[2] After Owl City's previous album, All Things Bright and Beautiful (2011), sold 143,000 copies in the United States, Adam Young began working on demo tracks for The Midsummer Station in January 2012.
[3] Unlike his previous albums, Young worked with different songwriters and producers for the first time, including Stargate and Emily Wright.
[6] On May 15, 2012, Young released the Shooting Star extended play, which consisted of four songs that would be featured on The Midsummer Station.
On his blog, Young defended his choice for the new sound of the extended play and the album, stating that he believes "it's a bummer for an artist of any kind to hear, 'Yeah it's great but it's a lot like your previous work.'
[9] On June 21, 2012, it was announced that the worldwide release date would be pushed back to August 21, 2012, "due to some exciting developments," according to Young.
[15] The punk rock track "Dementia", is described by Young as a "darker song" and speaks about "the consequences of wallowing in regret.
"[13][16] Straying away from the electronic elements, the song "Silhouette" is a ballad track, showcasing Young singing about a much softer topic.
[18] Pranckevicius' artwork often explores the struggle between man and nature by combining man-made structures with flora and fauna, all coexisting in a forced, urban manner.
[18] Around February–March 2012, Young discovered the artwork while browsing Tumblr and e-mailed his manager to assist in tracking down the original artist.
He stated that the album, "is the most transparent bid for mainstream airplay imaginable, with each of its 11 tracks so tailored for pop radio, teen movie soundtracks, and soft drink commercials."
[31] Scott Fryberger of Jesus Freak Hideout also gave a mixed review criticizing the first track "Dreams and Disasters" as "empty and bland."
[35] Jody Rosen of Rolling Stone gave a negative review remarking that, "he delivers universally annoying synth-pop pep talks" on the tracks "Shooting Star" and "Dreams and Disasters".
[37] Nekesa Mumbi Moody of the Associated Press stated that the album "sounds like the soundtrack for one of those Nickelodeon or Disney TV movies you either enjoyed as a tween or endured as an adult."
"[40] The New Zealand Herald gave the album a 2 out of 5 five rating and remarked, "There's no doubt Young knows how to write strong hooks, but many of these 11 tracks feel like they could've been written by an algorithm.
"[41] Briana Altergott of Vox said of the album, "maybe, just maybe, Owl City can find that magical something again in the future and craft some music worthy of 'Fireflies'.
"[36] Alternative Press also gave a positive review stating, "Almost half of the album is bolstered by huge beats and pulsating bass.
"[33] Billboard stated, "Young oozes frothy positivity through the urgent thump of 'Dreams and Disasters', the energetic bounce of the Stargate-produced single 'Shooting Star', the stuttering chorus of 'Gold' and the effervescent sweep of 'Metropolis'."