The Ocean Blue
The Ocean Blue is an indie pop group formed in 1986 in Hershey, PA, United … Read Full Bio ↴The Ocean Blue is an indie pop group formed in 1986 in Hershey, PA, United States, best known for their self-titled debut album on the famed Sire Records label, a 1989 release that achieved widespread acclaim as well as radio and MTV airplay. Said album also included the tune "Between Something And Nothing", a #2 Billboard rock hit that's perhaps their most famous work. The band of four young high-schoolers from Hershey, Pennsylvania took inspiration from pop laden with jangly guitars as well as smooth, contemplative alternative rock. They went on to do two more well-received records for Sire, 1991's atmospheric 'Cerulean' and 1992's spirited 'Beneath the Rhythm and Sound', before going elsewhere.
Their sound has showed shades of their mellow yet tuneful post-punk forerunners such as Echo & the Bunnymen, Modern English, New Order, and The Smiths while still pursuing their own path. A fourth record, 1996's 'See', was released by Mercury/PolyGram before the band began leaving the majors altogether in the late 90s. The band did several independent releases from 1999 on into the 00s, including 2004's well-received 'Waterworks'. Then, several years later, the group began working on a new full length record, their first full album release in over a decade. Entitled 'Ultramarine', the band scheduled it for release on March 19, 2013 through Korda Records, a new Minneapolis-based cooperative label that the group helped launch in late 2012.
Over the years, they've gained a reputation as one of America's more influential dream pop artists, forming a sound that many artists would look to from the 90s onward. Their debut, 'The Ocean Blue', continues to draw praise from retrospective-minded musical critics as well as alternative music fans in general. In recent years, the group's followers have found 'Ultramarine' a spectacular return to form that recalls the band’s earliest work and should appeal to fans old and new alike.
On the title, band member and singer-songwriter David Schelzel has explained, "We chose Ultramarine to reflect several things. The mood of this record is a little blue, and harkens back to our other "blue" record, Cerulean. It's also a fun play on our name, and we were very conscious of our history as a band making this record. Thinking about our music, what it's meant to us and others. Asking a lot of existential questions about the band, what it was, is, and could be in the future."
Ultramarine was recorded in Minneapolis, MN, Portland, OR, and Mt Gretna, PA over several years, with Schelzel and drummer Peter Anderson producing. "This record unfolded in slow motion,” says Schelzel, “At a glacial pace. We were not on the clock we were when we were on the major labels. And we were not in an insulated studio world for months making the music. We made it mostly in our own studios, on our own time. Regular life drifted into this one more than our earlier records.”
Music recording and distribution, and the social networks of the Web have changed the landscape completely since the band’s last full length. Says Anderson, “We are using gear and technology on the recording side that for the most part didn’t exist when the band was making big budget studio records in the 90s. It’s allowed us to do a lot of things we’d never been able to do years ago, all at a much cheaper cost. We also have the ability to connect with people directly via the Web that wasn’t really there when we did our last release."
Musically, the new record is a return to form for the band. As well as a new beginning. Lyrically it is romantic, melancholic and impressionistic. The melodic singing, chimey guitars and lush keyboards the band is known for weave their way through the songs. Even the saxophone has returned on the opening track. But it is a record full of music that sounds very of the moment.
"It's an interesting time for us to be putting out a new record. So much of the music we see and hear now reminds me of things I loved growing up," say guitarist Oed Ronne. "My friends in their twenties like The Smiths and New Order. It's a strange thing, but good for us I think. We'd love to reconnect with our old fans, but also make new ones among the ranks of the young."
"I'm really looking forward to sharing this new music with people who know us and people who’ve never heard us before. And play some shows," says bass player Bobby Mittan. "It's been way too long."
Their sound has showed shades of their mellow yet tuneful post-punk forerunners such as Echo & the Bunnymen, Modern English, New Order, and The Smiths while still pursuing their own path. A fourth record, 1996's 'See', was released by Mercury/PolyGram before the band began leaving the majors altogether in the late 90s. The band did several independent releases from 1999 on into the 00s, including 2004's well-received 'Waterworks'. Then, several years later, the group began working on a new full length record, their first full album release in over a decade. Entitled 'Ultramarine', the band scheduled it for release on March 19, 2013 through Korda Records, a new Minneapolis-based cooperative label that the group helped launch in late 2012.
