OWL CITY - MAYBE I'M DREAMING

Everything about this record seems to fit a dream theme.  And it's right there in the title of the record.  Adam Young has an amazing ability to create colorful, visual dreamscapes through his words and music.  It's like sitting in a quiet room and hearing water falling somewhere in the background.  You can imagine yourself in any one of a number of settings from viewing a distant waterfall to sitting beside a swift flowing stream.

Each song paints a different picture for the listener to experience.  There are certain recurring themes like the elements of water and air that crop up over and over.  For Young, there's a certain affinity for the cool and calm.  Whether it's in a chill wind or the inherent cooling effect of water, nothing seems too hot or uncomfortable.  It all achieves a sense of natural simplicity.  It's an uncomplicated work of brilliance.

This is the first actual album by Owl City.  It was preceded by an E.P., "Of June" which I haven't reviewed yet.  All of his earlier work is, for lack of a better word, magical.  His later body of work is still enchanting but preoccupies itself with more mundane subject matter and doesn't seem nearly as imaginative as these earlier songs.  

"Maybe I'm Dreaming" has a number of songs I find absolutely stunning!  The first track I really lose it over is 'The Saltwater Room'.  I absolutely love this song.  It features Breanne Duren on vocals and I should point out here I'm completely taken with the way their voices compliment each other.  As a singer, Adam Young possesses a soft, sentimental quality that comes across both sincere and ethereal.  Breanne has a richer more complex voice, but it's also high and lilting.  I've heard some of her solo material and she chooses louder more aggressive songs to sing.  But it's in these softer tunes with Young that her voice really shines.  The two of them create a breathy duo I enjoy listening to over and over.  I'd love to hear an entire album of these two artists collaborating and singing together.  She also sings on my favorite track on the disc, 'Air Traffic'.  I won't even bother trying to explain why I love this song.  It's a simple number.  Hidden on the disc and probably considered a filler track by most people.  To me, it's a relaxing, calming light that fills me up and leaves me drowsy and happy.

Songs like 'Early Birdie' and 'The Technicolor Phase' are so descriptive you can't help but conjure vivid images in your mind.  They're inspiring.  There's just not enough you can say about this beautiful album.  It achieves so much with so little and exposed the world to the visionary talent of Young.  Like the main character in the track 'Sky Diver', you fall into this record rather than listen to it.  And frankly, if you fell asleep listening to this record you would probably experience a bunch of incredible dreams.

I'm not going to ramble on any further or else I'll have to pull out a Thesaurus to find new words for magical and beautiful.  This album is simply all of that and more.  You have to hear it.  In my opinion, "Maybe I'm Dreaming" is the synth album many bands in the 80's were trying to write but never quite achieved.  It's finally realized here.  My final words:  A MYSTICAL ADVENTURE IN THE LAND OF NOD.

OWL CITY - MAYBE I'M DREAMING
01. On The Wing
02. Rainbow Veins
03. Super Honeymoon
04. The Saltwater Room
05. Early Birdie
06. Air Traffic
07. The Technicolor Phase
08. Sky Diver
09. Dear Vienna
10. I'll Meet You There
11. This Is The Future
12. West Coast Friendship

BOOK OF LOVE - BOOK OF LOVE

I think the thing I liked the most about Book Of Love when I first heard them was how similar their music was to the music I was writing at the time.  And the many friends and musicians around me.  We had similar keyboards and sound banks.  They used very simple drum machines and drum patterns to create catchy and often very dance able tracks.  The lyrics were right in line with most of the British New Wave that was filtering in except this band was American.  They were definitely more European in sound and appearance.

I think this was their first album and it contains a whole slew of memorable and popular tracks.  The very first track, 'Modigliani (Lost In Your Eyes)' begins with a swelling synth chorus and then a pounding drum drops in and we're off.  Another wonderful trick Book Of Love were really good at was the inclusion of bell sounds.  Those sweet tinkling sounds so many people find enchanting.  More recently, Owl City have developed a similar musical sense.  They use a lot of clear bells and chimes to create magic in their music.  So right off the bat, you've got a track that is very sweetly drawing you in.  Susan Ottaviano, the lead singer, has a very deadpan vocal delivery that allows the music to swell and cascade around her like white chocolate drizzle.  She's the somewhat bitter punch that grounds the music and keeps it from spiraling out of orbit and flying away.

