Missourian country musician Rich Owen bridges the past and the present in his unique album Redline. His album showcases his musical gift and masterful craft of fusing passionate lyrics with satisfying melodies. Redline takes its listeners through a one of a kind listening experience, each song telling a story of its own. From losing a love to inspiring hope in a time of darkness, the album comes alive in the hearts and ears of its audience. Rich Owen truly pushes the redline in his album by taking risks that pay off in a truly enjoyable listening experience.
“Redline” by Rich Owen kicks off with an announcer of a race with audience cheers and the rumbling of cars in the background. The creative use of sound effects immediately captures your attention and sets the scene for the rest of the album. The growls of the guitar transform into an upbeat guitar tempo which transitions to the twangy vocals of Rich Owen. Rich Owen speaks of “pushing that redline” or driving a car above its recommended limit. It speaks to not playing it safe through life and living on the wild side of things. Most people live their life cautiously, but a little danger never hurts anyone.
“Good and Gone” is a more downbeat song that speaks of a past lover. The slow ballad is the essence of country music, conveying passionate lyrics of love and pain. The song speaks of how memories of a past lover haunt you when you are alone. It was a love too good to be true and one never thought it possible to ever have. However, Rich Owen sings of how the lover took all the good and left with the memories of their relationship which torments him. “Good and Gone” speaks to those of us who opened our hearts but ended up getting them broken. However, there is a kind of healing at the end of the song which accepts things for what they are and attempts to move on despite the pain.
“Line Dance King” spices things up in the album with an upbeat guitar and energetic drums. The song speaks of the “line dance king” who is the life of the party with a girl on his arm and a drink in the other. The song makes you want to get up and bust a few moves with friends or a partner of your own. The glide of piano keys accents the care-free lyrics and the occasional freestyling guitar solos. “Line Dance King” is the perfect song to listen to at a bar after a few drinks and when you want to have some fun.
“Unbreak My Heart” seems like a continuation from “Good and Gone” with lyrics that crave the love from a past lover. The slow tempo and accompanying female vocals add to the passion of hoping that one can restore a previous love. The song is one of my favorites on the album with the beautiful guitar chords and the intricate playing of the fiddle that adds to the nostalgic vibe of the song. Many people that miss someone from their past who hurt them and wish things went differently can relate to this song. When Rich Owen sings, “When you gonna call me/ When you gonna unbreak my heart/ Baby don’t stall me”, you can feel the longing in his heart for his past lover. This is a song I would have on repeat in my playlist because of how beautifully masterful it was.
“All God’s Children” features a melodic piano ballad with faithful lyrics that seeks to inspire people. The song serves as a reminder that we are all God’s children despite the things going wrong in the world. The themes of Christianity in the song give hope to a world that may otherwise seem hopeless and remind us that we are all worthy of God’s love. It is a beautiful sentiment that many people in a dark place may find solace and hope in.
The album ends with “That’s The Fun”, a happy-go-lucky tempo that speaks on life experiences. The song features beautiful imagery of Curtis Road, a place where Rich Owen grew up and speaks fondly of. He sings of “stupid things” he would do to impress girls and saying those experiences make up the best times of life. “That’s The Fun” is a reflection on good memories from childhood that as an adult we learn to appreciate. It is a beautiful ending to the album because it shows how priceless our experiences are and how important it is to find joy in them.
Redline by Rich Owen is an album full of experiences and passion that set it apart from many other albums. His music includes themes of faith, love, and reflections of his life whether good or bad. The album is a wonderful journey for fans and listeners alike to not only take moments to admire but also take away from it. Redline is an album that invokes passion, love, and appreciation for the moments in life that are priceless. Rich Owen reminds all of us to each push that red line and take risks of passion that pay off in something amazing.
Written by Kyla Hutchinson
