Customer Reviews

Of The Blue Colour Of The Sky

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

This album has been in heavy rotation in my iTunes ever since it came out. I'm not a music-techie person so I can't tell you about mixing or any of that stuff. I can just tell you what I hear and what I like. This I really like. Even more than the first two albums. It wouldn't be too much to say I absolutely love it.
Yes, I was a big fan of the old Prince music to which everyone is comparing it. And if you read their bio blurb on Lala you'll see that they freely admit this album is influenced by Prince. And I catch that feeling in "White Knuckles" and maybe a little bit in "Skyscrapers".
Really, though, this sounds like the third album from a really great band - as in a band that is not afraid of growth and change even if it takes them in a new direction from what made them popular. Their sound changed. Um, yes. That's what happens when bands don't pull from the same stale formulas. If you want a band that always sounds the same go buy a half dozen Nickelback albums. If you want an album full of songs that are both catchy and full of soul, then pick up Of the Blue Colour of the Sky.

Ever since their 2002 self titled debut, OK Go has been a wild card pop rock player. Their music can best be classified as intelligent power pop, a label not often bestowed upon the genre. With the release of this new album, the band finds themselves inspired and ready to create a truly unique collection of songs. Damian Kulash is a musical mad scientist. His creativity is not bounded by the pressures of record labels or fans expectations. Having said that, there seems to be some controversy surrounding the direction OK Go's "sound" has taken. I disagree with the naysayers. Take a look back at songs like "A Million Ways" (from Oh No) and "There's a Fire" (from the self titled). This is the natural progression of a band who does not know how to write a bad song. I love the more funky / experimental route the band has taken, and if you give it a chance, I think you will too.

It has been five years since these treadmill dancing gents from Chicago graced us with an album. That's right, Oh No, the album that made them an internet sensation during the summer of 2005 was this band's last release. On a major label, Capitol Records, from the beginning, OK Go seems to have gained some creative freedom since then. With Oh No behind them, OK Go has gone through some major renovations in sound. Although I am typically a big fan of bands experimenting with their sound to find a winning formula that they can call their own, the overhaul performed by OK Go is not necessarily all for the best.

The album opens with the appropriately titled "WTF?" which is exactly what OK Go fans might be saying after hearing the introductory single to OK Go's heavily Flaming Lips influenced reconstruction. The glowing cause of this new sound is none other than the addition of longtime Flaming Lips producer and engineer, Dave Fridmann who has recently contributed to the success of MGMT. The catchy hooks of OK Go's past are not gone, but many of them are lost in a sea of reverb and slap back echoes. With unconventional instrumentation often distorted for added effect accompanying less routine rhythm patterns, the only true discerning sound remaining is Damian Kulash's vocals.

The album's third track, "All Is Not Lost," may not be the best track on the album, but the title tells the truth. OK Go's alternate direction will likely be a disappointment for many of their original fans, but the mix is perfectly put together and the new electronic cornerstones create a very interesting listening experience.

OK Go begins to settle in about halfway through the album. The slow groove of "Skyscrapers" and the contrastingly catchy following track, "White Knuckles," are easily more single worthy than "WTF?" and are definitely the best examples of OK Go blending their experimental side with the addictive tunes that got them to where they are; or at least to where they were five years ago. Of the Blue Colour of the Sky may not have been the best choice of styles for OK Go, but every band is entitled to something new from time to time and once you get past the initial shock, the aftertaste is often pretty delicious.

Similar Artists: The Flaming Lips, Spoon

Track Suggestion: Skyscrapers

I would absolutely love this album if they didn't overdrive and distort the living daylights out of it during the mastering phase. It is absolutely unlistenable. If you ever laughed at the car next to you playing the music far beyond the amplifiers range, and it comes out sounding like complete crap, then you will find yourself laughing at yourself for buying this mess.

So far they have released three versions of this cd, and none of them are the "friendly, listenable" version. Each time, you get stuck with the same crappy production. I am sure they thought it was artful. To me, it's like spending months creating the perfect painting, then throwing a bucket of paint on it and saying, "There! Now it's done!" Sad, because the music is great. I saw them on Cobert and it was fantastic. It's a shame that the crummy sound wasn't mentioned in the interview.

I would have given this album 5 stars if it wasn't for the tortured, distorted, mess that they made it.

OK Go brings slightly off-center, quirky but often catchy songs, and the band's knack for great pop tunes has served them well in the past. The 2002 self-titled debut album was a breath of fresh air, but 2005's "Oh No" album proved to be the critical and commercial breakout album for the band (and containing of course the hit single "A Million Ways"). Now, 5 years after "Oh No", finally comes the band's eagerly anticipated third album.

"Of the Blue Colour of the Sky" (13 tracks; 51 min.) starts off with an unusually heavy "WTF", and after that it becomes clear very quickly that the band's sound since the previous album 5 years ago has developed (read: changed) significantly. Not nearly as eclectic or catchy, for one. A lot "busier" too. The highlights are far too few for me: a breezy "This Too Shall Past", "All Is Not Lost" entertains; a light "I Want You So Bad I Can't Breathe", and you'll notice these all appear on the first half of the album. In fact, as the album goes on, things get "weirder and weirderer". By the time you get to "Back From Kathmandu", you wonder whether this is even the same band from "A Million Ways".

In all, this is not a bad album per se, but I didn't expect such a radical departure from the band's established sound. For those that like this album, more power to ya. I'll probably stick with the first two albums. I've seen OK Go a number of times over the years, most recently last September at the Monolith music festival at the Red Rocks near Denver, and as usual, they put on a tremendously enjoyable 1 hr. set. If you wonder where you can hear these guys, check out WOXY (BAM! The Future of Rock and Roll), the internet-only station that brings the best indie-music in the country. Meanwhile, buyer beware: "Of the Blue Colour of the Sky" is not a bad album, but OK Go has been much better than this.

