Mix one part Something Corporate, two parts synth

Over the last week or so I have been giving Owl City’s most recent record, Ocean Eyes,  a proper listen. Yes, I realize that I am far from being on the bleeding edge of new music – but I have a job and responsibilities so what do you want?

I know that everyone and his monkey has already gone on and on about how much Adam Young’s style is like a less developed Postal Service.  And I freely admit that the first time I heard Fireflies I thought for sure that The Postal Service had finally released a new album. I was in the mall at the time, so I immediately made my way to the nearest record store, only to be disappointed to discover that no one had heard anything of a new album.

But this afternoon, on my way home from work, I realized that I could hear another major influence – Something Corporate!  Now the more I listen, the less I hear Ben Gibbard and the more I hear Andrew McMahon.  Owl city is exactly what I would expect to hear if McMahon happened to be locked in a room with a synthesizer.

Need proof? Go listen the Something Corporate’s Songs for Silent Movies (any song will do), and then Owl City’s If My Heart was a House.

See what I mean?

Video didn’t kill the radio star… mp3s did

I don’t own a radio.

I love music, and I go everywhere with headphones, but I just don’t own a radio.  It wasn’t a conscious decision, and I’m not even sure when exactly it happened.  I just realized one day that I hadn’t listened to the radio in years.  I used to spend hours each day listening to 102.1 The Edge in Toronto.  (I know. The edge is not today what it was in the mid-90s. The people have changed, the music has changed.)

I don’t have a television either.  That was a conscious decision though, and one that I’ve never regretted.

But what I do regret is that I always fall behind when it comes to new music.  I find that I need to periodically Google my favourite artists just to find out if they’ve released anything new.  Clearly this works fine for artists that I already know – but what about new artists?  Sometimes I don’t hear about the next big thing until months after their limelight has dimmed.  It happened with The Shins.  It happened with The Postal Service.  I’ve still never actually heard a Lady Gaga song. (I’m guessing that’s not a bad thing though.)

Sometimes I feel like there is this mass of amazing music just outside my reach.

The idea that I might be missing out on great music is so disappointing.  And the disappointment is crushing.

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A night with Clark Gable

I’ve been listening to a lot of music tonight and rediscovering all those old bands that somehow got lost.  I can’t remember who came along and stole my attention from The Postal Service, but whoever it was – they were not at all worthy.  Clark Gable still gives me shivers every time I listen to it.

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