Track 2 is 'You Make Me Feel So Good' and it's another upbeat, bell encrusted creation with catchy hooks and even more catchy lyrics.  Thus far, you can't find fault with anything that's happening here.  It's delightful without crossing over into that strange place where Americans sound like they're copying a British sound.  so much of what this group actually does can be traced back to the American roots of 80's New Wave.  You can hear the influence of Talking Heads, The Cars and Missing Persons in the way Ottaviano delivers her vocals.  'Still Angry' starts out with a heavier drum track than the previous songs.  The music is also more subdued and simple.  The focus is on the rhythm track.  As you can guess, this track is more negative and aggressive than the previous two.  Still, the group never crosses the line into a purely aggressive form of music.  The lilting bells are still present in this number.

The first ballad of the album, 'White Lies' is up next and it starts with a very simple progression you can literally hear playing at a high school dance.  Even though it's slower, the delicate sound the group has developed carries through.  Once again, more bells.  Absolutely genius use and very effective.  'Lost Souls' starts off with the sound of Chinese gongs and some straining synth lines.  Then it veers off into something I don't like initially.  It starts to sound a bit generic.  It uses drum sounds that were fairly common at the time.  Once again, the bells eventually kick in playing the melody and Ottaviano begins to sing and we find some footing in the song.  The build is nice, but on this particular track, there's a lot of starts and stops with different motifs and though you might call it a more complex piece, it suffers from the transitions.  

'Late Show' is an instrumental and for what it is, it's actually quite interesting.  It maintains a steady rhythm.  It's a little too fast...  You want to slow it down, but it's still enjoyable.  And now, boys and girls, we have my favorite song on the album, 'I Touch Roses'!  Once again, we have lovely bells ringing all through the song and it's sheer perfection.  The drum track is compelling.  They use a guitar sample to heighten the beat and it's delightful.  There's even some xylophone thrown in.  It's a fantastic song that leaves you feeling good and what more could you ask for from a tune?  'Yellow Sky' is next and it starts off with an oriental feel that carries on throughout the song.  The most striking thing about this track is the fact Ottaviano actually sings this one and spends more time hitting higher notes then she has on all the previous tracks.  It's followed by my second most favorite number on this disc, 'Boy'.  Although this song actually speaks a lot to gender identity and sexual confusion.  Especially when you consider it's written by a guy.  I could go on for awhile about this one, but I won't.  Suffice it to say, it certainly found a very specific audience.  And btw, bells, bells, bells...

'Happy Day' is track number 10 and even though the tinkling continues, there's a harpsichord sound giving this song a paisley psychedelic feel.  There's some echo on the vocal delivery accentuating the hippy dippy trippiness of the music.  Still, I like the song!  'Die Matrosen' starts off sounding like a boy scout jamboree and then devolves into something that musically resembles a Missing Persons creation before those scouts whistling return...  They're spread throughout the track so be prepared.  There's a dramatic shift in this song from major to minor movements.  It's actually a lot of fun.  'Book Of Love' is technically the last song on the album.  It rounds the disc off nicely and seals the deal.  Book Of Love have delivered a consistent and enjoyable album you can listen to all the way through without getting bored or skipping tracks.

My CD features another five tracks, but they're all mixes and 12" single releases.  It's awesome to have them included.  The first is 'Modigliani (Lost In Your Eyes) (I Dream Of Jeanne Mix)'.  I believe this was the 12" extended version of the song.  It's followed by 'Modigliani (Requiem Mass)'....  This is a version of the song that could actually be performed by bell ringers.  It's a quiet, instrumental but still enjoyable.  Track 15 is 'You Make Me Feel So Good (Flutter Mix)'.  Like the previous two mixes, this one stays fairly close to the original number.  It doesn't get crazy.  Still, these extended versions of songs you liked were always great fun to have back in the day.  It's followed by 'I Touch Roses (Long Stemmed Version)' which is code for extended mix.  And this is probably the best of the bunch.  Love it.  Finally, we round the disc out with 'Boy (Extended Mix)'.  This one is fairly straight forward.  No beating around the bush, it's just longer.  And there's nothing wrong with that.

