I just finished a first listen of Andrew Osenga’s 6-song EP, Letters to the Editor, Vol.1. I don’t think anything’s made me so happy in a while.
Osenga has been one of my favorite songwriters since his old band the Normals put out their first record, Better Than This. Something about that record caught me–I think it was the song “Apron Full of Stains,” and all the stuff that went along with being a confused, Christian teenager–and by the time the band released Coming to Life I was hooked.
Some of my most heartfelt memories are tied to his music. Driving home a van full of sleeping strangers south across Ohio cornfields after a fantastic Normals show in Toledo. Ending my relationship with my first serious girlfriend in the dead of winter and feeling all my own sadness and heartache echo back to me in songs like “Coming to Life.” Listening to “Romeo on the Radio” with Devona, a long time before she was ever my wife. Arguing with Andy that the production on “Black Dress”–well, yeah it’s noisy, but it makes sense.
It’s been years since The Normals split up, but Osenga has kept making excellent records. This latest EP is something competely different. From his blog, where the seed germinated:
Here’s what I’m thinking: I’m going to write and record the songs, that’s my part. What I would love for you guys to do is to inspire me. Send me ideas for songs, whether they’re stories you’ve heard, a word you think sounds cool, an idea you’ve wished somebody had written about. Send me paintings or drawings you’ve made, a photo you took that you can’t stop looking at, whatever you think could inspire a song. I’m going to make my goal for this project to base every song off something from you guys.
The 6-song result is a fine listen. I especially liked “Wanted” and “Swing Wide the Glimmering Gates,” which bookend the collection.
Many are saying that we should expect more artists following Osenga’s approach. Others artists are being similarly inventive. Podington Bear releases three new songs each week. Paleo crossed the nation, recording a song every day for a year, and posting them all on his website.
Andrew takes things a step further, providing instructions on his blog allowing fans to record their own background vocals (or Webground vocals, as he calls them). The chorus of fans ring out the final notes of “Gates”.
These are exciting ideas, and the music is exciting stuff. Give it a listen.
Second.
I’ve got to say that track two resonates deeply with me, being as I’m an ex-jock and a pretty big ham, and now, an aspiring bookworm. I’ve hid from the demands of real life behind cleats and dumbells, behind spotlights and stage monitors, and most recently by simply stuffing my nose in a book.
“This is not a ball game / not a school play / not a book that lets you bend the page”
What I think you and I are so drawn in by in Osenga’s writing is that he’s pretty much vicariously chronicled the last decade of our lives in a sonic medium.
Anyone else think my husband would make a seriously awesome music reviewer for some newspaper or magazine?
Second Second.
third-
But I have one question- I was actually pondering this post yesterday…
I was thinking, is there really a virtue in being able to spit out songs so quickly? I know that you were just pointing out that the other two bands are doing things differently by releasing songs so quickly, weekly… daily…
oops, Ellie wrote that one-
Ellie, I agree: There’s nothing “better” about putting out more songs more often. My point was primarily that these musicians are making their own way, completely apart from any of the traditional methods of recording, distribution, touring, etc. And in a lot of cases, this works well: Image can take a backseat to art (as an example, no one even knows who Podington Bear is, even gender), and “market appeal” doesn’t really matter. (Well, sort of. Full-time musicians have bills like everyone else…)
As a side note, though, it is interesting to hear about the different approaches songwriters take to building a body of work. Bill Mallonnee has said that he will often write a song a day. A good number of them sit around for years before being recorded. Derek Webb, on the other hand, says that he only writes a handful of songs a year, and every single one goes on his next record.