Full Review: Owl City – Ocean Eyes
Owl City sort of symbolizes every kid’s dream of making your own music in your room and somehow making it onto a major label. On top of everything Owl City, or Adam Young, makes it seem a little too easy picking happy go lucky themes to lay on top of happy go lucky electronic music.
If you are at all familiar with Owl City then there isn’t a lot to talk about with ‘Ocean Eyes’ because this is just like every other album from the band. This record is seemingly aimed at the mainstream audience who hasn’t been exposed yet to such poppy electronic tunes before and pulling them under the hypnotic spell. “The Saltwater Room” which is arguably the best Owl City song with the back and forth male/female chorus does appear on the album, along with some old songs, but the new music hopefully should give long time fans something to hold onto.
It’s hard to credit the lyrics for being anything other than mediocre which is emphasized on tracks like “Dental Care” which is about, believe it or not, going to the dentist. On the opposite side though, “If My Heart Was A House” is a respectable love song probably melting the hearts of those who it eventually gets dedicated to. Much of this album is fit for the soundtracks of romantic comedies and so don’t be too shocked when tracks like “The Bird And The Worm” or “Vanilla Twilight” sneak into the mainstream silver screen.
Basically If you’ve heard any of the songs and like them you should be buying this record, consequently, if you didn’t like any of the songs they are similar enough that there really isn’t anything for you here. My thoughts are somewhat mixed although it definitely hits a soft spot. Feel good summer CD? I think so.
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July 16th, 2009 at 12:09 pm
“This record is seemingly aimed at the mainstream audience who hasn’t been exposed yet to such poppy electronic tunes before and pulling them under the hypnotic spell.”
it worked. I heard “Fireflies” on my local super-mainstream radio station last night. I was shocked and slightly dismayed. There goes the indie status.
July 18th, 2009 at 4:11 pm
“This is just like every other album from the band.”
I find myself unable to agree with this statement.
This album is a completely different style from past Owl City albums.
As is the case with most bands, as time passes, the band develops and embraces their own style more.
“Ocean Eyes” is definitely an extraordinary example of this.
The songs are less like those on “Maybe I’m Dreaming” and “Of June,” though the electronic components remain the same.
I suppose if “like every other album” means that Owl City hasn’t crossed the line into a different genre, then I would agree.
But if this statement means that Adam hasn’t grown as a musician, I would have to dispute this opinion.
July 20th, 2009 at 11:18 am
Well Ive given this album about 5 listens. It’s okay. The songs have this very bubblegum pop sound to them. Almost like disney channel music. It’s kind of corny. The lyrics are silly and basically have no real meaning to them, nothing to discover underneath. The album is also seriously lacking variety. There’s basically 2 or 3 kinds of songs, and they’re all duplicated.
I dont think I’d buy another album of their unless they figure out how to explore new avenues of creativity. This album is very stale and lifeless, no depth to it. It’s one of those albums that you quickly digest and forget about it forever. It wont stand the test of time.
July 20th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
it makes me feel like i’m playing sonic, on the beach, sipping pina coladas.
it’s great stuff if you’re in the mood. it’s mood music. it’s background/soundtrack music. it’s great for what it is. plain and simple.
July 21st, 2009 at 3:51 pm
Great Album, Piece of **** review!, Blow Me!
July 25th, 2009 at 10:35 pm
I loved Owl City’s Maybe I’m Dreaming.
The only song that hits my heart in this new album is If My Heart Was A House. Everything else sounds like the ones that didn’t make it in his first records. Nothing in this new album is ground breaking. He seemed to have lost some of the magically realistic lyrics he got from Maybe I’m Dreaming. I’m kind of disappointed.
I still love Owl City though. His first album was stellar. I wish he would make more music with Breanne Duren. Owl City still remains the best song he has ever made.
August 9th, 2009 at 6:33 pm
I can agree on some points but I have to say I think he did a great job.
August 27th, 2009 at 10:03 am
i can understand where some people r commin from…….that u think the music is corny…well obviously this is not that kind of music for u…but if u love his music i think u could love this cd to! its that kind of music that makes u feel like u r floating,and u forget whats goin on …and u feel a little bit happier than usual!!!!some of adam’s songs are just songs…ok songs,but if u listen to his progress as a musician,u can see as time goes on …his songs are deeper…the lyrics have more meaning to them. for some people what brings them to love a song are the lyrics- this people are writers, poets ect. ! but people who come to love a song by loving the beautiful harmony and melodies are musicians them selfs,composers,vocalist,ect.!!!! if u dont like these songs for either this just isnt ur genere of music…maybe u like rap,hip hop,classical,or watever u like!!!! but i dont think people should say his songs are bad…because his songs explain him….happy!!!! living out his dream!!!!!!
