A couple weeks ago, Owl City’s new album, The Midsummer Station, was released and as a well established fan I of course downloaded it immediately. After listening to it all the way through, I think did the next logical thing (for me) and tweeted about it. If you’ll look at the picture to the left…. OWL CITY (ADAM YOUNG) HIMSELF RETWEETED ME. So I figured it was finally time to make good on my promise for a review.Let’s go song by song, shall we?
1. Dreams and Disasters. This song has a really good beginning, starting with a simple beat and gradually builds to the first chorus and the rest of the song. Every time I hear this song I want to jump up and down and sing at the top of my lungs. Also, he uses the word “billowing”, which is impressive and deserves props.
2. Shooting Star. Pretty basic Owl City track, traditional electronic keyboard backing music and soft, inspirational lyrics. I mean, it’s a good song that I would totally dance to, but as I said, it’s pretty standard.
3. Gold. I’m obsessed with this song, and I have no idea why. It’s just super catchy and has a good beat/beginning drum track. I keep finding myself singing this song to myself at different points in my day. Walking to class, doing dishes, writing my to do list… it’s getting out of control. Probably my favorite song from the album.
4. Dementia (feat. Mark Hoppus). Adam Young is really getting into the drums on this album; his songs aren’t so ambient anymore. This is another fairly standard Owl City song, which again doesn’t make it bad, but it’s nothing to get excited.
5. I’m Coming After You. ANOTHER GOOD BEGINNING. Adam Young knows how to pull me in. “I saw your face in a criminal sketch”?? COOL! Likening a romance to a cop chase? Me likey.
6. Speed of Love. Ok so yes I really like the beginning of this song too. He’s just really good at that, ok? I’m dancing to it as I try to write this review. As far as the song impacts the overall album I’d again consider this a pretty standard Owl City track but it’s a really good one.
7. Good Time (feat. Carly Rae Jepsen). Meh. Carly Rae Jepsen is boring and uninspired and although the song is cute it falls flat against such lyrical masterpieces as “Plant Life”, “If My Heart Was a House”, and “Cave In.” If you don’t know, Carly Rae is the “Call Me Maybe” girl, and this is how I feel about that song:
You speak to a generation, Josh Macedo. Thank you.
8. Embers. Ok, yes, I know, but his song beginnings are so good I just had to tell you that again. This is a slower song with a really intense starting beat that then builds into a really inspirational chorus. “Don’t let the fire die!” I WON’T, ADAM. I PROMISE.
9. Silhouette. Trademark slow song. Overall it’s pretty basic and standard Owl City, and it’s nowhere to the point that “Plant Life” (one of my all time favorite songs, not just of Owl City’s) and “If My Heart Was a House.” This song’s solitary inclusion proves that Adam Young is starting to move more into dance pop with fun and/or intense beats, which is totally fine and I love it, but I do miss his hauntingly beautiful slow songs. This one, unfortunately, just doesn’t stand up.
10. Metropolis. Standard Owl City track. Decent, nothing special. Cool violins, though. Bro. (That just felt right)
11. Take it All Away. Really great starting beat. This song is slower, not to his usual ballad speed, but definitely different from most of his newer stuff. It’s not quite haunting, but it’s intense. I’d say it’s in my top five for this album, definitely.
12. Bombshell Blonde. This song is the reason I tweeted about the dubstep feel on this album (by which I meant that I like the dubstep feel on this one song). I’ve decided recently that I kind of like dubstep, or at least the idea of it, and the combination of Adam Young’s clean, simple vocals and a dubstep-reminiscent backing track is a lot of fun. Probably my second or third favorite song on the album. It’s a good one to run to, as well.
So there you go! I feel like Owl City releases a new album like every six months. It’s not a bad thing, certainly, as he is consistent and fun, but geez. I can only review you so many times, bro. I’ve now used bro twice. You’re welcome. I’ll see you crazies on Sunday for a new video.
