The Midsummer Station - preview thoughts

The one minute long previews for the tracks of the new Owl City album, The Midsummer Station were released yesterday. And of course as a huge fan of all things Adam Young and Owl City I was very excited for a small taste of the anticipated album.

One small hitch stood in my way, I do not have Itunes, so no access to the tracks. But, 24 hours later and I was able to hear all the preview tracks thanks to tumblr and youtube.

The complete track listing for this album runs as follows;

1. Dream And Disasters
2.Shooting Star
3. Gold
4. Dementia (feat. Mark Hoppus)
5. I'm Coming After You
6. Speed Of Love
7. Good Time
8. Embers
9. Silhouette
10. Metropolis
11. Take It All Away
12. Bombshell Blonde

Tracks 2, 3, 4, 7 and 11 have already been released as either singles or on the 'Shooting Star EP'

Track 1, Dreams and Disasters

I have to admit, I like this tune a lot. It is happy, up beat, a great tune to dance around to. The lyrics are optimistic and encouraging. The lyrics are about looking for the silver lining always and striving on through the ups and downs of life. I love the chorus which runs 'follow the light through the dreams and disasters'. It's about being strong and not letting things get you down. I can't wait to experience this one at a live concert.

Track 5, I'm Coming After You 

I love this track! It's just so fun and in a way slightly odd. There is far more of a pop vibe in this track then most of Owl City's earlier work. And I can see why fans wouldn't like this track. But I think it is beautiful in strange kind of way. The lyrics conjure an almost comical image of a guy chasing and girl, tracking her down, trying to find her, he's chasing after her. Listen out for Adam's impersonation of a police car, and the way he says 'yeah' 45 seconds into the track, adorable yet funny. Even though it is a funny song, it can be taken seriously too. It has a balance of strangeness and charm.

'You've got the right to remain right here with me, I'm on your tail in a hot pursuit; Love is a high speed chase racing down the street. Woo,  woo, woo! I'm coming after you'

Track 6, Speed Of Love
Another brilliant dance tune. Very pop influenced. The lyric matter is very much in line with older Owl City work though.

'You were so hard to find, with oh so many clouds across my summer sky. You, my constellation prize, yeah every single star sparkling in your eyes'

Track 8, Embers
 This track sticks in my mind more than the rest for some reason, I love the lyrics. They're so uplifting. Just like 'Dreams and Disasters' it has a message of continuing on in life even when things get hard. These lyrics are more focused on not letting yourself get depressed and give up, but to keep fighting, to keep the embers alive, and not let the fire die out.
It is less of a dance tune compared to the rest, I'd probably say it is more rock influenced.

'And you'll find there'll be mornings when the ashes and embers are cold, but you'll fight with a passion and you'll never stop because you know, yeah, you know it gets better and your story is yet to be told'

Track 9, Silhouette
This track is very much reminiscent of 'Ocean Eyes' and the track 'Lonely Lullaby. It is mostly piano based, and so Adam's vocals take far more of a central role compared to some of the other tracks. It is a melancholy song I must admit, however it is so beautiful, and everyone can relate to the lyrics. Everyone has regrets they'd rather forget, and everyone had made mistakes they'd rather not be reminded of. I just love the  lyrics below; no matter who you are, you can nod your head and agree. This is I think my own personal favourite out of all the preview tracks. I feel that this is a very personal track from Adam too. I have to say I adore this track, and I feel that it reveals the hearts of many.

'I'm sick of the past I can't erase, a jumble of footprints in hasty steps I can't retrace, the mountain of things I still regret, is a vile reminder that I would rather just forget, the fire I began is burning me alive'.

Track 10, Metropolis 
Taking a leap back into pop after Silhouette is Metropolis. Although this particular track is far more subdued in comparison to the other pop tracks in this album. I found this track sweet and endearing, and the chorus is very upbeat. But I fell in love with it a little bit like he fell in love with Metropolis!

'A thousand miles feels like a million years, like hundreds of postcards that say 'I wish you were here'

Track 12, Bombshell Blonde
I have never heard a track like this from Owl City before ever. It is strange and quirky. And very comical! I love it! I think every album that isn't supposed to be taken seriously and is just a bit of fun, and I feel that is what this is. What's not to love about it?!
You get the feeling that perhaps as a boy Adam harboured that dream of being James Bond even if just for a day. But then, what little boy doesn't want to be a cool secret agent???
Just get a load of some of the lyrics;

'Her love is a dug laced with ecstasy, and her charm is spiked with a spell, a hot mess in a dress gets the best of me, she's ice cold but she's making melt'. 

In conclusion, this album is far different to any of it's predecessors.  But different isn't necessarily bad. If every album were the same we would soon get pretty bored. This album really changes things up a bit, and demonstrates a side of the artist that wasn't visible before. Whereas the previous albums are all be laced with optimism, this one is far more about taking control and going for it, and not letting anything hold you back. The tempos of the previous albums are slower and more laid back. This album is more jumpy and holds more dance tunes, which doesn't necessarily mean that the lyrics have lost any depth, the depth in the words are still there, but the packaging is different.
The songs themselves show an artist who is happy and enjoying life to the full.

I can see how some fans are disappointed in these tracks, however I feel it is unfair to the artist to insist that they never experiment with other styles and branch out. Artists would be so boring and one-dimensional if they only ever wrote the same old, same old.

But how about you, what are your thought???