You cannot see it in the illustration that Sir Johnnie Cluney did of Mike Kinsella, but I’ll give you a second to imagine what kind of footwear the young luminary was wearing the day of his session last fall. If you’re thinking the common treads of all indie rockers, think again. You’re well off the scent. If you’re thinking something scruffy and worn in, the look of the working poor (almost all of your favorite rock and rollers, mind you), again, we must inform you to guess again. Kinsella was chilaxing in a pair of soft moccasins and maybe you can hear their influence in this session of sweet dew drops. Shoes certainly don’t, nor could they ever, make Kinsella, but when you’re wearing shoes such as those, they allude to the kinds of gentle touches as the ones found below. From the sneaky I Do Perceive track “Playing Possum For A Peek,” where the protagonist claims he’s made of instincts and then fakes sleep to catch a look at someone (maybe it’s two someones) getting dressed in the morning, to “A Fever Analog,” where the main character talks about someone fucking a fever, the subject matters are handled with extreme care and coaxing. It’s the kind of work that is done in moccasins and smoking jackets (think Hefner) or pajamas. Flannels are good for this kind of a work and Kinsella checked that box as well. It’s no wonder that these songs were accomplished with such a resounding calmness and breezy kiss. – Sean Moeller

First song
Playing Possum For A Peek (Owen) [2.89MB] [7041 downloads]


– original version appears on I Do Perceive
Totally tried to rip off The Smiths on the recorded version.

Second song
I Woke Up Today (Owen) [2.03MB] [7566 downloads]


– unreleased in the U.S.
A Japanese bonus track on I Do Perceive.

Third song
Bad News (Owen) [3.76MB] [6571 downloads]


– original version appears on At Home With Owen
The meanest song I’ve ever written.

Fourth song
A Fever Analog (Owen) [2.96MB] [7622 downloads]


– unreleased in the U.S.
A Japanese bonus track on At Home With Owen.