REVIEW: DANIEL MERRIWEATHER - LOVE & WAR

Apparently Daniel Merriweather's debut album Love & War has been released in Canada.... and nobody told me. The London-based Australian import comes highly regarded after having received a fair amount of buzz from working with outstanding producer Mark Ronson. Ronson of course, is the man who single-handedly changed the face of music on both sides of the Atlantic with massively successful singles by Grammy-winners Amy Winehouse, Adele and Grammy-nominated Lily Allen.

In a fair world, the undeniably handsome Merriweather would be at the head of the pop pack. His distinctive husky voice has a Stevie Wonder-like appeal and his upper range has a Prince-like ring to it. His ability as a songwriter is on-par if not superior to that of the other mentioned Ronson prodigies. Trends evolve quickly in pop music however, and unfortunately the album's June 2009 release was timed just as the motown re-renaissance had begun to make its way out. This is not to say that Merriweather has not done very well; Love & War debuted at an impressive number two on the UK Album Chart. First two singles Change and Red both cracked the Top 10. Third single single Impossible has failed to make an impact.

There are gems by the many on Merriweather's debut. For Your Money asks us the question of what we are working for really and why it is that we go on. Impossible is signature Ronson, emulating the mood and structure of their 2007 hit collaboration Stop Me. Change is set in this change-fixated Obama era, but Merriweather suggests that "ain't nothing's gonna change if nobody's gonna wake up and start asking who's in charge". Red is one of the more contemporary sounding tracks on the album and it is a beautiful ballad about loving someone you can no longer change yourself for; it easily could be confused as a track by one of my personal favourites, James Morrison. Could You borrows its hook from The Mama and The Papas' California Dreamin' which makes it instantly likable. Water and A Flame featuring Adele is the rumoured fourth single off the album, but it is plodding and didn't strike a chord with me.

Preview Could You in full below (courtesy of Sony/BMG Canada):

Despite having been released a couple months ago in Canada and Europe via Sony/BMG, American label J Records will be taking their time with a proper promotional strategy for Love & War, with a January 2010 release having been set. For more Merriweather, don't forget to visit his Myspace page. Grade: A-