Stray Owls Experiment With Rock and Sound In New Album ‘When The Going Gets Weird’

Influenced by iconic bands like Pink Floyd, The Kinks and Grandaddy, Stray Owls is a trio from  Mebane, North Carolina, consisting of Jerry Kee, Mathew French, and Scott Griffiths.

Together, the band have released their latest album, ‘When The Going Gets Weird’, a hazy, psychedelic journey infused with a 90's alternative indie rock vibe. The album flows effortlessly, with seamless transitions between tracks and soundscapes, each flowing into one continuous, expansive song.  

This is clear in the opening track ‘Hey Now Now,’ which starts with a vibrant, explosive sound driven by pulsating drums tinged with static, evoking a lo-fi, garage-like atmosphere. A loud, purposeful guitar with a hazy twang, reminiscent of psychedelic rock, soon joins in. These contrasting elements blend to create a mechanical soundscape. The deep, monotone vocals then enter, standing in stark contrast to the repetitive, intense instrumentals with a somewhat rough around the edges style. 

As the final note fades, the first riff of ‘Daylight’ seamlessly takes over, as if continuing the theme of contrast. The rough, robotic tones shift into soft acoustics, featuring a shimmering guitar reminiscent of George Harrison's ‘Here Comes The Sun,’ paired with vocals that evoke a young John Lennon. The instrumentals carry a certain bluntness before shifting into an electric and lively guitar and booming drumbeat, creating a sudden change in tempo. 

‘Moonlight Shadows’ blends acoustic elements with experimental tones, evoking a vibe reminiscent of Pink Floyd’s ‘Us and Them.’ The track's hazy, psychedelic sound is enhanced by a subtle distortion and layered backing vocals, and crafts an eerie atmosphere that intricately defines its sensory experience, playing a crucial role in its overall composition.

‘Knot Exactly’ evokes the suspenseful soundscape of a 1970's TV drama, with a haunting, unsettling energy that creates a chilling undertone. This tension steadily builds, transitioning smoothly into a psychedelic melody. ‘Whatever Afterglow’ maintains the haunting soundscape, gradually blending in eerie piano notes and unsettling vocals, pushing further into experimental territory.

‘Another Lost Mind’ begins with distant percussion before flowing into a laid-back beach rock vibe, offering a sharp contrast to the previous surge of psychedelic rock. ‘Mandlin’ begins with a slow, rhythmic tempo, featuring a haunting guitar that resonates throughout before building into an electronic-sounding distortion. It transitions smoothly into ‘Ballad Of A Middleman,’ which skilfully employs echoes and reverb to create a chilling auditory experience.

Stray Owls demonstrates remarkable experimentation within the rock genre on ‘When The Going Gets Weird’. Their overall sound is captivating because of their seamless instrumental virtuosity, drawing clear inspiration from rock legends, they infuse their sound with a unique energy, crafting a dynamic listening experience full of unexpected twists and turns that keeps their audience guessing.

Ana Joy King

@anajoyking

Image: ‘When The Going Gets Weird’ Official Single Cover