Like looking up at the stars on a clear night, 'O My Stars' is at first a bit of a puzzle but, the more time you spend with it the more you understand and the more you get out of it!
Play 90 second soundbite of 'Perfect' @ 'CD quality'
Like looking up at the stars on a clear night, 'O My Stars' is at first a bit of a puzzle but, the more time you spend with it the more you understand and the more you get out of it!
McLaughlin is pretty much a one-man-band as he, single-handedly and fearlessly, takes on the musical establishment with his infectious, hooky soft-rock wares. Nothing jarring, nothing discordant here; this is a gloriously harmonious offering that suggests McLaughlin has a great 'handle' on what's required to make sweet pop music for the masses without having to 'smack you in the face' with the obvious and the over-used. 'O My Stars' may be different but it is still pure pop! But, unlike much of the trite, banal offerings that manage to get into the public eye before fading away into obscurity, 'O My Stars' by The Weightlifters is intelligent, mature pop music, it has something to say, substance, meaning, identity and hopefully, longevity!
I found 'O My Stars' a very pleasant and rewarding interlude; having sat and listened to a multitude of styles and sounds recently I found it extremely relaxing to spend time with The Weightlifters; 'O My Stars' was blessed relief, a pleasure to partake of, rewarding and worthy. McLaughlin's understated yet beautifully crafted approach to all things pop is charming and soulful, gentle and persuasive. His relaxed vocal delivery is easy on the ear and his decorates his songs with empathetic 'scores' that enhance the songs rather than distract from them. Don't get me wrong here, 'O My Stars' isn't just simplicity for simplicity's sake; there's some really stunning work going on here as McLaughlin uses his compositional skills to generate great mood and wonderful ambience through his brilliant understanding and use of instrumental dynamics.
'O My Stars' by The Weightlifters is a real 'worker'; it grows stronger with multiple plays, it comes to you, it grows into something really quite wonderful. 'O My Stars' by The Weightlifters is pop music for the more discerning ear, a beautifully created and superbly performed modern 'operetta' of great depth and feeling - really cool, really, really enjoyable and really, really, really worth a listen (or two!).
|
|
