The Eighties pop revival continues to evolve, this time in the form of one member act Owl City. Emo synthpop (yes, that's emo synthpop) is nothing new, but artists in that genre are known for bending the rules on said subject.
Ocean Eyes has all the qualities one might expect: drum machines, contagious Moogs and synthesizers, voice effects and obscure poetic imagery all backed by boyhood innocence. The subjects of the song are all over the map.
On 'Dental Care' for example, he literally sings about his trip to the dentist and on 'Fireflies', he croons about learning to dance from lighting bugs. One wonders if he wrote the music first and needed to come up with something quick to fit it. With that said, Owl City’s latest effort doesn’t come up short.
Adam Young, the sole member of this electronica outfit, is very talented. He’s been making music in his basement for the past couple years. His first two albums were released as an unsigned artist, gaining him a huge fan base.
Bubblegum Electronica Dominates Record
From Fireflies,
Cause I’d get a thousand hugs
From ten thousand lightening bugs
As they tried to teach me how to dance.
A foxtrot above my head, A sock-hop beneath my bed,
The disco ball is just hanging by a thread.
Some people might mistake this as a side-project from Relient K front man Matthew Thiessen. Both vocalists share the smooth pop sensibilities and melodious nuances but after a quick Google search, this is not the case. However, it wasn’t a surprise to discover Thiessen did indeed lend his vocals to four of the tracks (Cave In, Fireflies, Tidal Wave, The Bird and the Worm).
Relient K Lead Singer Matthew Thiessen Contributes To Ocean Eyes
Working without the support of band mates can be difficult, but it doesn’t sound like Young struggled here. The songs are polished and the hard work he put into this record is evident.
Unlike the pesky techno/electronic music you hear blasting over the speakers at female clothing stores, Ocean Eyes is refreshing and carries substance. The lyrics are both encouraging and depressing and in some cases, more appealing than the complex musical elements he infuses.
The Lyrics Are Both Cheery And Poignant
From Tidal Wave,
Depression, please cut to the chase and cut a long story short
Oh please be done. How much longer can this drama afford to run?
Fate looks sharp, severs all my ties and breaks whatever doesn’t bend
But sadly then, all my heavy hopes just pull me back down again
The sophomore or third record usually tends to be a hit or miss, either gaining the artist a bigger audience or sending him or her to one-hit wonder hell. Ocean Eyes is definitely a hit and a bold stab into the heart of an otherwise depressing genre.
Now that Owl City is signed to a major label, perhaps he will help rejuvenate it.
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