Owl City

It seems crazy it’s been six years since a little song called “Fireflies” reigned as the catchy, carefree summer anthem, skyrocketing multi-instrumentalist Adam Young from near obscurity to the next pop sensation. Under the assumed name Owl City, his brand of quirky, upbeat electronica continues to pop on his third full-length album, Mobile Orchestra. The ten-track album is designed and succeeds at getting stuck in your head, and you’ll find yourself listening along with a smile stretched across your face.

It’s a little bit dance, a little bit worship and even a little bit country — Jake Owen is featured on the track “Back Home” — but all-around optimistic and hopeful. For everyone who grew up in the ’90s, “Unbelievable” is one big trip down memory lane, mentioning everything from having to blow on Nintendo cartridges to get them to work to The Lion King to Jurassic Park and even Dr Pepper jelly beans. (Also, the song features Hanson, so you can’t get much more ’90s than that.) “You’re Not Alone,” featuring super-popular CCM artist Britt Nicole, emphasizes that God is love and ultimately, that’s all we really need. The album ends with “This Isn’t the End,” a song about a father leaving his daughter, and her journey to forgiveness reminds the listener that even when everything seems to be falling apart, it’s not the end of the story.

As a whole, Mobile Orchestra is a solid electronica album, but you have to be a fan of the niche genre to genuinely fall in love with it.

About the Author

Sarah Brehm

See author's posts