I might never have heard of Owl City if my sister hadn't been obsessed with "cute" music this summer. You know the kind: bubbly, bouncing pop with lyrics usually mentioning the "love and stars" in someone's eyes. So although I usually write off this sugary, bubblegum synth pop kind of genre as unimaginative and just plain boring after a few listens, I genuinely enjoyed Owl City's sophomore album "Ocean Eyes" (2009).
To my delight, I found myself entertained throughout Owl City's major label debut, and looking up lyrics to see if I had heard what I thought I heard. Yes, he actually just sang about going to the dentist and about dancing with lightning bugs under his bed.
With a style that is comparable to a Death Cab for Cutie/Postal Service fusion, Owl City's appeal isn't surprising.
Adam Young's airy delivery paired with claps, dreamy soundscapes and terrific harmonies with other established artists prove to be addictive. Matt Thiessen, of Relient K fame, is featured on many of the tracks.
Thiessen and Young's voices are so similar, however, that it's hard to tell who's who in their duets.
"Ocean Eyes" features sweet, upbeat lovers' anthems like "Vanilla Twilight" and cheerful shout-outs to favorite cities like "Hello Seattle."
Young's lyrics are not only witty, but also have a nave honesty that is refreshing and more than a little touching. Because really, when someone's singing about how "The silence isn't so bad, till I look at my hands and feel sad/Cause the spaces between my fingers are right where yours fit perfectly," it's hard not to smile.
You won't find broken hearts or lives spiraling out of control on this album. Young explores the lighter emotions in life, like the happiness felt when taking a romantic walk on the beach or the sweet excitement of holding someone's hand.
Even on "Tidal Wave," a track where Young croons about regret and almost-depression, he manages to sound hopeful and optimistic. And, of course, the song has a happy ending, with him realizing, "But I don't need a telescope to see that there's hope/And that makes me feel brave."
One complaint I have is that Young focuses so much on playing with the lyrics and subject matter that it's hard to connect with him personally. This isn't to say the album is emotionless; it isn't. Young just doesn't give listeners a real sense of who he is beyond his most-cheerful-person-in-the-world demeanor.
Next time Young sits down to write more songs, it would be nice if he infused more of himself into the music.
It also wouldn't hurt if Young integrated instruments other than just his laptop. The ubiquity of electronically manufactured beats makes the sounds difficult to tell apart at first. Sometimes it's even hard to tell where one song ends and another begins.
All in all, the album is a success with catchy hooks, great loops and some serious harmonizing.
"Ocean Eyes" is the perfect summer album, but it's doubtful the songs will remain on playlists for longer than that.
