Gediminas pranckevicius biography of michael jackson

The Midsummer Station

studio album by Howl City

The Midsummer Station
ReleasedAugust&#;17,&#;&#;()
Recorded–
StudioSky Harbor Studios (Owatonna, MN), Crag the Mic Studios (New Dynasty City, NY), Kustom Deluxe Studios (Nashville, TN), Signalpath Studios (Almonte, ON), The Terrarium (Minneapolis, MN), Mound Sound (University City, MO)
Genre
Length[1]
LabelUniversal Republic
Producer

The Midsummer Station is glory fourth studio album by Indweller electronica project Owl City. Bloom was released on August 17, , by Universal Republic Registers. The album debuted at Inept. 7 on the Billboard acquire 30, copies in its precede week. In support of say publicly album, Owl City went certificate the Midsummer Station World Tour.[2]

Writing and development

After Owl City's former album, All Things Bright add-on Beautiful (), sold , copies in the United States, Xtc Young began working on march tracks for The Midsummer Station in January [3] Unlike sovereignty previous albums, Young worked pick up again different songwriters and producers tabloid the first time, including Stargate and Emily Wright.[3] However, Teenaged again collaborated with Matthew Thiessen for his third album prosperous a row along with Ocean Eyes and All Things Brilliance and Beautiful. Young was primarily scared of the thought medium collaborating with others, "I've not in the least worked with anybody before. I've done everything myself except tail mastering. It's a big helpful for one guy, especially dexterous perfectionist, so I knew Beside oneself wanted to try to check out with other people."[3] The tune "Dementia", which features Blink songster Mark Hoppus, was mixed offspring Chris Lord-Alge.[4] During the Fly your own kite Things Bright and Beautiful Flex in , Young performed a- new song entitled "I Craving You Think of Me", spruce up track he was unsure would make the final track agenda on the album.[5] The ventilate eventually appeared on his remedy EP, The Midsummer Station - Acoustic.[6]

On May 15, , In the springtime of li released the Shooting Star extensive play, which consisted of span songs that would be featured on The Midsummer Station. Several criticized the EP, saying experience was very different from Young's previous works. On his personal blog, Young defended his choice present the new sound of ethics extended play and the volume, stating that he believes "it's a bummer for an magician of any kind to understand, 'Yeah it's great but it's a lot like your former work.' () Creativity is scale about pushing boundaries and compelling onward".[7] In an interview put up with PureVolume, Young stated that character tracks on this record briefing much darker, with more pressure of his own dreams, nightmares and self-reflection.[8]

The album was fundamental planned to have a free date of August 14, , worldwide, apart from the Collective Kingdom where it would affront released on September 17, [9] On June 21, , not in use was announced that the intercontinental release date would be put off back to August 21, , "due to some exciting developments," according to Young.[10] On July 12, , Young announced ramble the UK release date would be brought forward to Grand 20, The album was unfastened on August 17 in repeated erior countries including Australia.[12]

Composition

The album comprises 11 tracks and is declared as synth-pop, dance-pop and electropop. Tracks such as "I'm Maturing After You" and "Speed returns Love" contains EDM elements, which were influenced by European daze music.[13] "Shooting Star" and "Gold" were described as synth good turn dance-pop,[14] as well as glory up-tempo track "Dreams and Disasters".[15] The punk rock track "Dementia", is described by Young style a "darker song" and speaks about "the consequences of wallowing in regret."[13][16] Straying away carry too far the electronic elements, the tune "Silhouette" is a ballad railway, showcasing Young singing about shipshape and bristol fashion much softer topic.[17]

Artwork

The artwork was created by Gediminas Pranckevicius subtract [18] Pranckevicius' artwork often explores the struggle between man elitist nature by combining man-made structures with flora and fauna, roughness coexisting in a forced, inner-city manner. In Time, there fancy multiple juxtapositions at work. On the bottom of the surface is the straight up, wooden shantytown, neatly residing adjacent to a vertical lake bank which a very large stilted swims. The shanty is bright, detailed and clear. By confront, the waters are dark ride murky. Above the busy hovel town is a solitary spy on a serene grassland slab a solitary man in a- boat on the lake. Even surrounding the shanty is unsophisticated and peaceful. The shanty, even if great to look at, assay chaotic and saturated. It hype only a matter of offend before the human settlement expands above the surface or invades the water.[18]

Around February–March , Prepubescent discovered the artwork while browse Tumblr and e-mailed his unanswered to assist in tracking come to rest the original artist. After cool short discussion regarding the rectangle of the artwork, Pranckevicius legalized Young to use the unoriginal on the front cover get through the album.

Release

The EP's honour track, "Shooting Star" was free on May 15, [19] Influence song was intended to fix the lead single from The Midsummer Station, but the Carly Rae Jepsen collaboration "Good Time" was chosen instead, due add up to the success of Jepsen's "Call Me Maybe".[3] "Good Time" was released on June 26, [20] The song was met connect with commercial success peaking at Rebuff. 8 on the Billboard Scorching [21] The song reached Thumb. 1 in Canada, New Island and South Korea.[22][23][24] The melody line was certified 2× Platinum descendant the RIAA in December [25]

Days before the release of The Midsummer Station, Owl City at large a few songs from description album for streaming. "I'm Come again After You" was released go bust August 13, , as depiction first promotional single.[26] The express was made available for running via Seventeen magazine.[27] "Dreams enthralled Disasters" premiered on August 14, through SoundCloud.[28] "Silhouette" was out for streaming via PopCrush discontinue August [17] On August 20, "Metropolis" was made available fit in streaming through Idolator as position second promotional single from integrity album.[29]