I just downloaded this album, and I was very excited to hear this new awesome OK GO album in full (after listening to the clips before my purchase). It is a very good cd. It's not exactly old OK GO, but its a logical progression of a band's sound. My only problem is that the quality of the mp3 download is udder crap. I thought my phone was vibrating on the table, but the horrible noise was coming out of my speakers, I am definitely disappointed. I have bought mp3 albums on amazon before, but they have never been this bad (sound quality wise); great album though.

I am really surprised how underrated this album is. I do not really understand if everyone relied on the first critical and negative reviews here, but this album is certainly worth more than poor 3 stars.

I have been familiarized with OK Go some time ago, to be honest, i did not like them, they sounded.. ah maybe childishly. What I am saying, is that this album 'Of The Blue Colour Of The Sky' is my first real love of OK Go.

What happens the most is that bands which are releasing their third or so album are usually on their way of new sound searching. Not necessarily, but usually. Coldplay, Editors did it. While their first albums being very famous and successful, the new sound albums are immediately rejected without even deeper listen. People do not find anything familiar, anything what they have already liked, so they simply do not like it. What is sad, that sometimes really good projects are being overlooked. That's what happened to the third release of OK Go.

It is a really fine album with some really fine songs. It's melodic, catchy and new. It has some more of melancholic songs and there you have some fast and up-lifting songs. Why I like it? Well, first of all, it is not a boring record. It changes in places, it keeps you finding. But, yeah, I like that it's fresh among that irritating pop trash. Moreover, it's has some energy. You can power-up while listening to this, but also you can listen to this, basically, at any time, because like I said this album is not monotonous and has different songs with different moods.

'Of The Blue Colour Of The Sky' is really worth a try to be listened. I especially recommend it for people who like MGMT, Of Montreal, Peter Bjorn and John, Animal Collective and similar indie stuff.

Key tracks:
- WTF?
- Needing/Getting
- Last Leaf
- While You Were Asleep
- In The Glass

I've been a fan of OK Go since 2003, and seeing the progression of this band throughout the years is refreshing. Just like what another reviewer said, if you want an uncreative band playing the same style of music for years, go get them Nickelback albums! But what is the most precious piece of fact about this album is how this band were unafraid to step out of their indie power pop borders and take a dip (a huge dip, in fact) into experimenting new sounds. It's quite obvious they're trying to prove their music can be fantastic and trying to shed off the treadmill video fame. Their videos were great, but their music were greatly overshadowed by them. Now with this album, they can prove their true talent and the fact that they can be versatile with their style. I was a huge fan of their first album, enjoyed the second album, but this album... now this is great!

I'm also a fan of Flaming Lips, so right off the bat I can hear the heavy influence within merely the first few seconds of their first track WTF. This Too Shall Pass is also a good one, almost trying to be those anthem-like songs like Let It Be. All is Not Lost and Needing/Getting are just as catchy, but one of the stand out tracks is Skyscrapers. It's slow, groovy beat with Damian's high falsetto oohs and ahs are clear evidence of the influence of Prince. Definitely one of my favorite songs. White Knuckles, I Want You So Bad I Can't Breathe and End Love are hip shakers from the 70's and 80's. Before the Earth Was Round is another experiment they've done, and honestly they could've done a little more with it. Last Leaf is a slow swooner for the girlies, Back From Kathmandu is alright, While You Were Asleep is almost dream-like experimental, and In the Glass is another song influenced by Flaming Lips. Overall, this album is great, but to see OK Go trying new things is what makes this album so special and unique. They always make me look forward to their future albums.

I agree with several reviewers who've caught on that the hooks, creativity, song-writing and vocals are still very strong on this effort.

I love the old catchy OK Go from several years ago and was anxiously awaiting this release. When I heard the pre-release of Skyscrapers last year (I think it was on a movie soundtrack), I quickly turned the song off and thought "ugh." Turns out, although I heard the song, I did not listen to it.

Regardless, I bought 'Of the Blue Sky' the day it was released. I turned it up loud and let it play through several times, and now I cannot get enough. Yes, OK GO are pointing their power-pop chops away from mainstream giddyness, however a band grows in stature (for me) when it fits nicely into my playlists alongside TV on the Radio, Animal Collective, Phoenix, The Kooks, Devendra Banhart, etc... creativity reigns. (several have mentioned Flaming Lips - yeah Blue Sky is in that vein, but much better imop)

If you are struggling or worried about the new direction of OK Go, download a few tracks and slip them into your playlist. Once you forget your expectations, you may find that you're humming along and loving it.

My fav tracks: White Knuckles, This Too Shall Pass, Back from Kathmandu, End Love.

To be clear, I'm not a life long Ok Go fan; actually, I've never heard any of their works besides their videos on youtube and even then, their sound didn't appeal to me. I'm not a musical snob either, I just listen to what I like especially if it sounds funky, soulful or genuinely eclectic.

So far, 'Of the Blue Colour...' gives enough funk, enough soul, and enough kookiness that keeps me tuned in and blasting through my headphones. This LP is different to what I've heard in the past especially when I was introduced to 'WTF'; which was a great intro to other tracks that could hold their own.

I would say if you're like me and new to Ok Go history, this is a must buy; it sorta reminds me of Beck's Midnight Vultures with a bit Odelay mixed in.

My only complaint is that the marching band version of 'This To Shall Pass' was not on the LP. I like the original version, but the video's version gave me some high school nostalgia that would've made my daily walks 'beyond awesome' instead of 'just awesome'.