Musically, New Leaves is the best Owen record by a mile.

Whether constantly questioning or dismissively venting, Kinsella's got a true and clever wit to compliment his writer's eye and musician's ear.

Performed mostly by Kinsella, Owen’s soundtrack is pretty, dreamy, and poignant—Mark Kozelek-esque, perhaps—perfectly complementing the emotional tales...

Pretend that sound is like a decent whiskey. With 'Good Friends, Bad Habits,' add some synthesizer and electric guitar in a way that doesn’t overpower the basic songwriting and it’s like a little water to fill it out—or bring out the flavor of this figurative whiskey.

'Brown Hair in a Bird's Nest' lulls you to bed with plaintive, catchy melodies in that creepy way only Owen can conjure: beautifully and drowsily.

There's something about Mike Kinsella's treatment of nostalgia, youthful dalliances and getting older that come off timeless. His brand of Chicago-style melodic indie rock hasn't spoiled with age and is as married to its place as no-bullshit D.C. punk, or anthemic New Jersey rock.

The literary enthusiast in Kinsella spills his observational guts onto the masterful 'Good Friends, Bad Habits' complete with subtle electronics and interesting percussion.