Owl City

A music blog!

I was a mid-comer to Owl City. 'Fireflies' had just been released on Adult Alt stations. From first hearing Fireflies on XM's Alt Nation, I was hooked. I instantly got "Ocean Eyes", the second album, and "Maybe I'm Deaming", the first album. A few months later, 'Fireflies' broke onto the pop charts.

Owl City is Adam Young. He developed his craft in pop-electronic during sleepless nights in his parents basement. His first album, "Maybe I'm Dreaming" was solely his creation. There was no record label backing. But the fan base grew. The album has a rawness to it throughout. It's not perfect, but you don't want it to be. My favorite tracks include "Technicolor Phase", "I'll Meet You There", "Early Birdie", and the laughter-evoking "Super Honeymoon".

Owl City is innocent, witty, and at times, completely random. You feel like you're traveling through random thoughts in Adam Young's head. In the day where impropriety is the norm, Owl City is a refreshing wave of modesty and a child-like inquisition. It doesn't hurt that Adam Young can write hooky synth parts and lyrics for days.

"Maybe I'm Dreaming" caught the attention of labels, and Adam Young was signed for his second release, "Ocean Eyes". Adam Young teamed up with Matt from Relient K to hone in the tongue-in-cheek lyrics. "Ocean Eyes" shows a maturity and step in the right direction, with cleaner production, more streamlined musical ideas, and adds a "commerciality" to the music. By far, the highlight of the album, in my opinion, is the remix of "Hello Seattle".

Today I had the chance to preview Owl City's newest album, "All Things Bright and Beautiful". The production is taken up a notch. The song writing has matured, but Adam Young maintains his innocence. Some tracks completely floor me. Must listens include "Deer in the Headlights", "Galaxies", "Dreams Don't Turn to Dust", and "Kamikaze". The single, "Alligator Sky" has obviously been tailored for commercial release, but I feel that it's definitely not the strongest. "How I Became the Sea" is a beautiful bonus track that must not be missed.

On "All Things Bright and Beautiful", Young has done a great job of that balancing test all artists struggle with: retaining their sound while offering something new.