Regardless if Willie Ames is picking at the banjo or strumming his guitar, Ames is a delight of Americana roots with a bluegrass feel to the folksy rock created on Night Owl.
Review by Danielle Boise
With 10-original songs, Night Owl boosts both vocal and instrumental tracks on the album. Ames also includes a splendid cover of Lindsey Buckingham’s “Never Going Back Again” that is most definitely worth a repeat listen; Ames does the Buckingham cover justice.
Night Owl was originally released in 2011, but in support of Ames’ US tour, was re-released on June 9, 2012, and is available for digital download on-line, iTunes and of course there are physical copies of the CD as well.
Ames’ usage of intricate guitar playing sparked by his passion contribute largely to the style of the Night Owl, but it really is Ames’ quiet intensity with his voice that shines through on tracks, like “Human Race” and “Dance with You.” “Night Owl” actually incorporates the use of an owl to open the song with a bit of fierceness to the tune.
Willie Ames proves that you not every track needs to be filled with lyrics in order to draw the listener in and make them feel something that’s more than vocally intricate; the instrumental track, “Walk in The Park,” has this bedtime story quality to the song. It’s soft gentleness lulls the listener in a quiet place, while another instrumental track, “Black Widow,” has a more intensive feel to the song as the plucking of the guitar creates the sensation of being tracked down and hunted. The last instrumental track on the album is “Stumbling Home,” which makes the listener feel slightly inebriated in the subtleties of the strings, as they vibrate against the senses.
While listening to “Desert Run” I thought I was listening to Brad Roberts of Crash Test Dummies fame, with a bass-baritone voice eclipsing the lyrics.
Overall, Night Owl is a striking piece of work. If you like artists like Boy Dylan, Tom Petty or The Dave Matthews Band, then give Willie Ames’ Night Owl a spin.
For more information on Willie Ames or to find a copy of Night Owl, visit www.willieames.com.