Over the years, they've gained a reputation as one of America's more influential dream pop artists, forming a sound that many artists would look to from the 90s onward. Their debut, 'The Ocean Blue', continues to draw praise from retrospective-minded musical critics as well as alternative music fans in general. In recent years, the group's followers have found 'Ultramarine' a spectacular return to form that recalls the band’s earliest work and should appeal to fans old and new alike.
On the title, band member and singer-songwriter David Schelzel has explained, "We chose Ultramarine to reflect several things. The mood of this record is a little blue, and harkens back to our other "blue" record, Cerulean. It's also a fun play on our name, and we were very conscious of our history as a band making this record. Thinking about our music, what it's meant to us and others. Asking a lot of existential questions about the band, what it was, is, and could be in the future."
Ultramarine was recorded in Minneapolis, MN, Portland, OR, and Mt Gretna, PA over several years, with Schelzel and drummer Peter Anderson producing. "This record unfolded in slow motion,” says Schelzel, “At a glacial pace. We were not on the clock we were when we were on the major labels. And we were not in an insulated studio world for months making the music. We made it mostly in our own studios, on our own time. Regular life drifted into this one more than our earlier records.”
Music recording and distribution, and the social networks of the Web have changed the landscape completely since the band’s last full length. Says Anderson, “We are using gear and technology on the recording side that for the most part didn’t exist when the band was making big budget studio records in the 90s. It’s allowed us to do a lot of things we’d never been able to do years ago, all at a much cheaper cost. We also have the ability to connect with people directly via the Web that wasn’t really there when we did our last release."
Musically, the new record is a return to form for the band. As well as a new beginning. Lyrically it is romantic, melancholic and impressionistic. The melodic singing, chimey guitars and lush keyboards the band is known for weave their way through the songs. Even the saxophone has returned on the opening track. But it is a record full of music that sounds very of the moment.
"It's an interesting time for us to be putting out a new record. So much of the music we see and hear now reminds me of things I loved growing up," say guitarist Oed Ronne. "My friends in their twenties like The Smiths and New Order. It's a strange thing, but good for us I think. We'd love to reconnect with our old fans, but also make new ones among the ranks of the young."
"I'm really looking forward to sharing this new music with people who know us and people who’ve never heard us before. And play some shows," says bass player Bobby Mittan. "It's been way too long."
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The Ocean Blue Lyrics
10 10 Cloud Deck She's seventeen by only a day Sass magazine whatever t…
9PM Direction Minstrel singers Unknown bloom Lovesick lovers Swoon Sunse…
A Familiar Face Back in the spring When I thought of those things …
A Rose is A Rose A rose is a rose is a rose Just like everybody…
A Separate Reality Don't cry it's over Don't cry it's over forevermore You n…
All the Way Blue Show me the way to your heart Show me the…
Ask Me John Ask me, ask me Jon Ask me, ask me Jon …
Awaking to a Dream No way in No way out I'm caught in this…
Ayn This one comes calling again calling from the corner of my…
Ballerina Out of Control Her world came crashing down And all that it contained A mil…
Been Down a Lot Lately My sad and sorry maybes Don't get me far Shortcomings tell…
Behind Sorting through this mess I happen on your smile Gleaming th…
Between Something and Nothing Words that form a sentence Words that form a phrase …
BetweenSomethingAndNothing Words that form a sentence Words that form a phrase …
Bite Your Lip Wish alas came true, are you happy? Everything's checked out…
Bitter Bitter, Bitter what's your name? You see, I see so much of…
Bliss Is Unaware Miss the boat And you will find you're on the shore Miss…
Blow My Mind Suddenly, softly, warmly you fall behind Mystery over me und…
Bottle Yours Bottle your happiness and put it in jars save it for winte…
Breezing Up This I call my sailboat These are all by friends, That beyon…
Bye You light a light in your lighthouse and you shine…
Cake Stop her, don't let anybody breathe Wake her, don't let any…
Cathedral Bells Charlemagne, your swords and your coattails are broken Prin…
Cerulean lue skies come down on me White clouds are now in…
Circus Animals You, the writer, knew You, the writer cared Sold, are…
Cloudy Days You're so special You're so fine You're good looking You'…
