Filled to the brim with passion and made complete by an energetic, experienced style, Spectra artist and rising country star Rich Owen makes a spectacular return for his third official album release, “Redline.” Though it’s been a while since the Rich Owen Band last gave fans a project of such a length, the Missouri native shouldn’t be counted out, as Owen is never short on an entertaining narrative and story for his music. In turn allowing for a special synergy between the band and vocalist, what really brings this work together is the strength of its lively nature found through much of the album’s runtime, allowing for an exceptional, must-listen summer release we highly urge you to tune into.
Immediately getting things underway with the work’s title track, “Redline” more than delivers on an aforementioned energetic and steady pacing. With a racing theme sure to get fans riled up, the track’s backing includes banjo and tambourine that weave themselves remarkably well into the mix. Accelerating towards a climax, both the pull in Owen’s vocals and the lead guitar’s boundary breaking instrumentals do a wonderful job of introducing listeners to an all new version of such a beloved group. Continuing the faster feel, “Line Dance King” picks up on many of the same cues, moreso mirroring 60’s rock n’ roll and blues, with added color from fiddle and jazz piano. Further putting a stamp on Owen’s vocal prowess is the album essential “Ordinary Girl,” an infectious, groovy, yet lighthearted country-rock hybrid where Owen’s unique character radiates through complex backing melodies in a manner that seems almost effortless.
Far from being one-dimensional, Owen’s performance on “Good And Gone” instead offers a more lyrical character, while contrasting these elements with a steady feel, strong vocals, and excellent harmonization in tackling a variety of heavier themes. Likewise, must-hear ballad “Unbreak My Heart” excels in its harmonization and performer synergy with a simpler melody that fits well within the style change. While pedal steel guitar and piano come forward, a brilliant, sustained melody is united by melodic fiddle backing, anchoring central themes of seeing hard times through together as one. Further into the album’s tracklist, “A Line In The Sand,” while standing proud in its approach of advocating for the innocent and making a difference, shares much in common with “All God’s Children,” seeing the latter guided much more effectively by added tones and textures. Carrying over and combining many of the work’s strong suits is Owen’s “Inconceivable,” opting for a laid back, softer tone with a wide use of instrumentation to set a warm, open atmosphere illustrating love and loyalty.
Closing with “That’s The Fun,” Owen’s hallmark energetic flair adds an exclamation mark to the overall project, again drawing upon vivid illustrations of Owen’s upbringing and fond memories. A call to the fun to be found in the outside world, the piece boasts an outstanding guitar feature and gives listeners a name to remember as the group only continues to rise in popularity. By and large, however, household names like John Denver and Glen Campbell do come to mind but are far from a key takeaway as a listener. Choosing to become a performer later in life, the album exemplifies a work “straight from the heart,” drawing upon a lifetime of unique experiences and showing that there’s no time like the present to develop such a one of a kind character. With plenty more still to come, “Redline” is available now on iTunes and Amazon Music.
Reviewed by Jake Munn
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