On My Way
Wrong Road, 2023
8/10
The debut album from the multi-instrumentalist Owen Walsh, the blurring of fiction and reality and his bright wordplay makes for a colorful listen that welcomes several guest players.
“Kings & Pharaohs” opens the listen with Ted Weckbacher’s warm piano and Joey Aikens’ bass guitar in the soulful, dreamy climate, and “Well Well, Hey Hey, Bye Bye” follows with Walsh’s spirited harmonica and distinct voice that fuels the bluegrass nods.
Further along, Nate Zaur’s moody organ helps cultivate plenty of grooves in the upbeat album highlight, while “Bad Dream” utilizes Bob Wilson’s playfully plucked bass and much atmosphere for the richly layered landscape.
The fuller “Wrong Road” arrives near the end, and showcases Mason Carmody’s fluid drumming alongside Walsh’s warm guitar and vivid storytelling, and “Time To Go” exits with more a country influenced finish that welcomes a punchy rhythm section and plenty of string interaction.
An excellent first album, Walsh handles vocals, guitar, strings and harmonica, and his top notch help birth a very memorable sort of Americana.
Travels well with: Open Road- Skylark; Karan Casey- Nine Apples Of Gold