September 5th, 2009 at 7:45 pm
The only thing that irked me about this review is when you said that his lyrics were mediocre.
Ocean Eyes seemed to be Adam Young fleshing out his true potential as an electronic composer, pulling out all the stops to make great songs.
I personally think that if you don’t give his music a chance, then you won’t see how deep the songs are. Owl City’s music definitely grows on you and it’s definitely music to listen to when you’re sad.
I never knew that you could negatively review an album because it’s too “Happy”…. Seems like a cop-out excuse to complain, in my opinion.
September 7th, 2009 at 2:35 am
fireflies was a song i could really relate to. in all his songs, he provides a fantasy world that we can step into and enjoy for those 3 minutes or so, and i am thankful for that.
September 9th, 2009 at 8:09 am
I agree, somewhat. I still love the album, no matter how much the songs sound similar. I’m glad Adam is finally getting some recognition and limited radio-play, but I just hope his music doesn’t change.
September 9th, 2009 at 1:34 pm
I bought the CD for the song ” If my heart was a house” but there is not track 14..
October 12th, 2009 at 6:40 pm
I hate this album honestly. It’s all very contrived and the fact that it sounds like a 16 year old’s attempt at recreating the postal service is kind of pathetic and insulting to me as a listener. There are no new ideas with these songs. I don’t see how you can have any respect for a guy that so blatantly ripped-off another band unless you just don’t care about originality and creativity. It’s like I’ve heard this album before, the first time I listened to it.
October 24th, 2009 at 11:20 pm
I have been listening o this music non-stop for hours, I can,t stop it makes me feel like I am flying in a dream on a beautiful summers night under he milky way and Santa, Rudolph, Humpty Dumpty, Batman and Robin, are dancing on a cloud in the air. Adam is a Real Genius in the way he composed this Master Piece, GOD has truly blessed us with this Magical, Mystical Music.
October 27th, 2009 at 5:36 am
Somebody send a letter through the POSTAL SERVICE to DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE and tell them we’ve found their missing child. Hackneyed allusion? No more than the Owl City electronica-pap smearing all over AMTV this AM.
Not since Tori Amos forgot to thank Kate Bush has a “band” been such a blatant photocopy.
October 27th, 2009 at 11:22 am
Similar, yes. Blatant photocopy? I think not.
I agree, Adam’s vocals sound SO much like Ben Gibbard it’s ridiculous, but the themes and moods of each band’s music is so different that I think it adequately makes up for any extensive similarities. That’s the main difference, also actual instrumentation is pretty different.
You’re right, but I still think Owl City is its own thing.
November 1st, 2009 at 11:38 pm
I am going to have to disagree with the review as I don’t understand how anyone can call the lyrics mediocre. The word play is simply fantastic. He has a very subtle grasp of the world of puns and his wit is fantastic. Also, I find the worlds that he constructs become something I can always feel for. Simply stated, he wraps me up in the music and take me away for the, oh too short, 42 minutes that the album lasts.
November 2nd, 2009 at 5:04 pm
These comments make me laugh…a photocopy/ripoff, blah blah blah…there are tons and tons of bands that sound similar (look at the pop/punk genre of music). The emo/screamo/west coast sound makes every single lead singer sound the same. Just because his voice sounds somewhat like Ben Gibbard and he does electronica, so what? So no one else on this earth can make electronica music similar to the postal service. You people make me sick with your comments, learn something about music before you speak. Not one of you can tell me that bands you listen to don’t sound the same. Enjoy the music for what it is, he didn’t even plan for the band to blow up like it has, he made music in his parents basement, put it on myspace (and OBVIOUSLY people like it because he went from Myspace to a record label).
November 2nd, 2009 at 5:09 pm
To add to that, I love the cd, as I enjoyed Of June and Maybe I’m Dreaming. It may not be your type of music, but it is enjoyable “mood” music as someone else had written. I like the wordplay like Espatross said. I enjoy listening to Ocean Eyes everytime I put it in the cd player.
For those that want to complain…blame Ben Gibbard for never putting out another Postal Service album. People enjoy that type of music, and Owl Eyes fills that void. Ben Gibbard is happy with DCFC and sees no need to do a side project now that they have “sold out” as some see it with the whole New Moon song. If he wanted to make another Postal Service album he could have, and hey maybe Owl City may have not blown up like it did…but Ben is too busy with his main band, so we will never know.
