Stray Owls deliver a sonic wonderland on "When the Going Gets Weird"
The wait was worth it. After four years of anticipation—three spent crafting the album and another held up by life’s twists—Stray Owls return with When the Going Gets Weird, an album that showcases not only the North Carolina trio’s artistic evolution but also their resilience. This third album is a sprawling, sonically rich work that refuses to be boxed into any one genre, weaving together elements of psychedelic rock, folk, and post-rock with a raw, punk aura at its core. The Owls may have been grounded by the pandemic, but in that time, they took flight into creative territory they've never explored before.
From the opening track, "Hey Now, Now," the album sets the tone with a psychedelic jangle that instantly transports listeners into a kaleidoscopic world. It’s a swirling, hazy introduction that feels familiar yet fresh, a nod to the band’s earlier weirdo-folk roots but with an added layer of sonic experimentation. The delay in releasing the album seems to have allowed the band to dig deeper, adding layers and textures that weren’t present before. This is a band that took its time and used it wisely.
One of the standout tracks, "Scapegoats," is clearly inspired by Pink Floyd, with its sprawling, dreamy vibe that swirls and envelops the listener. It’s a song that feels like a sonic daydream, slowly evolving and shifting, each layer more intricate than the last. Stray Owls have always been great at building atmosphere, but here they’ve perfected it, blending haunting instrumentation with a slow-burn intensity that feels almost cinematic.
The album isn’t all swirling soundscapes, though. Tracks like “Whatever Afterglow” hit with the force of a rogue wave, crashing in with post-rock energy and fever-dream intensity. This album isn’t afraid to get loud, strange, or intimate, sometimes all within the span of a single song.
The impassioned vocals throughout the album convey a sense of urgency and raw emotion. While the individual tracks each bring something unique to the table, When the Going Gets Weird works best as a cohesive listening experience. It’s an album that rewards full attention, offering up layers upon layers of sounds, emotions, and ideas that reveal themselves with every listen. This is Stray Owls at their most ambitious, crafting an album that feels as personal as it does universal, as intricate as it is immediate.
They may have been away for a while, but with this album, they’ve come back stronger, stranger, and more sonically adventurous than ever before. Get into it, enjoy it in full, and follow along for all the latest by clicking those links below!
Listen to “When the Going Gets Weird”
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