I'm not sure how successful Book Of Love were, but as far as I'm concerned, it wasn't enough.  I think this band was largely overlooked and sadly, never garnered the attention they deserved.  This album was delightful, fun and easy to sing along with.  It had all the ingredients to be a huge hit!  I'm guessing the record company didn't put much money in promoting them and that's why they never achieved international status.  For those of us who discovered them and followed along for the ride, Book Of Love gave us some of the most memorable and personal songs of our youth.  My final words:  AN UNSUNG 80'S CLASSIC!  REDISCOVER THIS GEM!!!

BOOK OF LOVE - BOOK OF LOVE
01. Modigliani (Lost In Your Eyes)
02. You Make Me Feel So Good
03. Still Angry
04. White Lies
05. Lost Souls
06. Late Show
07. I Touch Roses
08. Yellow Sky
09. Boy
10. Happy Day
11. Die Matrosen
12. Book Of Love
13. Modigliani (Lost In Your Eyes) (I Dream Of Jeanne Mix)
14. Modigliani (Requiem Mass)
15. You Make Me Feel So Good (Flutter Mix)
16. I Touch Roses (Long Stemmed Version)
17. Boy (Extended Mix)

LINUS IN THE SAPPHIRE - FREE SLEEP

Right off the bat, I thought I was listening to something Wendy & Lisa would of put on "Eroica" or "Girl Bros."  The first number is '( )'.  I've taken to calling it Bookends.  This is a complicated song.  There's a lot happening musically and the aggressive turns it takes are softened greatly by Laura Fisher's surprisingly versatile voice.  At one point, you feel like you're sitting in a downstairs Italian bistro listening to a live acoustic guitar and piano.  It progresses into a strong verse and chorus before transforming into a Smashing Pumpkins rant!  It then subsides and makes room for some vocal sparing before completely blending everything you've heard into a wild spinning dervish.  Let me be completely honest with you...  This song has no potential at all of getting radio play.  But it's phenomenal!  And if this is what we have to expect from LITS, I'm on board!

'Clever Dolphin' makes use of ethereal keyboards to create the feeling of ocean, but then moves into a sinister minor progression.  This song gives me the impression of a dreamscape being described by a waking dreamer caught unaware.  It has the magical intensity of an Owl City track except there's no happy ending here.  There's the hope of resolution.  There are no answers.  Once more, there's some vocal harmonizing with Mike Britt; the second half of this duo.  His voice compliments Fisher's.  The next number is 'Defective Angel' and Britt takes over on lead vocals.  This tune reminds of Shiny Toy Guns.  

Fourth on this disc is 'Soviet Kitten'.  I'm starting to see a pattern emerging in the songwriting.  Many of the lyrical ideas are punctuated by unusual time signatures.  There are many shifting tempos happening and they can be challenging to follow.  But it's this unusual sound creating their unique style.  'Empty Water' is the most accessible song on the disc and follows the more traditional style of songwriting in Western culture.  Fisher delivers her vocals like a gymnast on the uneven bars.  Her voice soars across the music like a razor blade sharp and clean.

'Wait For The End Of The World' is the final track from this EP and hearing this song is like being hit full on by a Semi!  Of the music on the disc, this song is the one track I hope to see live at some point.  I suspect I'll find myself completely knocked out.  There are a couple short movements throughout the number, but they maintain the drive and tempo.  This one doesn't let you go.

So LITS features a remarkable vocalist...  Some fascinating music...  Interesting ideas and stunning artwork.  There's an untamed quality to the music that could be focused under the hand of a strong producer.  In it's current state, LITS will either inspire a huge dedicated following...  Or fade away under the overbearing weight of popular music.  With the right production, the music could cross over to a mainstream audience without losing the integrity or vision of the band.

This disc has been on heavy rotation in my truck for a couple weeks now and I've enjoyed it.  My final words:  A BRILLIANT AND EXCITING BEGINNING!!!!

