Father, Son, Holy Ghost. Quite the album title for a band whose lead singer was forced to be part of the extremist Children of God cult for much of his youth. Christopher Owens led a disturbing and chaotic childhood, and much of that pain shows through in his music, especially his band's 2009 debut album, Album. Owens still has some demons to fight though, and he's chosen this album as the arena for that confrontation.
The general gist of this record is the same as the previous one; unrelentingly sad lyrics about relationships masked by cheerful jangly guitar pop melodies. The major difference is that Father, Son, Holy Ghost feels more subdued, and Owens' voice isn't quite as, for lack of a better word, obnoxious. Obnoxious really isn't the right word, but there was this sneering quality to it on Album that isn't present on the new record. The result is a record that's much nicer and easier to listen to despite all the woe in its words.
First singles "Vomit" and "Honey Bunny" showcase the band's great range. "Honey Bunny" displays flashes of Dick Dale-like drums and guitar fills before diving into the verse like a sped-up Beach Boys tune. On the other hand, the slow, sprawling "Vomit" builds up from silence into repeated climax and recession (multiple guitar solos included, as well as...an organ solo?), as Owens croons about his ill-fated search for love. There are a number of great tunes on the record, especially the driving drums and restless guitars on "Alex." The simplicity of "How Can I Say I Love You" makes it another song that is easy to love. The record stagnates a little toward the end, but most will at the very least find a tune or two that suits them here. Father, Son, Holy Ghost is immediately rewarding, and most of these tracks are worth a listen or two, just like Owens' story. 4.4/5.
In other news, there's been a recent influx of anticipated releases into my library (Red Hot Chili Peppers, Laura Marling, maybe Lil' Wayne?) so check back soon for my takes on these new records!
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