Remember that "Fireflies" song from a while ago? That guy, Owl City (aka Adam Young) is back, this time using the moniker Sky Sailing (albeit this is an old project of his) with
An Airplane Carried Me to Bed. Fireflies was catchy for a bit but then it just got overplayed... expect more of that with Sky Sailing minus the blips, beeps, and bloops.
The material predates the Owl City album and Young felt that the songs represent something completely different. The biggest change from Owl City is that it's purely Young's voice with the accompaniment of acoustic guitar and piano, giving the album a much more natural tone. But thats about the only thing that's different: it sounds exactly like how you'd expect Owl City gone acoustic to sound. To give him credit, the man does have a knack for pop melodies and simple musical progressions. Where as opener "Captains Of the Sky" is upbeat with catchy beats and an Owl City-esque synthesized piano, standout track "Brielle" is a melodious song filled with images of a lost love. It's a potentially pretty song but the lovesick lyrics, simple arrangements and Young's breathy voice make for a less than stellar listening experience. Actually, that goes across the board on the album.
The whole album makes you feel like you're floating on air while simultaneously dreaming of puppies and cotton candy. It's saccharine to say the least. Fans of Owl City will covet it, but for the rest of us, there's nothing new offered. The lyrics are still cutesy and Young's voice still sounds like he's whispering secrets at the lunch table. He does know how to stand out in a sea of pop, but it's nothing that hasn't done before. The best way to describe
An Airplane Carried Me to Bed is dreamy, but not in the teen hunk kind of way; more like it's a distraction from the real world. -
hanna kasper
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Sky Sailing on Myspace
