After coasting on the Grammy-winning treadmill infused music video for “Here It Goes Again” for the past five years, Ok Go has changed both their line-up and signature pop rock sound for “Of the Blue Colour of the Sky” – with mixed results.
“Of the Blue Colour of the Sky” deviates from the catchy ditty theme of the past two studio albums. Although the overall sound and lyrics are more mature and serious, there are traces of the fast-paced guitar riffs and metallic vocals that defined their previous work in many of the songs.
The range, however, is the most impressive aspect of this effort and a notable improvement over the past.
While the eponymous “Ok Go” and follow-up “Oh No” varied largely in only the tempo of songs, “Of the Blue Colour of the Sky” features everything from disco-themed floorfillers (“Skyscrapers”) to melancholy ballads (“Last Leaf”).
“Of the Blue Colour of the Sky” clearly attempts to blend ’80s pop sounds with their brand of alternative rock. The opening track and first single, “WTF?” is a good, if ironically titled, example of this shift, with a jumbled range of sounds and haunting vocals.
The album as a whole is a mixed bag– while some tunes feature memorable melodies or catchy riffs, others can best be described as messy, overwhelming, and repetitive.
Some songs feature extensive sharp instrumentals, which needlessly extend otherwise concise songs.
The maturing of the band has resulted in greatly improved lyrics and composition. While past songs were often blunt in their message, “Of the Blue Colour of the Sky” utilizes more tact and the songs are far more poetic as a result. “Needing/Getting” is not alone in artfully silencing instrumentals on its central line, in order to deliver a more powerful meaning.
Named after a pamphlet written by a Civil War General on utilizing the blue color of the sky in agriculture, and featuring a radial arrangement of colored lines that correspond to themes in the lyrics, “Of the Blue Colour of the Sky” already cheekily acknowledges that it is an attempt at being brazen and artsy.
Ultimately, while the expanded range and additional complexity are a step in the right direction, the album attempts too much and delivers an uneven effort as a result.