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Rhonda Smith is probably best known as the bass player in Prince's band, The New Power Generation. At least in the later incarnations of the group. I picked up this CD because Prince worked on it. I was in a phase where I thought I'd get music if he played on it, but I've since changed my mind. I'll stick to composition work only.
Ok, so here's the rundown on RS2... My first impression of the disc is mixed. There were some funky grooves, but they sound almost imitated. Like she's trying to copy Me'Shell Ndegeocello. Or something like that. The background sounds are distracting and don't really mesh with the music in the foreground. For example, in 'To Get With You', a flight attendant is calling for passengers to board a plane and it just sounds completely out of place.
I'm not gonna break the disc down like I sometimes do... I usually do it when I have good things to say about all the songs. This album has some interesting musical ideas. But the brilliance in the work is overshadowed by the generic. It never achieves its full potential. There are so many talented musicians working on the music, you can't help but be impressed with what you're hearing. It's just not substantial or interesting enough to stand on its own. Of course this is just my opinion and I'm sure there are plenty of people who will disagree with me.
I'm hearing a lot of sounds Prince was using at the time as well. You can tell much of this was recorded using similar or same instruments.
The first time I heard this disc I wasn't impressed. After all these years, this is only the second time I've listened to it and I'm not left with a different impression. I just finished listening to 'Ray Of Light' and I'm not feeling it.
Don't get my wrong, Rhonda is a talented musician. When I've seen her play live, she's absolutely aces to watch. She kinda glides around the stage with that bass. But she's not interesting on her own. She doesn't have a sound she's matured into or a solo voice. There's never been an identity for her outside of Prince.
There's a lot of promise here. But nothing worth making this an absolute must have record. My final words: SKIP IT FOR NOW.
RHONDA SMITH - RS2
01. What Do They Think Music Is?
02. To Get With You
03. Lost Child
04. Time
05. Always
06. Country Music
07. Gotta Believe
08. Sunshine
09. I27
10. It's You
11. The Hypnotic
12. Grind
13. Why Criticize
14. I Miss You
15. Ray Of Light
I know it seems a bit wonky having a back to back like this. But I figured since it was a different band name, it's legit. For those of you who don't know exactly what I'm talking about... Sky Sailing is the project Adam Young released before Owl City. I almost wrote I like it more than Owl City, but I'm not sure that's truthful... It's different in many ways but just as engaging and magical.
Right off the bat, 'Captains Of The Sky' let's you know this is something different from his Owl City material. With greater use of acoustic instruments, the music leans toward a folk sound. 'Captains Of The Sky' doesn't offer many surprises as far as subject matter goes. All of these songs feel like dreams. Dreams Adam had and turned into mystical portals for the rest of us to peer through. With an uptempo beat and an almost marching rhythm section, the song carries you along from start to finish. It's followed by the breathy 'Brielle'. This song is one of my personal favorites. It's a lovely picture postcard of a blossoming but ill fated love and it's sheer poetry makes it one of the strongest songs on the CD.
'Steady As She Goes' and 'Explorers' are both acoustic guitar driven numbers. Both are wonderful, but 'Explorers' is the better of the two. It tells the tale of two friends exploring nature and discovering they could breathe underwater. They decide to stay in the sea and never come up for air. The world up there falls apart without them, but they live in peace below the waves. 'A Little Opera Goes A Long Way' is a song I thought I'd hate when I saw the title; but the tune is actually catchy and the lyrics are fun! It's another upbeat number and it's easy to get caught up in the music.
'Tennis Elbow' is the next song and it's my favorite on the disc. Right off the bat, the lyrics are interesting and catchy. There's a great play on words in this song. But my absolute favorite part is toward the end. He sings, "We are lost, in the sound
Close your eyes, and I will twirl you around"
A bell motif begins and actually twirls the music all the way to the end of the song. It's simply lovely and a musical highlight for the record.
'Blue And Red' is a dreamy ballad. The song makes me think of sleep. 'Alaska' is another acoustic number. The first time I heard it, I thought of Sarah Palin because of Alaska... But the song is so much more meaningful and it has the distinction of replacing a negative Sarah Palin association with a more positive one.
'I Live Alone' is a song that makes me think of being 21. And being 41. At 21 I was out to capture the world and at 41 I'm living alone. It's a bittersweet number for me. Filled with longing to connect and distance. 'Take Me Somewhere Nice' is another acoustic number. It's a short and hopeful number. It's followed by a lullaby: 'Sailboats'. This song is absolutely magical. The album title comes from this track and let me tell you, it's simply beautiful. The piano is delicate, the vocals are almost whispered and the drums are an equal combination of increasing and decreasing intensity. The tempo of this song changes a few times or seems to. It's a musical illusion. The build is in sound layers not actual speed. It's followed by 'Flowers Of The Field', another great number, but 'Sailboats' is the better final track.
