Owl City
Shooting Star


2.5
average

Review

by JanuarysGinger USER (5 Reviews)
August 6th, 2013 | 14 replies


Release Date: 2012 | Tracklist

Review Summary: Imagine any made-for-radio-pop song right now, then put Owl City's name on it. Boom, you have this EP.

Being a big Owl City fan, I pine for whenever new music is released by him. Adam Young (the sole member of Owl City) pulls me into another world that always seems to dazzle me, so when I heard an EP showcasing tracks from his 4th studio album The Midsummer Station was being released I was ecstatic! As soon as it was released, I downloaded it, put my headphones on and listened and expected the abstract lyrics about reality and mysteries of life that I loved. What I found wasn't that at all, albeit Dementia perhaps. Let's go through the songs since there are only 4.

Shooting Star starts off with fuzzy synth sounds that Owl City is known for, but quickly becomes a weird version of Katy Perry's Firework talking about how you'll "shine brighter than a shooting star." The title of an Owl City song called Shooting Star would be dreamy and space-y right? Maybe it's because every song on here except for Dementia was written with other people instead of the usual approach of Adam Young doing everything himself with occasional help from Relient K frontman Matt Thiessen. Shooting Star was written by Adam Young and 4 others, Gold wasn't even written by Young, and Take It All Away was written with 2 others.

Okay so now let's move onto the rest of the EP and we hope it'll top Shooting Star perhaps. Gold is cookie-cutter pop and dwells in lyrics about telling some that "what [they've] got is gold." So 2 tracks given to us that us radio-friendly pop music with lyrics basically about the same thing, hopefully Dementia is better, and it is. It's guitar led, which isn't normal for Owl City, but the lyrics are a big step-up from what we've been presented and the vocals Mark Hoppus adds to the track are great with the heavy guitars (for Owl City at least). The lyrics aren't exactly abstract like usual, but they still are better than the Shooting Star and Gold. This is by far the best song off of the EP.

And Take It All Away, while somewhat catchy, is a stereotypical song about someone breaking up with someone and taking away the love. It's a pretty song, stereotypical pop, but pretty.

If this EP presents some of the best tracks off of The Midsummer Station, then we're in for a bumpy ride.

Owl City - Shooting Star (EP) 2.5/5


user ratings (32)
2.7
average


Comments:Add a Comment 
intotheshit
August 6th 2013


3637 Comments


No.

JanuarysGinger
August 6th 2013


15 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

No?

CK
August 6th 2013


6104 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

Maybe.

JanuarysGinger
August 6th 2013


15 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

I don't know.



HolidayKirk
August 6th 2013


1722 Comments


"What did you think of this review? Like it? Hate it? I'm open to any feedback to help me improve."

I like your enthusiasm for feedback, but a line like that should go in the comments instead of the review.

Toondude10
August 7th 2013


15184 Comments


First paragraph isn't needed.

breakingthefragile
August 7th 2013


3104 Comments


You're over a year late to have a summary like that, since The Midsummer Station was released over a year ago. Unless you wrote this a year ago and are just now getting around to posting it.

Kman418
August 7th 2013


13271 Comments


i want him to make that skramz album he was talking about already that would be so tight

hogan900
August 7th 2013


3313 Comments


A lot of work can be done to this, and one review per day please.

stepmaniac
August 7th 2013


202 Comments


I think it's a good place to start! just a few tips for improvement:

"I was so excited to pick up this EP. I downloaded it, put my headphones on and listened and expected the abstract lyrics about reality and mysteries of life that I loved."
Making sure it's crystal clear who you're talking about here would make this a lot clearer. I like the enthusiasm, but try to remember you're writing for an audience. Would somebody who's never heard of Owl City understand what you're talking about here?

"Maybe it's because every song on here except for Dementia was written with other people. Shooting Star was written by Adam Young and 4 others, Gold wasn't even written by Young, and Take It All Away was written with 2 others."
Context would be nice. Is Owl City usually known for writing his own songs? Talking about the impact would make this analysis more meaningful, too: how does it change the quality of the music when the songs are written by other people? Is it less creative? Less sincere?

"Okay so now we move onto the rest of the EP and we hope it'll top Shooting Star perhaps."
Personally I try to stay away from the "we" in reviews (unless it's used to make a thematic point - one example would be "We all fear death, but Owl City tackles it with a refreshing sense of optimism") but that's up to you. Steering clear of it helps you maintain an objective/fair tone that makes you a more trustworthy reviewer.

"If this EP has given us a peak into what The Midsummer Station is, I'm wasn't sure I wanted to know what the rest of the songs off of that album would give me. At least I didn't hear I'm Coming After You on Shooting Star (EP), otherwise I wouldn't off gotten The Midsummer Station at all."
A little proofreading goes a long way! Read your review out loud and see if you made any typos or used any wrong words.

All in all, I like the conciseness and your lovely conversational tone - now try and apply these assets to a more in-depth analysis. A decent start overall, and I hope my feedback was helpful!

stepmaniac
August 7th 2013


202 Comments


also note what hogan900 said, quality over quantity! : )

hogan900
August 7th 2013


3313 Comments


I read your other review though, and you showcased what you can write pretty well. And why thank you step ;D

JanuarysGinger
August 9th 2013


15 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

Thanks for the feedback; I'll remember this and try to apply it next time!

JanuarysGinger
August 9th 2013


15 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

I ended up going back and editing it myself, taking out what I wanted to and adding things I felt were necessary. I'll probably do that to all of these reviews just in case I find something I don't like. Thanks everyone!



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