Reviewed by Anthony Longville

Indiana-based singer/songwriter Jon McLaughlin has been building up a strong grass roots and festival following across America over the last two years and will be performing at this year's Oscars following his cameo in the Disney film Enchanted. His debut album, produced by Jamie Houston (Santana, The Calling) and Greg Wells (Natasha Bedingfield, Rufus Wainwright) contains a wealth of piano-driven rock songs that portray the artist's innermost feelings and views on life. Aside from his sizable piano skills, McLaughlin possesses a great voice and is a talented lyricist. Occasionally veering towards the cryptic in songs such as the atmospheric "Amelia's Missing", he has a knack of presenting intrigue and complexity without alienating the listener. Whilst this album doesn't readily refer to matters of faith, preferring instead to offer more generic and popular solutions to life's trials in "Just Give It Time" and "Until You Got Love", it does tackle thornier subjects such as sexual temptation in the likes of "Praying To The Wrong God". The undisputed highlight of this release is the title track which portrays the tragedy of unrequited love in all its heartbreaking glory and shows the potential that McLaughlin has to become one of music industry's top performers.

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