LINUS IN THE SAPPHIRE - FREE SLEEP

01. ( )

02. Clever Dolphin

03. Defective Angel

04. Soviet Kitten

05. Empty Water

06. Wait For The End Of The World

YIP DECEIVER - MEDALLIUS

Yip Deceiver...  I have no idea what the name means.  I'm not sure I even have a guess.  They were the opening band on Electric Six's last tour.  I met one of the members prior to the show and I decided to pick up the disc and give it a go before I even heard them play.  Some of the last bands Electric Six has toured with have been very exciting and interesting.  They haven't steered me wrong yet so I took a chance.

The first group played and they had a huge turn out.  I guess they were a local band, but a lot of people showed up just for them.  I didn't watch the show, but I could hear them and although they weren't awful, I didn't hear anything setting them apart from anyone.  After they played, I was a little concerned for the next group.

Imagine my surprise when two guys took the stage.  Just two guys.  They then proceeded to blow us away with an interesting blend of techno pop and dueling vocals.  Now I've had this experience before.  I've seen bands live I thought were terrible and when I purchased their albums, I loved it.  I've also seen bands I thought were incredible live only to hate their released material.  After listening to Yip Deceiver for a day, I can honestly say, I enjoy both very much.

The music is much more nuanced when you hear it on the disc.  I'd be hard pressed to say what sets this band apart from other groups.  The music they record is reminiscent of 80's New Wave and Electro Pop.  It's highly synth driven.  They mix some live elements in, including guitar and percussion; otherwise, it's very much in the vein of an 80's Synth Band.

And let me be the first to say, there's nothing wrong with that and we need much more of it in the world.

The first track is 'Presets' and of the tracks on this disc, this one seems to be the earliest written and recorded.  The music becomes progressively tighter and more aligned as the songs play.  Which is interesting because you can see the production value on each track improve greatly.  The second number is 'Get Strict'.  This song reminds me of the way bands like Information Society and Cause & Effect would write music.  'Lover' clocks in at #3 and continues the vocal sparring between the band members.  It's an enjoyable number and there are some interesting sound effects throughout the song.

'World Class Pleasure' kicks in with a strong Prince influence.  The drum sounds are deeper, heavier and the synth lines are similar to those used in Minneapolis sound.  There's some rhythm guitar playing there too and the groove is undeniable.  As much as I've enjoyed the disc, this song totally ramped up my interest in what the band is doing.  It's more satisfying and produced.

'Go On' introduces new elements as well.  Horns lines throughout along with some electric guitar strumming.  'Color Me In' features some juxtaposing keyboard lines overlapping each other.  It's oddly disjointed but it works.  As simple as it is, it's one of the best numbers on the disc.  I'm absolutely digging this track.  'Obnoxia' brings back some happy keyboard playing and reminds me of Owl City.  I love songs with happy music even if the subject matter is more on the darker side.

'2nd Son Of A 2nd Son' features a more complicated beat than usual for the group.  It's got some of the best lyrics by them and it's truly pleasurable to hear.  'Theme' is more of a segue between songs, but it's an interesting listen.  It's followed by 'Tops Part ll'.  This track is also good and it has a beat similar to something you'd hear in 90's R&B.  In fact, it sorta reminds me of Dave Gamson's production work with Scritti Politti.  The vocal arrangement borders on something Prince would've done in the mid 80's.

The album ends on an absolute strong note.  'Double Future' could easily be the best track on the album.  It has an unrelenting groove and seems to be a fully realized vision of the collaboration between these two artists.

I'm excited about this disc.  I love discovering new groups and enjoying what they're doing.  I'm not interested in standard fare pop, but I do love the sound of it.  Therefore, I embrace bands that can take a modern sound and do something different and interesting.  Yip Deceiver accomplish this in Spades and I'm looking forward to hearing more.

My final words:  EXCITING, UNEXPECTED, THRILLING AND UTTERLY WELCOME!

YIP DECEIVER - MEDALLIUS

01. Presets

02. Get Strict

03. Lover

04. World Class Pleasure

05. Go On

06. Obnoxia

07. 2nd Son Of A 2nd Son

08. Theme

09. Tops Part II

10. Double Future

SKY SAILING - AN AIRPLANE CARRIED ME TO BED

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

OWL CITY - OCEAN EYES DELUXE EDITION

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