Two years divided Owl City's breakthrough "Ocean Eyes" from its 2011 sequel "All Things Bright and Beautiful". Eleven months separate that album from its sequel, 2012's "The Midsummer Station"; obviously, Adam Young was ready to get back to business. More than that, actually, he (or someone in his camp) must have decided to abandon the dreamy synth-pop of his first three records and instead focus on electronic pop music. If that seems like a desperate attempt for a crossover success, well, it very well might be, as "The Midsummer Station" is so calculated it sounds like an album meant only for 2012, not a second past December. However, that's not to say that this album is just trying to ride along the EDM movement of its given year; Adam Young is too quirky an individual to do something so straightforward. He keeps the bubbly percussive effects from his previous work, but he then adds some real instruments (guitars and drums, just what a pop album should have). For good measure, he re-works his lyrics, putting the focal point on summer days and fun times, rather than fireflies or insomnia. Clearly, he's ready to branch out and open himself to a wider audience. After all, he has a platinum album under his belt, he's now become a sought-after producer/songwriter for children's movie soundtracks, and then add a collaboration with 2012's breakout pop star Carly Rae Jepsen. More than ever, Adam Young is willing to free himself from his electronic confines, and he enlists the help of other songwriters to help him view a world outside of his own dreamlands. Although, this may not have been completely out of choice; the fact that "All Things Bright and Beautiful" flopped and spawned no hits could also have played a factor. Either way, "The Midsummer Station" should have been a triumph, an artistic leap forward that proves Owl City isn't a fad; it's a formidable pop act that can retain its audience for the long haul. When it opens with "Dreams and Disasters", it seems that maybe it is the breakthrough he's been striving for. But reality comes crashing down when the chorus for "Shooting Star", the second track, arrives: "Brighter than a shooting star/So shine no matter where you are". This is an Owl City album, one that is built on syrupy sweetness, so in actuality "The Midsummer Station" is not a step forward. It's a step backwards in fact, as Adam Young seems to have given everything that made him a star away to the siren call of the pop machine. It lacks the coy charm of "Ocean Eyes", the easy digestion of "All Things", and not even the guest appearances of Carly Rae Jepsen and Mark Hoppus can make it palatable, let alone appetizing. This is pop in form only, lacking consistently strong grooves or any distinctive musical or lyrical style. This is a particular problem given the fact that Adam's presence in the mainstream wouldn't even exist if it wasn't for his broad imagination and charming melodies. That's what made him a star and brought him to prominence over his niche audience. But he doesn't want a niche audience anymore, as "The Midsummer Station" proves all too well. It seems that he'll do anything at this point to lower his standards down to the lowest common denominator (a point driven home by the skittering, mundane "Gold" and the embarrassing cat-and-mouse chase of "I'm Coming After You"). It's a real shame too, as the opening track, "Good Time", and the club-crawler "Speed of Love" not only show what could have been, but they also present Adam at his best, at least in a musical sense, proving that he could have made a terrific pop record, but "The Midsummer Station" is not that record. It's more of a filler with singles collection that is impossible to sit through, a blemish in Owl City's once promising career.
Recommended Tracks in Bold:
1. Dreams and Disasters 2. Shooting Star 3. Gold
2. Dementia 5. I’m Coming After You 6. Speed of Love
7. Embers 8. Good Time 9. Silhouette
10. Metropolis 11. Take It All Away
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