Kevin Collins – Ohio Town

By Ryan G

Ohio Town was released during the summer, but perhaps it is appropriate that Tuned Up is getting to a review now.

Don’t get me wrong. This isn’t music you should wait on – at all. I wish I had gotten to this right when it released. But we are in the midst of Fall – a season that’s perhaps best suited to complement the mood of Ohio Town.

So, who is this Kevin Collins? Well, if you are in Columbus and follow the local scene you are probably aware of this guy. Perhaps you’ve seen him alongside Phil Cogley as one of the dual front-men for Queen tribute band Mr. Fahrenheit and the Loverboys. Maybe you’re nostalgic for The Lost Revival. Or maybe you like the new wave-y sounds of Paper Waves.

Ohio Town is one of the most solid releases of Mr. Collins yet. For me, it is a welcome break from the overly polished, glossy alt rock that I have been gracing my eardrums with lately. Actually, it was a break I didn’t know I needed – but one I recognized when I first heard this record.

Collins is a storyteller at heart. Each song on the record rings of nostalgia – even when the lyrics seem to be fiction. Collins has a very distinctive voice that is surprisingly well suited for Americana. His tone throughout the record is contemplative and relaxed, with a few sparse moments of excitement. I wouldn’t recommend playing this record if you’re very tired – you might get a bit sleepy. It’s the farthest thing from being boring – yet very therapeutic. Even the melodies remain in this sort of therapeutic paradigm – conflict is filtered through sort of a proverbial sieve that keeps the message of the song intact yet keeps Collins’ emotions at a safe distance from the listener. The goal here doesn’t seem to be empathy on the part of the listener. Rather, the goal seems to be catharsis for the songwriter through storytelling and quiet enjoyment for the listener.

“Wall That Sits Between Us” and “Blood on the Hood” are back to back examples of the phenomenon I just mentioned. The mood set in these songs seems be ironic yet appropriate. I’m having a hard articulating why this paradox works but it does. The latter tune makes liberal use of a simple harmonica melody that seems to mix longing with an “oh, well!” feeling. “Wall That Sits Between Us” makes use of a dark yet tranquil piano melody that sets a rather mysterious tone – not quite the sad vibe I expected yet, oddly appropriate.

Maybe what I’m describing isn’t what Collins was going for at all. But hopefully it intrigues you. You should know that there are some straightforward tunes on the album as well that don’t seem to require as much musical exegesis. “Two Sides” and “Ohio Town” are two songs that are basically “what you hear is what you get.”

Kevin Collins is one of the most intriguing songwriters in Columbus, and it would be cool to see him start to get some recognition out of state.