nu record: Lysandre by Christopher Owens

What a difference four years can make. Yes, there are hints of Girls on Lysandre, particulary on "Here We Go Again" and the way the album seems to dip its fingers into as many genres as possible, but overall Lysandre is exactly what I expected from Christopher Owens' first solo album--something he was itching to make, something he could not have made with Girls. Just under 29 minutes long, the album features folky acoustic guitar, flutes on the majority of its tracks, a powerhouse 1980s sax solo, the slightly reggae-ish vibes on "Riviera Rock"(my least favorite track--it doesn't feature Chris on vocals), and of course the familiar narrative songwriting style we can expect from Chris Owens. I love it all.

Mike Madden of Consequence of Sound nailed this album in his review. Check it out! Then go get yourself a copy of Lysandre. If you purchase the album at a local record store, you get a free copy of the Lysandre Theme sheet music. (My copy is making a cameo at the top right of the picture!)