[review]

Tim Bowen and the Crystal Ball Breakers new CD "Issues" adopts a different approach following the band's 2001 debut Variety. More succinct at six songs, more direct musically and more socially and politically conscious lyrically, "Issues" takes an head-on look at some of today's most difficult and troubling subject matter.


From the anthemic grandeur of Let's Raise An Army (Take It To Darfur), to the stripped down simplicity of American Refugee and Plastic Ono-esque rawness of the child abuse testimonial Just A Little Boy, Issues tackles themes too rarely addressed in contemporary popular music with empathy and conviction.

BUY
LISTEN
DOWNLOAD

Tim Bowen has pledged to donate 100% of the proceeds from every itunes download of “Let's Raise an Army (Take it to Darfur )” to savedarfur.org and other organizations that benefit victims of the Darfur genocide.
Tim Bowen and the Crystal Ball Breakers CD, "Variety", is the solo debut from Philadelphia painter/musician/songwriter Tim Bowen, who, as a founding member and principle songwriter of The Boneheads, helped establish the first wave of Philly garage/punk/surf music at the legendary Hot Club.

As the title suggests, "Variety" is an eclectic blend of musical styles, approaches and arrangements. With the help of some of Philadelphia's finest players, Bowen has crafted a record that defies classification, but could be described as California breeze meets Nashville twang with a twist of Liverpool pop. "Variety" consists of 14 original songs that run the gamut from pop to country to horn-driven rock, acoustic folk and everything in between.

BUY
LISTEN
DOWNLOAD