Casiotone for the Painfully Alone

Owen Ashworth has never been kind to completists of his Casiotone for the Painfully Alone. In fact, he's been downright cruel. For over a decade, the lo-fi synth-popper has tossed out limited seven-inches, EPs and compilation tracks like grains of rice at a wedding, making his odds'n'sods comp, Advance Battery Life, a welcomed bit of relief. Gathering tracks from 2004 to 2007, this comp offers a mix of both Ashworth's more battery-powered symphonies and his increasingly organic ones. It also brings its fair share of guest stars, such as No Kids' Nick Krgovich and Dear Nora's Katy Davidson, as well as some very Casiotone-sounding covers, including Paul Simon's "Graceland," Missy Elliott's "Hot Boyz" and two Bruce Springsteen songs: "Born in the U.S.A." and "Streets of Philadelphia." And while Advance Battery Life has that jagged-listening effect that can come with a compilation, most tracks stand up there with Ashworth's best, once again proving the worst part about this guy is his stage name.