Owen/Slingshot Dakota/Saintseneca

Singer Mike Kinsella has played an important role in Chicago’s indie scene for the last decade or so, perhaps most notably for his role as singer and bassist in one-off emo/math rock trio American Football. Kinsella formed his solo project, Owen, after the band split, carrying over the same elements of constantly-moving guitar melody and tender, heartfelt lyricism that gave American Football such an emotional feel. Owen’s eighth album, L'Ami du Peuple, is due out next month; the first single, “Blues to Black,” combines Kinsella’s signature vocal style with freshly expanded backing instrumentation —think astral guitars and soaring harmonies over complex percussion, rather than the acoustic simplicity of his earlier work— that helps the music reach greater heights than releases past. (Jacob DeSmit)