Ocean Eyes in Bloomington, MN

Filled with bubbling electronics and G-rated club anthems,
Ocean Eyes
sets its sights on the MySpace generation, targeting the younger siblings of those who bought
the Postal Service
's
Give Up
six years earlier. This is computerized pop music, replete with programmed drum loops, digital symphonies, and all the amenities of modern recording software. Only
Adam Young
's vocals carry a hint of human presence, and his fanciful lyrics -- which turn even the most mundane content (see
"Dental Care,"
a good ol' fashioned ode to oral hygiene) into whimsy -- serve to strengthen the album's escapist appeal. Such syrupy sweetness builds to a feverish pitch throughout the album's 12 tracks, peaking during the viral sensation
"Hello Seattle"
and the number one single
"Fireflies."
ultimately winds up too sugary for its own good, though, having focused on dessert without giving its listeners any sort of meaty, substantive entree. A handful of ballads add some sense of variety to the album's pace, but
Owl City
is largely a vehicle for the one song
knows how to make. ~ Andrew Leahey