November 3rd, 2009 at 3:06 pm
I’d hate to know what your other favorite bands are if you love owl city. I think the problem is a lot of young listeners don’t have the “ear” or “intellect” to differentiate between “influenced by” and “ripped-off”. “A lot of bands sound the same bla bla bla”. You’re missing the point completely.
November 3rd, 2009 at 4:00 pm
Actually I listen to bands from all different genres. And how is he supposed to try to sound different doing electronica. His voice singing sounds like Ben, so what? I usually can’t tell the difference between those whiny singers today in emo. If you heard the song on the radio then got the album, what were you expecting. You knew going into it what it would mostly sound like. The originality in the songs is the stupid wordplay he uses. Postal service sings about something, not just hooking words like he does. If i heard any band on Drive-Thru records for example, I wouldn’t be able to differentiate between them since that label signs bands that all sound the same. That was my point. I didn’t mean I LOVE owl city, I enjoy the cd for what it is because I enjoy electronica pop music.
And how old are you? “young listeners”…sorry old timer for not having a good ear.
November 5th, 2009 at 1:06 pm
I love Owl City. I could spend hours listening to the Ocean Eyes CD. I think his lyrics are fantastic. If you can’t figure that out yourself then just move on to your extreme mainstream music that spoon feeds every meaning to you.
November 7th, 2009 at 10:18 pm
Are you serious stevie? It’s the exact opposite of what you’re saying. Owl city is “bad extreme mainstream music”. You need to open your ears to other music if you think owl city is underground or something. Haha.
November 9th, 2009 at 8:59 pm
Guess no one else can have an opinion that they are good…Must be bad if Bam says so. It’s not indie, but just became mainstream last few months. Word of mouth. Nothin else sounds like it on the radio (they don’t play Postal Service on the radio), so eventually it was gonna be picked up and played. The lyrics are play on word/puns, but that’s how he likes it. Certain people like it, like myself, fills a need in the music world for electronica type music. Some of us don’t (Bam). Some people just drag it out to feel better about themselves and how the music they listen to is so much better than what we listen to. Liking lesser known artists that aren’t mainstream doesn’t make you better than everyone else. Might as well go over to Pitchfork’s website, I am sure their reviews are more along your train of thought and can find more people that agree with you.
November 11th, 2009 at 11:53 am
The poems sound like what you’d expect if you took the entire literary section of deviantart, churned it, took only the cream, sorted out happy and sad, and kept the happy.
Tropes = win.
November 26th, 2009 at 2:59 pm
http://www.soundonthesound.com/2009/10/26/hype-of-the-week-owl-citys-fireflies/
November 29th, 2009 at 1:52 pm
I feel like I’m taking crazy pills. I really liked this album when it was released by THE POSTAL SERVICE 6 years ago. Ben Gibbard should be getting royalties from turd of an album. This is brainless, tactless, talentless musical theft. Listen to The Postal Service’s album “Give Up” then listen to “Fireflies.” Bull. Sh*t.
Hey Owl City, write your own songs.
December 9th, 2009 at 8:15 pm
I think owl city’s song is about drugs. For example, in the song fireflies, he was obviously talking about him using drugs. Fireflies is just a cover story. When he says fireflies spread out in the air, it represents smoke. When he says that the fireflies teach him how to dance, he’s probably high from the crack he’s smoking. He also mentioned that he feels like an insomniac. He also gets misty eyes when he’s done with his great “moment”. If you think about it that way, it’s really like he’s singing about his experiance when he took drugs. Fireflies and all the childhood crap is obviously a cover story!
December 28th, 2009 at 2:29 pm
oh yea tom… its obviously a cover story…. or he could be singing about ACTUAL stuff… maybe you could think of that.
December 30th, 2009 at 2:42 am
Rofl? Okay so, bam, what you’re saying is that if people think this is good music even though it’s become mainstream, they automatically become outcasts to the indie scene?
Give me a ****** break, grow up a little. If you have to control everybody’s opinion because you’re so obsessed with UNDERGROUND MATERIAL, then go bury yourself in a hole for the sake of freedom of opinion.
January 6th, 2010 at 5:08 pm
I’ve been listening to The Postal Service since early 2006. I personally find their music emotionally deep. Very good stuff.
Also, I have been listening to Owl City since 2007. I will say that this new album sounds noticeably different because he actually got to record in a studio owned by a label. So that explains why this CD is slightly different sonically.
On the whole “rip off” issue: YES, their voices sound similiar. YES they both make electronic-esque music. BUT, The Postal Service uses alot more real instruments. Owl City is pretty much electronic, minus a few acoustic spots (“The Bird and The Worm”,”Saltwater Room”).
