Adam Young’s boyish vocals make him sound like a baby
Ben Gibbard, and if
Owl City is his
Postal Service, then
Sky Sailing is his
Death Cab for Cutie. Young wrote and recorded
An Airplane Carried Me to Bed’s songs in 2006, while he was still spending his days as a metalworker and living with his parents, and about a year before he crafted the sound that eventually resulted in the hit single “Fireflies.” Instead of
Owl City’s bright, bleepy synth-pop backed by faint acoustic strumming, this album puts the guitar front and center, with keyboards occasionally coming along for the ride. The sound is different enough from the
Owl City songs to warrant the
Sky Sailing name, but
Young’s basic approach remains the same not just from project to project, but from song to song. His voice and melodies are sweeter than sweet, and his muse remains love, whether it’s new, lost, unrequited or far, far away.
Owl City’s winsomeness twinkles in songs like “Brielle” and “Steady As She Goes,” although their acoustic backdrops might sound a touch simpler and more genuine than the electronics of
Young’s main project. Most of
An Airplane Carried Me to Bed drifts by in a blur of wispy guitars and yearning sighs, with mentions of Audrey Hepburn and “wintergreen daydreams” popping out now and then. There aren’t many peaks and valleys here, although “Tennis Elbow” shows hints of
Owl City, “Take Me Somewhere Nice” blossoms from playful electric pianos to accordions on its choruses, and “A Little Opera Goes a Long Way” shows off
Young’s guitar solo skills. Young has a distinct vision for his music no matter what name he releases it under, and
Owl City fans will find a lot to like about
Sky Sailing. ~ Heather Phares