It's been a good year for the auto-tuner, and the synthesizer, and Owl City has capitalized on that idea with their new album. Generally, credit can only be given in lyric writing and mixing. The actual instrumental prowess is overlooked entirely, because if anything was organic in the recordings, it is overlapped by layers and layers of synthesizers. The popular appeal of this genre is evident, but at the same time it is degrading to the musical populace. Some people spend their entire lives dedicated to mastering an instrument, and their music, in this age has gone completely unappreciated. That being said, some of the songs Owl City has produced have become staples in the pop community, and are causing this CD to become a success before it has even been released.
Adam Young sports an arsenal of laptops on stage while performing this album, yet still manages to gather stage presence and the excitement of the crowd. Though originality does not present itself often in the album, delving from the beaten synthetic path ofter causes the songs to become greater successes. For example, the single fire flies has a more organic and harmonic chorus than the other singles, and became a viral success even before Owl City released it's video sometime last year. Another song that gained acclaimed success is the song Salt Water Room.
It has catchy choruses and that ever so popular synthetic base that most popular music does today. Auto tuned to every note, it is, in theory, musically immaculate, while at the same time deviates from any noticeable musical talent. Props on the pop tunes, cons on the repetitive nature of the album.
p.s. - I realize that electronic music does show talent, but it seems that Owl City is trying to reach for the post punk scene, and he should choose between either.
-Cook
Download Link: Owl City - Ocean Eyes
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