Also, there are other cases of Adam ripping Ben off, like in promotions and CD jackets. That’s the only case of pure “rip off”.
So, in short: They are similiar but if you listen in keenly, you will see noticeable differences. And I’m pretty sure Adam wouldn’t blatantly rip off that great of band. I don’t think it was his goal is life.
P.S.: Adam has like five other bands/projects that all incorporate electronica, and other things too (Port Blue and Swimming With Dolphins for example).
On the lyrics side: just because Adam uses wit and cutesy little sayings doesn’t make him mediocre. His lyrics are imaginative and amazingly crafted. The point of writing music is to express things. He just so happens to make “poptastic”, cutesy lyrics. But if you read his lyrics, its full of inuendos and wit and etc. Ben Gibbard and Adam Young both display very descriptive, fantastic lyrics. However, Ben’s are more emotional and are only fully appreciated by people with an ear for his sound. The great thing is is that they both write their own lyrics, unlike 97.9% of most well known artist today.
About the whole “mainstream” thing: he’s not all the way mainstream yet. yes, “fireflies” is his mainstream breakthrough, but he’s still virtually unknown. he’s been making music for almost 8 years now. most artist work “underground” or below the radar for years before getting known. most never get known. but just because he’s getting radio play, doesn’t mean you can cast him as a traitor and phony for getting known. true artist make music to exist. he made music. other people liked it. now LOTS of people like it. just cause a LOT of people connect with his lyrics doesn’t mean he’s some sort of traitor and mainstream star.
And on the whole thing that only young people listen to it thus making Owl City not a real artist is bullshit. sure, his music, at times, sounds like music little girls would blare from their cell phones. he even admitted it once. but his music is enjoyed by alot of people from different age ranges. I HATE IT WHEN PEOPLE DECIDE A CERTAIN ARTIST IS RETARDED BECAUSE THEY ARE POP. WHY DO PEOPLE TREAT POP LIKE ITS SO UNCOOL AND CHEESY AND NOT REAL. i guess it all depends on how you do pop. Britney Spears is dumb pop = she doesn’t write, produce, or anything for her music. Owl City = writes, produces, promotes (since 2003), and doesn everything for his music. people write and make music and however it comes out is the way it is. and just because his music comes out pop doesn’t give it a “retarded” or ignore” label.
Thank You. :D
January 6th, 2010 at 6:51 pm
Listening to Owl City makes me want to stick fireflies in my ears. What the **** is he talking about? Are these lyrics supposed to be profound because he delivers them in some forced sentimental exhalation like he’s praying and blowing his load at the same time? Or maybe taking a huge dump and reading Valentines Day cards? Is he singing or reading a script? I don’t understand. How can one possibly listen to the vomit spewing from this album and enjoy it? He uses the same drum loop over and over on practically every song. Has anyone really listened to these retarded-ass lyrics? “I like to get a thousand hugs from ten thousand lightening bugs” That’s very imaginative. It even rhymes. WTF?!!!!! Don’t compare this nauseating **** to Postal Service… just.. don’t.
January 9th, 2010 at 4:05 pm
The review is completely one sided.. and no matter what you say about this album. Vanilla Twilight is an epic song.
January 9th, 2010 at 4:09 pm
one-sided? since when is 3 out of 5 one sided? Haha that’s a first
January 13th, 2010 at 7:21 pm
Fighting over the Internet is like being a runner in the special olympics; even if you win, your still retarded!!!
January 24th, 2010 at 10:04 pm
this music is okay but you have to admit its autotuned up the ass haha :)
January 27th, 2010 at 2:33 pm
I got recommended this attrocious bubblegum pop nonsense by a pal of mine.
I think Owl City is awful. As bad as Vampire Weekend, but with an annoying over-emphasised american accent.
It’s like a mixture of The Secret Handshake and Hellogoodbye, I cannot stand it and find this music ruining the business!
Over the top childish electronic sounds, something i’d expect to hear in the intro to a childrens show. I truly hope this won’t be the ‘feel good album of summer’.
February 2nd, 2010 at 12:44 pm
I really, really like this album. I can see the reviewer’s point of view, but I have to disagree with him… and to all the people who left comments saying this album is crap or whatever: You produce an album this good, then call me. Otherwise, shut the hell up.
February 24th, 2010 at 12:39 pm
sure the dentist song is corny but most of them arent. I mean when people say there is no message to find there really is. People don’t get fire flies and thats about being a kid and having asomnia. People just don’t get his songs and i think truley he is the only one who will know the full meaning.