All things bright and beautiful for Owl City

The story of Adam Young is one that I am sure will be told and retold as a source of inspiration for aspiring artists. Roughly about a decade ago, Adam was a young metal worker in Owatonna, Minnesota who spent his evenings writing and recording music in his basement studio.

He was armed with only the most basic of tools, an acoustic guitar, a computer and recording equipment. But he had lots of talent. In fact, he is an entire band all by himself. How good he was found proof when the song Fireflies, that he released under the name of Owl City became a worldwide hit and has since sold over six million copies.

Owl City music is light pop with a pronounced beat. You can dance to it if you like but it is better when listened to. This is because despite the rock undertones, Adam’s songs have a nice calming effect on the listener. Must be because he sings a lot about dreams or about his fantasies, and these are nice and sweet, whimsical even. One cannot help but like this guy and the sound he creates.

This is so whether he presents himself as Owl City or his first band, Sky Sailing. The latter released its own CD of early Adam music in the album An Airplane Carried Me To Bed two years ago. That one was also recorded in his basement studio, which was to which he returned after a world tour to record a new album.

And so here it is, the new CD by Owl City. It is called All Things Bright and Beautiful just like the poem from childhood, which must be how Adam sees the world. “A place of wondrous things where dreams that don’t turn to dust and roller coasters that go into the atmosphere are the saving grace of the galaxies and he is never afraid of the darkness again” and all those other things he likes to sing about. Nice to see that he has retained all the innocence that made his first albums very special. 

I noticed some changes in the credits. Adam now has a lot of collaborators, singers, instrumentalists, co-writers, engineers, etc. Of course, he must find ways to improve his product. But I am glad that the basic recording and writing was done in his basement, which is now called the Sky Harbor Studios. If he stays this way, I can see fans enjoying his music for ages to come.

The songs that make up All Things Bright and Beautiful by Owl City are: The Real World, Deer In The Headlights, Angels, Dreams Don’t Turn To Dust, Honey and The Bee, Kamikaze, a tribute to the space shuttle Challenger in Jan. 28, 1986, Galaxies, Hospital Flowers, Alligator Sky featuring Shawn Chrystopher, The Yacht Club, Plant Life and the solo version of Alligator Sky.

China on banned songs

Banned songs in China as reported by the Digital Music News. The Chinese Ministry of Culture recently released a list of 100 songs banned from being distributed digitally. The songs must be removed from the lists of available titles or face penalties, which from what we hear about Chinese laws could be really stiff. I suppose a similar ruling was also issued for physical CDs and to radio stations regarding airplay. Makes me wonder though if the songs are available in the underground market, which is huge in China.

Incidentally included in the list are songs by Owl City. I understand the Chinese government’s reservations against Lady Gaga or Katy Perry but Owl City? I do not think they deserve to be in the list.

These are some of the banned songs: Americano, Bloody Mary, Hair, Judas, Marry The Night and The Edge Of Glory by Lady Gaga; Burning Up by Britney Spears; Can’t Keep My Hands Off You, Freaking Me Out, Loser Of The Year and You Suck At Love by Simple Plan; E.T. by Katy featuring Kanye West; Honey And The Bee, Plant Life and The Real World by Owl City; I Want It That Way by the Backstreet Boys; Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F) by Katy; Love Love, Pretty Things, The Flood and When We Were Young by Take That; and Run The World (Girls) by Beyoncé.