Kowan fan since the first time I ever saw his beautiful asshole face....
This guy has such a sharp sense of humor and a great dead pan deliverance of some of the most clever and quick witted lines I think I have ever heard.
As I said being a fan for some time I've heard the lowest of low quality recordings Joe has had to offer as well as some great studio work.. but this album has completely blown me away.
The production on this is amazing. I'm truely at a lack of words to explain what I hear when this disc spins... It's beautiful.
And in typical DEAD PUPPY REVIEW tradition I must go through song by song and let you know what I think...
Some of these songs I've heard before some are new to me...the first is definately new.
FAITH IN THE ECONOMY
as I've said the production is priceless.. the guitar is so smooth and rich and the voice is definately Patented JOE KOWAN. The whistle solo is genius. I love Joe's use of vocal dubbing it adds a great feel to the track.. and the fact that he mentions JOHNNY CASH drives it home for me!
Time to pick it up a bit.. have you ever seen one of those old ROGER CORMAN chase movies with RON HOWARD? well that's what I think of when I hear the second track
GIRL WITH THE HAZEL EYES
I Dare anyone to come up with a better mix...
Ok the next song I actually heard first as performed by BLITZKRIEGBLISS during the Counterfolk Identity Crisis...
Then I heard an early version that Joe had recorded...and was excited to see that it was featured on this disc.
Needless to say I was pleased.
I really hope people get the MOSES joke that's hilarious and of course the almost ANTHEMIC chorus when it kicks in is kick ass.
And now I get to shine on about my new favorite JOE KOWAN track
IGNORANCE IS BLISS
Oh My God!
I don't know what the hell Joe is talkin' about but this song makes me want to kill a fifth of Casey County Cough Syrup and stomp my feet and rip my shirt off and slap the fuck out of someone two times bigger than me and HOWL at the moon!
FUCK YEAH!
and I guess after that the only way to go is down.. and I don't mean DOWN in a bad way I mean mellow down...funny I say that.. being that the next song is titled
GRAVITY
Joe does have a sensitive serious side and songs like this really shows that..
the next song SHAUNA MAE reminds me a lot of a friend I have.
Kinda confused about which direction it wants to go in.. distorted and palm muted like a VELVET UNDERGROUND or LOU REED track but with the stoned wandering HARMONICA of BOB DYLAN blanketed with JOE's voice.. I swear I think he could sing the phone book and have me totally enthralled.
ELABORATION ON A DREAM
beautiful and almost a little hillbilly this song sounds like it should have been in COLD MOUNTAIN or O BROTHER but with that JOE KOWAN twist.
the title track comes next
DISCOHOG
If you're a fan you've heard this song about a thousand different ways.. I think it's fitting that the song turned out this way on the record.. It's seasoned and heartfelt.
the next track makes me smile from ear to ear
ON THE RISING TIDE
it feels like it should have been the closing track to me, but thank god there is more.
TIGER WANDERING
I remember Joe telling a story about this track on a radio show once.. wish I could remember the story though.. something about some guy saying "when you try to be serious you mess it up" or something like that... this song is lovely.
GO TO SLEEP
I love the arrangement of this... it sort of has a great MARCY PLAYGROUND meets LUCINDA WILLIAMS type feel.. and No I don't have to explain why I think that.
and the last track...
DOUBLESIDED (live)
I'm not even going to say anything about this other than it's perfect!
Overall this whole album is spectacular... my only complaint is that THE STALKER SONG isn't on here.. I so wanted to hear a full version of this..
and a personal message to JOE, It's an honor to know you and thank you so much for letting me write this review.
*review by the dead puppy*
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