Oddly enough, the biggest fault I find with Adam's work is his choice for final track. He has such majestic songs to end on and yet he chooses to finalize his discs with somewhat mediocre songs. 'Sailboats' is a better choice as a closing track and would leave the listener feeling whimsical.
Ok, that's my opinion... and this is another CD I listen to from start to finish. I sing along with every number, harmonizing each note. I find it enchanting, calming and refreshingly different from what's happening in music these days. Although I love Owl City, I'd certainly pick Sky Sailing as a project I'd like to hear more of. I would buy a new Sky Sailing disc before I'd pick up a new Owl City. My final words: PEACEFUL AND PROMISING ACOUSTIC POP... PERFECT.
SKY SAILING - AN AIRPLANE CARRIED ME TO BED
01. Captains Of The Sky
02. Brielle
03. Steady As She Goes
04. Explorers
05. A Little Opera Goes A Long Way
06. Tennis Elbow
07. Blue And Red
08. Alaska
09. I Live Alone
10. Take Me Somewhere Nice
11. Sailboats
12. Flowers Of The Field
Although I'm not 100% familiar with the history of Missing Persons as a band, I am familiar with Dale Bozzio's subsequent material. Mainly because she signed with Paisley Park and released an album on the label. It wasn't one of the best Paisley Park moments, but it wasn't all that bad either. What I was surprised to learn was how much of her back catalog I actually knew. Or at least was aware of.
Missing Persons was one of those 80s bands on the cusp of just about everything popular. The teeny booper sound of Dale's vocals and the presence of synthesizers made the band iconic in every aspect of pop culture. You heard their songs in movies, on television and on the radio. I'm not sure how many people I knew counted themselves as Missing Persons fans, but we all knew who they were.
I picked up this little gem at a used music store in Las Vegas and it has everything I've ever wanted from the band and more. From the chartbusting hits to the strange filler material, this disc has it all. It starts off strong with 'Words', 'Destination Unknown', 'I Like Boys' and 'Mental Hopscotch'. Dale's quirky vocals and the infectious pop arrangements playing behind her can get even the most hardcore couch potato up on their feet to dance.
Never fear, 'Walking In L.A.' is on this collection as well. Nothing worth having is left off. This is an excellent Best Of compilation and one any casual fan of Missing Persons should have in their collection. I may not be a die hard Missing Persons fan, but I like them enough to enjoy the CD and recommend it to others. My final words: DESTINATION: BUY IT!
MISSING PERSONS - THE BEST OF MISSING PERSONS
01. Words
02. Destination Unknown
03. I Like Boys
04. Mental Hopscotch
05. Hello, I Love You
06. Windows
07. It Ain't None Of Your Business
08. Walking In L.A.
09. Tears
10. Bad Streets
11. Give
12. Right Now
13. Color In Your Life
14. I Can't Think About Dancin'
15. No Secrets
Wow, where do I start with this disc...? A friend of mine suggested I check this group out. He was really into them. I checked out 'Fireflies' on Youtube and I thought the video was OK. Wasn't really enthused about the music. Figured it was another electro wannabe act. Later on, I found out my niece, Danielle was really into them. So one day, I was looking for some new music and I downloaded a couple of their CDs. Needless to say, I started listening to them on my phone while I was at work and suddenly, I'm hooked.
Owl City is like Nine Inch Nails. It's a band with a live line-up, but the studio work is essentially one person writing, arranging, playing instruments and singing. So not really a band. But who cares... Ultimately, it's the music we're interested in anyway. Not the band photos. Owl City is actually Adam Young. A guy from Minnesota. And he's big on homonyms. Lyrically and musically one of the first things you notice is how upbeat and positive the material is. That's probably the main reason I'm into them right now. I've got so many negative influences in my life. Owl City keeps me in a more uplifted head space.
My niece, Danielle, calls their music magical. Probably because of the chimes and light bell sounds he often uses. Not to mention most of the subject matter is rather ethereal, dream-like. He tells stories in his songs. Stories that often sound like something he dreamed the night before. The opening track, 'Cave In' seems to set the tone right away. The song is about getting away from pressure and taking time to relax. The cave in he refers to is actually a breakdown of sorts. He needs to get out of the cavern or he'll cave in. There's a lot of meaning in his music and it's often complex no matter how simple it appears to be. You have some lilting starlight sounds on this number. The real intensity comes toward the end of the song where the music breaks down a bit. It's a very compelling number.
The second track is 'The Bird And The Worm'. Right away, this song utilizes a live acoustic guitar. For a purely electronic band, it's a bold move and sets the group apart right off the bat. They're more than just a pop band. The song is a sweet song about a courtship. It doesn't get complicated beyond simple sentiment, but it's very enjoyable and wonderful to sing along with. It's followed by 'Hello Seattle'. This number is a track from a previous release. I love it as well. There's supposed to be a difference between this version and the original, though I'm not sure I hear it. 'Umbrella Beach' is a song with an interesting story line. I read an interview once where Adam talked about it. He said it was about a homeless man who made a home for himself in an underwater boxcar. Once again, this sounds more like a dream than reality. But it's a lovely concept and the song is very exciting musically.