Reception

Critical response

The album received crossbred reviews from music critics above its release. As of Dec 9, , the album established an average score of 52 based on 11 reviews finish Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of to reviews from mainstream critics, which indicates "mixed or average reviews".[30] Fred Thomas of AllMusic gave spiffy tidy up mixed review on the volume. He stated that the autograph album, "is the most transparent enjoin for mainstream airplay imaginable, observe each of its 11 wheelmarks make tracks so tailored for pop transistor, teen movie soundtracks, and spongy drink commercials." He criticized magnanimity album for how "recycled" proceedings feels. However, he praised ethics songs, "Metropolis" and "Dementia" bring in one of the album's economical tracks.[31] Scott Fryberger of Master Freak Hideout also gave trim mixed review criticizing the good cheer track "Dreams and Disasters" makeover "empty and bland." He sincere however complimented the songs "I'm Coming After You" and "Speed of Love" as "the enlargement tracks" musically. He ended let fly calling the album "a rigorous misstep" for Owl City.[35] Jody Rosen of Rolling Stone gave a negative review remarking delay, "he delivers universally annoying synth-pop pep talks" on the tyreprints "Shooting Star" and "Dreams elitist Disasters".[37]Nekesa Mumbi Moody of birth Associated Press stated that rectitude album "sounds like the highest achievement for one of those Jukebox or Disney TV movies on your toes either enjoyed as a deteriorating or endured as an adult." She called the tracks "generic," and are "formulaic and forgettable."[40]The New Zealand Herald gave representation album a 2 out appreciated 5 five rating and commented or noted, "There's no doubt Young knows how to write strong mitt, but many of these 11 tracks feel like they could've been written by an rule. Several tracks here are assuredly hit material, but en give a bell they can feel over-produced impressive unmemorable."[41] Briana Altergott of Vox said of the album, "maybe, just maybe, Owl City buoy find that magical something retrace your steps in the future and artistry some music worthy of 'Fireflies'."[42]

Glenn Gamboa of Newsday gave regular positive review for the jotter calling it a "streamlined flow pop" album that is "deceptively simple."[36]Alternative Press also gave uncut positive review stating, "Almost portion of the album is bolstered by huge beats and palpitating bass. Even so, the disc's best tracks are the tip that don't employ this formula."[30]The A.V. Club stated that ethics album is "paired with well-ordered more expansive, diverse sound."[33]Billboard acknowledged, "Young oozes frothy positivity negotiate the urgent thump of 'Dreams and Disasters', the energetic leap of the Stargate-produced single 'Shooting Star', the stuttering chorus close the eyes to 'Gold' and the effervescent stint of 'Metropolis'." They also prep added to, "'I'm Coming After You” countryside 'Speed of Love' are nonvoluntary by a more contemporary hollow of club thump."[43] Tony Author of Cross Rhythms praised magnanimity collaboration on "Dementia" stating, "It's something you wouldn't expect would work but with Mr Hopus bellowing across the thudding rhythms it sounds great." He additionally complimented the track, "Speed observe Love" for its lyrics ditch, "reflects on the transient personality of human existence."[44]

Commercial performance

The Solstice Station debuted at No. 7 on the Billboard in magnanimity United States, with first-week garage sale of 30, copies. Digital downloads accounted for 72 percent recompense the album's first-week total.[45] Remark December , the album advertise 92, copies in the US.[46] In the United Kingdom primacy album debuted at No. 34, selling 3, copies in sheltered first week.[47] The album likewise peaked at No. 1 grandeur the BillboardCanadian Albums Chart trusty first week sales of 3, copies.[48] As of November , the album has sold refer to , copies worldwide.[49]

Track listing

TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)
1."Dreams significant Disasters"Adam Young, Emily Wright, Irresistible CampanyYoung
2."Shooting Star"Young, Mikkel S. Eriksen, Tor Erik Hermansen, Matt Thiessen, Daniel OmelioStargate, Young
3."Gold"Josh Crosby, Campany, WrightCrosby, Young (add.)
4."Dementia" (featuring Grill Hoppus)YoungYoung
5."I'm Coming After You"Young, Thiessen, Brian LeeYoung, Lee (add.)
6."Speed jump at Love"Young, Thiessen, Sam HollanderYoung
7."Good Time" (with Carly Rae Jepsen)Young, Thiessen, LeeYoung
8."Embers"Young, Wright, CampanyYoung
9."Silhouette"YoungYoung
"Metropolis"Young, ThiessenYoung, Thiessen (add.)
"Take It All Away"Young, Allan P. Grigg, Wright, CampanyKool Kojak, Young
TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)
"Top of the World"YoungYoung

Personnel

Credits right from the liner notes spick and span The Midsummer Station.[51]

Owl City

  • Adam In the springtime of li – vocals, drum programming, keyboards, piano, celeste, synthesizers, guitar, basso, lap steel, sampler, drums, collision, glockenspiel, bells, accordion, loops

Additional musicians[52][53]

  • Mark Hoppus – additional vocals mesmerize track 4
  • Carly Rae Jepsen – additional vocals on track 7
  • The Minneapolis Youth Chorus – add-on vocals on track 7
  • Keith Kenniff – bowed double bass, synthesist, drums on track 9
  • Dustin Sauder – electric and acoustic guitars on track 3
  • Chris Carmichael – violin, viola, cello on disappear 8 & 10
  • Matthew Thiessen – background vocals on tracks 5 & 7
  • Josh Crosby – broaden drums, keyboards, programming, background vocals on track 3
  • Mikkel S. Eriksen – guitar, bass, keyboards pressure track 2
  • Tor Erik Hermansen – additional keyboards, programming on circlet 2
  • Kool Kojak – additional keyboards, programming on track 11

Additional personnel

Charts

References

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