Listen: Owen (Mike Kinsella) Covers Wilco

The latest release from Chicago’s Mike Kinsella (American Football, Cap’n Jazz) as the acoustic guitar-driven outfit Owen is a limited-edition 7″ single recorded by his cousin (and Joan of Arc bandmate) Nate Kinsella called “Abandoned Bridges.” On the flip side is a stripped-down version of Wilco’s Summerteeth rocker “I’m Always In Love” — one of my personal live faves from Owen’s fellow Chicagoans.

The song’s unforgettable melodic interludes, which are echoed in an otherworldly register on a keyboard in Wilco’s version, are a perfect match for Kinsella’s love for almost-overly repeated catchy riffs, as he brings the line back to earth with an elegant folk twist that creates a pause between the verses, adding greater pensive weight to Jeff Tweedy’s lyrics. One lyric gets a particularly long pregnant pause after Kinsella switches “I forget my mother” to “I forgive my father.” Pre-order the “Abandoned Bridges” vinyl (or buy the digital version) here, listen to the A-side over on MySpace, and hear Owen’s take on “I’m Always In Love” below:

Owen – “I’m Always In Love” (Wilco Cover)

Thanks to Angela for the Soundcloud link!