Album Review: He Has a Good Home by Owen Pallett – A Quirky Indie Rock Gem
Let’s cut to the chase: Owen Pallett's He Has a Good Home is like that one friend who shows up uninvited but ends up being the life of the party. Released in 2005 under Blocks Recording Club, this indie rock oddball doesn’t just sit in its genre—it sprawls across it, trips over itself, and somehow still looks cool doing it. With tracks that feel like they were born out of fever dreams and caffeine binges, Pallett crafts an album that’s equal parts clever, chaotic, and charmingly weird.
First off, let’s talk about “This Is the Dream of Win & Regine.” If you’ve ever wondered what Arcade Fire might sound like if they got lost in a video game soundtrack (and honestly, who hasn’t?), this track has your answer. It’s lush, layered, and kinda feels like falling into a kaleidoscope while someone narrates your descent with violins. The melody loops around itself so many times you start questioning reality—but hey, isn’t that the point? This song sticks because it’s not just music; it’s more like a vibe you can wear as a scarf on a cold day. Plus, any tune that references two iconic musicians without feeling pretentious deserves props.
Then there’s “The CN Tower Belongs to the Dead,” which sounds exactly how its title reads—dramatic, slightly morbid, and oddly poetic. The build-up here is everything. You think it’s gonna be all doom-and-gloom, but instead, it swells into this triumphant anthem that makes you wanna grab a flag and march somewhere important—even if you don’t know where or why. There’s something cathartic about yelling along to lyrics that sound like they came straight from a dystopian novel scribbled during math class.
Now, I gotta mention the repetition thing. Tracks like “Adventure.Exe” and “That’s When the Audience Died” pop up twice, which could either mean Pallett was running out of ideas or he really wanted us to pay attention. Either way, it works. It’s like when your favorite TV show reruns an episode—you catch new details the second time around. Or maybe he just thought we wouldn’t get it the first go. Who knows?
What’s wild about He Has a Good Home is how it balances chaos with charm. Sure, some songs meander a bit too much, and yeah, the production has that lo-fi grit that screams “indie kid working late nights in their bedroom.” But that’s part of its magic. It’s messy in the best possible way, like doodling outside the lines and realizing your mistake looks cooler than the original picture.
So, would I recommend this album? Absolutely. It’s perfect for those days when you want something different—something that challenges you without taking itself too seriously. And honestly, after listening to it, I’m left wondering: Does Owen Pallett even sleep? Because crafting an album this delightfully unhinged must take serious brainpower… or at least a lot of coffee.
Final thought: Listening to He Has a Good Home feels like finding $20 in an old jacket pocket—you didn’t expect much, but suddenly you’re walking away grinning. Now excuse me while I go listen to “CN Tower” again and plot my next existential crisis.