'The Saltwater Room' is one of my favorite tunes on this release. Again, it's a song appearing on an earlier release and was remixed or re-recorded for this album. I adore the tune. The chorus is beautiful and echoes many sentiments I've had with new loves in the past. I'm experiencing it right now as a matter of fact. I'm having feelings for someone and wondering if things are going to get more serious. It's followed by 'Dental Care' a song I think is rather silly. I consider it more filler material and I would've left it off the album in favor of stronger material. There are a couple of songs like this Adam writes. I do enjoy some of the lyrics and it's fun to sing along with. But not in the vein of the rest of the disc. 'Meteor Shower' is quite compelling; though I'm not sure if he's talking about a love or God. It's sometimes hard to separate Adam's religious nature with his sensitive side. The two seemed intertwined. I've always been of the opinion, when you make such intense statements religiously in music, you run the risk of alienating your audience. I feel the same way about music and politics.
The next number is another number I believe is leftover from an earlier release. 'On The Wing' is a lovely piece of music. It's whimsical and uplifting. It's also very hopeful. It's followed by the song Owl City is probably best known for. 'Fireflies' is a great track and there's not much I can say for it here. Everyone surely is familiar with this number by now. 'The Tip Of The Iceberg' is next up and it's also a wonderfully hopeful number. Adam has a female vocalist appearing on some of his work. I believe her name is Breanne Durin and her voice is so complimentary to his. They make an incredible combination harmonizing together. I love hearing her on his music. The next track on the disc is 'Vanilla Twilight' and this song is pure magic. I'm so adverse to ballads. They're such a touchy song type. Very rare is the artist who can generate a truly amazing song in this format. And using a ballad to round off an album is a risky but often rewarding decision. Especially if it's successful. Adam pulls it off with this number. He says goodbye and makes you anticipate his return all in one song. The video is absolutely enchanting. I challenge people all the time to watch it and not smile. It's such a subtle visual, but one that warms the heart. And therein, lies the power of this band. There's nothing jumping out and pounding you. Just a quiet easy sound that creeps into your soul and makes you feel happy. Truly hopeful and happy. After 'Vanilla Twilight', 'Tidal Wave' is almost an afterthought. It would've been better positioned before 'Vanilla Twilight'.
But it's over too soon. And thankfully, the deluxe edition gives you some additional tunes to add to your collection of this "magical" music. The first song on the second disc is 'Hot Air Balloon' and it's absolutely perfect! The lyrics are bouncing and fun. The story is full of color and imagination. The beat is infectious. You can't get better than this. 'Butterfly Wings' is another ballad and one that is also mystical. He tells the story of two caterpillars dreaming of the day they wake from their cocoons with butterfly wings. 'Rugs From Me To You' is another joke song much like 'Dental Care'. It features some accordion music. Something you kinda expect from someone growing up in Minnesota. It's followed by 'Sunburn'. Once again, acoustic guitar is employed to change the sound making it more organic and friendly.
The remix of 'Hello Seattle' in my opinion is much better than the original version. I love it when it comes on. I crank the volume and freak out. It has a soothing piano intro and then builds into an intense beat you can't help but shake your butt to. The last two songs are both wonderful numbers. 'If My Heart Was A House' expresses a very gentle but sincere emotion and I think it's very powerful. The concert I've seen, this was the song they closed the show out with and it was an absolute perfect way to end. 'Strawberry Avalanche' is another brilliant tune. It's got that great energetic beat you're starting to expect from Owl City. As well as a wonderful arrangement. It's another song about a dream story. This one takes place on an overnight sleepover. Two kids in sleeping bags in the backyard.
All in all, this album is very satisfying. I love it. I listen to it a lot right now. Along with most of his other material. If you don't own it, run out and pick it up. But don't waste your time with just the regular edition... Pick up the Deluxe Edition to get the bonus material. They're worth it. My final words: TRULY MAGICAL MUSIC!!!!
OWL CITY - OCEAN EYES DELUXE EDITION
01. Cave In
02. The Bird And The Worm
03. Hello Seattle
04. Umbrella Beach
05. The Saltwater Room
06. Dental Care
07. Meteor Shower
08. On The Wing
09. Fireflies
10. The Tip Of The Iceberg
11. Vanilla Twilight
12. Tidal Wave
BONUS DISC
01. Hot Air Balloon
02. Butterfly Wings
03. Rugs From Me To You
04. Sunburn
05. Hello Seattle (Remix)
06. If My Heart Was A House
07. Strawberry Avalanche
