Released in 2007, Adam Young's first EP as Owl City is nothing short of unique. Backed by a dense assortment of atmospheric keyboards, synthesizers, and hushed piano, "Of June" provides a perfect set-up for Owl City's synthpop trademark that would later define a new era come the new decade. "Of June" is easily the best set of songs Adam Young has ever made, as nothing here is wasted. Whether it be an arrangement, a vocal line, or the numerous pastoral images, this small set of tracks is firmly grounded by Young's sheer earnestness. Since this is technically his first release, he basically will try everything that his mind can imagine, including (but not limited to): providing club beats in a ballad, dropping a cathartic piano in an up-tempo song, placing Eurthymic-style synths in a sunny track, or simply stripping all the excess away, providing a more straight-forward take on electronica. There are hardly any live instruments here (besides the aforementioned piano, which even then only pops in on occasion), and actually, that's perfectly fine. The further Adam Young included live instrumentation, the more listless his records became, so "Of June" is a refreshing relief from all the frivolity. This isn't a depressing record by any stretch, but it certainly recalls the emo-pop style of The Postal Service (a comparison that's perhaps a bit over-extended, at least in this specific work). Still, despite the fact that this record takes a few spins to settle in, after a while, you'll learn to accept (or grow to understand) Owl City's quirks, and subsequently become intrigued by them. Resisting the sublime charm of "Fuzzy Blue Lights" is silly, dismissing the utter joy in "Swimming in Miami" and "Captains and Cruise Ships" is ridiculous, and the original version of "Hello Seattle" shimmers with each passing spin. Adam Young would later build upon this blueprint, sometimes with even greater success, but "Of June" contains the foundation of all the material that came hereafter.
Recommended Tracks in Bold:
1. Swimming in
4. Panda Bear 5. The Airway 6. Fuzzy Blue Lights 7. Hello
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