The Hard Way (Owsley album)
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| The Hard Way | |||||
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| Studio album by Owsley | |||||
| Released | February 24, 2004 | ||||
| Genre | Rock, power pop | ||||
| Label | Lakeview | ||||
| Producer | Owsley | ||||
| Professional reviews | |||||
| Owsley chronology | |||||
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The Hard Way is the second studio album released by American rock musician Owsley.
It was released in 2004 on the independent Lakeview label, five years after his debut album. Some of the delay was attributed to legal difficulties with his former label, Giant Records.[1]
Critics have described the album as having a "heavier"[2] and "more mature" sound compared to his debut album, and note musical influences of Big Star, Todd Rundgren, Tom Petty and Paul McCartney and Wings.[3] Critic Susanne Ault of Billboard wrote, "The music straddles indie and pop sensibilities without ever stepping one foot clearly onto one side or the other. While The Hard Way rolls along competently, the midtempo guitar hooks and straightahead vocals lack the necessary punch to reach mainstream consciousness."[4]
The album was recorded over the span of three years, at different studios in Tennessee—as well as at his home recording studio in Anniston, Alabama—in various recording formats.[2]
The lead single is "Be with You".[5]
Contents |
[edit] Track listing
- "Be with You" – 4:37
- "Rise" – 5:22
- "She's the One" – 3:55
- "Dude" – 3:41
- "Down" – 3:25
- "Matriarch" – 3:56
- "Undone" – 3:26
- "The Hard Way" – 4:07
- "Dirty Bird" – 3:46
- "Rainy Day People" – 11:13
[edit] Hidden track
The album also features a cover of Paul McCartney and Wings' "Band on the Run" as a hidden track.[6]
[edit] Personnel
- Will Owsley – vocals; backing vocals; electric guitars; acoustic guitar on tracks 3, 8; piano on tracks 6, 7; bass guitar on tracks 5, 6, 8
- Chris McHugh – drums and percussion
- Michael Rhodes – bass guitar on tracks 3, 9, 10
- Jimmie Lee Sloas – bass guitar on tracks 1, 7
- Millard Powers – bass guitar on track 4
- Jonathon Hamby – Hammond B3 organ; piano on track 4; Chamberlin strings on track 2
- Keith Thomas – strings on tracks 1, 6
- John Painter – Chamberlin strings on track 2
- Gordon Kennedy – electric guitar and BGVs on track 7
- Tom Bukovac – electric and acoustic guitar on track 1, bass guitar on track 2
- Rebecca Walker – backing vocals on track 10
- Simon Petty – harmonica on track 8
- James Michael – vocal production on track 8
- Paul David Hager – mixing
- Mark Ralston – mixing assistant
[edit] Engineers
- F. Reid Shippen, Dan Shike, J. B., Shane Wilson, J. R. Mcneely, Billy Whittington, Paul David Hager, Will Owsley
[edit] References
- ^ Bumgardner, Ed. "Owsley: The Hard Way", Winston-Salem Journal, 2004-07-22, p. 9.
- ^ a b Young, Clive (June 2004). "Owsley Records the 'Hard Way'". Pro Sound News 26 (06). New York: United Entertainment Media. ISSN 0164-6338.
- ^ Printz, Larry. "Owsley 'The Hard Way'", The Morning Call, 2004-03-20, p. D6.
- ^ Ault, Susanne. "Owsley: The Hard Way", Billboard, 2004-03-06, p. 35.
- ^ Harris, David L. "Owsley: The Hard Way", Boston Globe, 2004-03-12, p. C13.
- ^ Owsley: The Hard Way - PopMatters Music Review