Consolation Prize I never thought I would find A good enough excuse to…
Crash Your lovely daydreams from the back of youth You metamorphos…
Denmark Like mist or a daydream real made of substance can you fee…
Do You Still Remember Me Think of me when your happy Think of me when your…
Do You Still Remember Me? Think of me when your happy Think of me when your…
Don Pardon me Am I supposed to listen To your jaded views Rusted…
Drifting You may find you're all alone F G…
Either Or So far removed So in between So back and forth Doesn't kn…
Either/Or So far removed So in between So back and forth Don't know…
Emotions Ring Slowed down Maritime melody Its emotions ring From every …
Fast Forward Reverse I saw you last night Alone in your car It wasn't quite…
Frigid Winter Days Mr. Jones lives down the lane He lives alone with…
Frozen Frozen In my heart Blue in my face White in my…
Garden Song Do you see, do you know? Do you watch the way…
Give It A Try Get off the throne, get em alone Get off the throne…
Golden Gate Reach high Golden Gate Touch the clouds Golden Gate Drive up…
Golden Girl Speak to me, My Golden Girl Float to me, My Golden…
Ground Gives Way Whatever thoughts I had of you Whatever things you put me…
Harlequin I'm alone but it's alright A stranger asked me here tonight …
Hurricane Amore So mixed up With this masquerade With this mask and wig With…
I She walks through my mind She strolls through my moods And w…
I Can't See You This world is falling down on me I can't tell my friends …
I've Sung One Too Many Songs For A Crowd That Didn't Want To Hear She walks through my mind She strolls through my moods And…
Ice Skating at Night Floating downwards Free fall fast Skating sideways Slowly…
If You Don Pardon me Am I supposed to listen To your jaded views Rus…
If You Don't Know Why If you don’t know why you can’t see me Any other…
It Never Just Might You say your life's on loan But you don't know who…
It Takes so Long It takes so long It takes so long Give it…
Just Let Me Know First she came right into my life You know my life…
Kings and Queens So sublime It hits you like waves that crash on your…
Latin Blues Drift and Fall again But it’s different this time Don’t worr…
Listen just this time I ask please do it slowly Don't leave this ca…
Listen, It's Gone Just this time I ask, please, do it slowly Don't leave…
Love Doesn't Make It Easy on Us Love doesn't make it easy on us Our river runs into…
Love Song I'm in love My friend's in love We're both in…
Marigold She makes me crazy, like flowers Make me crazy, my marigold …
Mercury Quietly, almost elusively Almost invisibly, I found that I f…
My Best Friend He's supposed to be My best friend Oh won't you recognize …
My Scream I bought all the lines you sold me dear, and you…
Myron As night was falling down His horse so swiftly flew …
New Man From Chicago Summer sliding into favor Winter he's my friend Autumn fit…
Out Here Hey I'm calling Hey I'm out here You're so wrapped…
Paraguay My Love Blue boy Thinking about the meaning of it all And there's…
Past Future Perfect In the corner stands a strawman with a cocktail in…
Peace of Mind This, a new revelation speaks a message to me without hesita…
Pedestrian I saw you last night Alone in your car It wasn't quite…
Questions Of Travel Americans Dreaming Americans Dreaming Of England in the rain…
Sad Night Sad night, where is the morning mind? When will you…
Sad Night Where Is Morning? Sad night, where is the morning mind? When will you…
Sea of Green All alone On a swarming sea All alone Like a drowning man…
Slide Wake up all your dreams Show them to the door…
So Many Reasons I remember the time when you fought for all the reasons th…
Step into the Night Step into the night Watch your body glowing Everything's alr…
Sublime Another radical dream Becomes a long, lost friend Beneath …
Sunshower Roof top and I can't stop The rhythm of the raindrops That…
The Circus Animals You, the writer, knew You, the writer cared Sold, are…
The Limit Had enough of philosophy Had enough of fleeting fads Had eno…
The Office of a Busy Man This is the office of a busy man Can you hold…
The Planetarium Scene better place we go to Without a trace we will leave A…
The Relatives Swing was the thing long ago Elvis was king long ago But…
Therein Lies The Problem With My Life Therein lies the problem with my life I make all my plans I…
Ticket To Wyoming Bought a ticket to Wyoming Tossed another life away Left, an…
Touch Down On Earth Why don’t we sail under the moon Why don’t we stroll…
Vanity Fair Walking strolling down Down the gallery of memory Pictures p…
Walk Away You survive your schemes You outlast your dreams Though you …
Ways & Means Setting out from the shore setting out for the thing…
When Life Was Easy There was a time when life was easy My heart did soar…
Whenever You Slow down you'll never catch me Look hard you'll never find…