Gary's Owen Pallet Review

Sufjan Stevens. There I said it, now we can get on with the review and ignore the comparisons from here on out. Because while there are definite resemblances to the Chicago-native's blend of classical meets
power pop meets space-rock, talking about it during this review does
no justice to the supremely unique and awe-inspiring freshness with
which Owen Pallett approaches music.

To call it theatrical would be an understatement as would calling it
emotional. This is music that lives and breathes and demands you take
notice. It is an album of grace as it transitions from one superbly
crafted song to another. It is a the same time forceful; grabbing you
by the shirt and whisking you away to some insane carnival.

But while no one would classify this as mainstream in any sense and
this is not an album that would see regular rotation on my iPod, like
all art it is compelling. It defies you not to listen further and
become enthralled with its inherent beauty.

And the lyrics - oh the lyrics.

Stories are being unfolded here in beautiful emotive poetry for you to
linger on and dissect piece by piece. And as Dave mentioned, there is
clearly a sense of whimsy as Pallett seems to break the fourth wall
from time to time and speak directly to us, the listener; commenting
on the tale like some kind of vaudevillian narrator. When in Keep The
Dog quiet he quips "This place is a narrative mess" you wonder - is he
talking to me?

As we move into the midway point of our Polaris reviews it becomes
evident that these artists have been chosen for their sheer inherent,
god-given talent. These group and artists don't merely write songs,
they nurture and develop them like caring parents. And no more is this
on display than with Heartland. Not knowing a great deal about Pallett
one gets the sense that he is perfectionist at his core and the songs
are better for it.

Ironically as a parent myself this is the first album so far that -
with its lullaby-like tendencies - I would happily play for my 9
month-old son. Yet another reason to applaud Pallett; his appeal with
such a varying age demographic.