Newcomer McLaughlin 'Enchants' music fans

Here's a small review of Jon by High Point University in North Carolina, posted in their Art & Entertainment section.
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By: Scarlett Hester
Issue date: 8/21/09 Section: Arts & Entertainment

With an industry riddled with imposters and wannabes, it's hard to decipher genuine musicians behind all of the glitz and glamour of the media. Apart from all of the sex, drugs, and rock 'n roll, a person can begin to wonder: what happened to the music? What happened to talent?

Well, a small-town man can bring a breath of musical fresh air to those who want answers to all of those questions. Jon McLaughlin, an Anderson, Ind. native, knows how to rock a piano and exercise those vocal cords. Full of pure, raw musical talent, McLaughlin first appeared on the music scene with his debut record "Indiana" in May 2007.

However he may be more recognizable for his appearance in the Disney film "Enchanted." Remember the guy standng next to a piano in the ballroom serenading the ball-goers? Yep, that was him. His single "So Close" is what truly launched his musical career and led to the release of his sophomore album "Ok Now" in October 2008.

Written by Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz for the movie, "So Close" received an Oscar nomination.

Both albums, "Indiana" and "Ok Now," showcase McLaughlin's vocal range as well as his agility and confidence behind a piano. Unlike other artists, McLaughlin remains true to his music. Stylistically, there aren't any major changes between the albums, which is reassuring for listeners.

If there is any downfall to Jon McLaughlin it would be that his lyrics can be cliché. However, while they are cliché, it is a nice change of pace to hear songs about everyday things. He is able to add a catchy blues-like jazz twist on his songs, which complements the words he sings well.

It's obvious just by listening that this musician pours his heart and soul into his music. McLaughlin's music can definitely be classified as the "feel-good" kind of music. It's hard to not want to sing along or walk with a slight bounce in your step with his musical genius pouring through your ear buds. Despite your taste in music, it's hard to deny McLaughlin's talent.

So go ahead: grab a Jon McLaughlin album and get swept away into musical oblivion. Crank up the volume on your iPod, and prepare to smile.

Original source:
http://media.www.campuschronicle.org/media/storage/paper1319/news/2009/08/21/ArtsEntertainment/Newcomer.Mclaughlin.enchants.Music.Fans-3755546.shtml

Jon McL: Deeper Than You Think

Jon McLaughlin: Deeper Than You Think
By Supergina

Photo by Julia Barber

I had a lot of assumptions before talking to the almost 27-year-old singer/songwriter Jon Mclaughlin. You might have heard his song, “Beating My Heart,” on the radio. Most of my assumptions weren’t positive. I figured, oh great, another singer songwriter guy who has all his songs written for him and probably has an ego the size of Texas. He will probably put on a boring show by himself and a piano and I’ll have to sit through it. Come to find out that this Indiana-born polite man is actually quite the opposite. I thoroughly enjoyed talking to him and absolutely loved the energetic full band set he played with his band that he considers brothers. It was a pleasant surprise.

On March 1, I showed up to the Hard Rock Cafe in Sacramento to find the place closed, getting ready for the show. They allowed me in since I was “press” and then I proceeded to wait for the tour manager to get onto Jon’s bus. Contrary to my belief, he didn’t start with a bus. During their last U.S. tour, he toured with his band (the same one he is with now), Dylan, Lucas, Chad and Bobby, in a van and trailer. Living in a van and trailer, you really get to see the longevity of a band. Jon says, “The bigger you get, the more sort of disconnected everyone gets, not that you have to, you just have more opportunity to separate. On a bus you can do whatever you want. You’re in the town, it’s your day, but in the van, everyone is in it together. You’re stopping at truck stops together, you’re doing all this stuff together. As far as the progress of success, it’s sort of bittersweet.” Despite their having a bus, they mostly still maintain the duties of unloading and setting up their gear, as well as loading everything back up. Jon enjoys the humbling act, but won’t mind when he gets to the point that someone else can help out on a permanent basis.

On the bus, I briefly met Bobby, one of their guitarists, before he retreated to the back of the bus for Jon and I to do the interview. I am never a fan of awkward question-and-answer interviews. In that setting, the artists usually seem to have a preconceived notion of what is going to happen, what questions are going to be asked, etc. I set the recorder down and we just talked. Throughout the conversation, I learned that not only does Jon have an infallable sense of purpose and drive, he is one of the most laidback genuine people I have had the privilege to interview. One thing that I was very interested in knowing about Jon was his collaboration efforts with various songwriters on his latest album, “Ok Now.” Here’s what he had to say about that: “Songwriting is such an odd thing. It’s hard to be objective and it’s hard to even know if you are supposed to be objective about it, ya know. I didn’t want any help with it. I just wanted to do my own thing but I had all these great opportunities to write with these people. I could definitely see myself looking back and being like, why didn’t I take advantage of writing with these guys who are so established that I can definitely learn something from. Writing with them has definitely helped me. All of the co-writing that I have done I felt like I have learned for sure, from just writing with people. I have learned what I don’t like and what they do that I liked, all that kind of stuff. My goal is kind of to get to the point where I just want good music to go and be put out. I want good music that I am a part of, I don’t want to just take other people’s songs that someone has written for me, not that there is anything wrong with that, it’s just not what I want to do.” Hearing this from Jon was so refreshing. I was relieved to hear that he is an artist who values his musical integrity and doesn’t want to fall into the singer/songwriter pack of some of the top 40 artists.

Photo by Julia Barber

In talking about music, he mentioned that he is really into Bright Eyes lately. He just recently discovered their sound a few weeks ago and he says it has been inspiring him ever since. In his past interviews he has divulged his ’80s fandom, but this time however, he didn’t seem to focus on it very much. It seems that he is really trying to expand his sphere of influence when it comes to songwriting, and is looking forward to new things that may inspire him to write.

After the interview, I went back into the Hard Rock and had a chit-chat with the sound guy. He told me that Jon’s band was one of the tightest soundchecks he has ever done. The guys all wear in ears on stage and have a separate stage mix that they have dialed in for every show, so it’s fast. He just has to get the levels out to the crowd and then they’re basically done. He said they only ran through one song or so and that was it.

There were some radio station listeners waiting outside to get into the show. Shortly after opening doors, the opening band, The 88’s, started. I was so tired and the free drink I received from the Hard Rock actually made me even more sleepy, instead of perking me up as I had hoped. The 88’s kept me awake for the most part. They had an interesting retro type sound. A little dancy, a little weezerish. I am glad that I stayed to see Jon and his band play, even though I was exhausted. I asked Jon about the whole him and his band thing, and he said, “Over the past two years it has definitely become a band more than just me playing with some hired guys, not that it ever was that. They’re my band, I love ‘em. They do contribute a lot of ideas live and stuff, we all contribute. I have two guitar players and we have started some songs together as of late.”

Jon’s live show was much better than I expected. Not only are the musicians in his band talented (can you say, five-part harmonies?!), they’ve got stage presence too. It really was like seeing a band and not at all like a singer/songwriter show. If it wasn’t for Jon’s energy, I could have almost been more mesmerized by Bobby, the guitarist in his tight pants and boots wailing on guitar solos left and right. It could have been because I was sitting on his side of the stage and he kept making eye contact with me so it was distracting me from watching Jon. Either way, Jon definitely has his own style. He vaguely reminded me of Jonathan Jones - ex waking ashland frontman turned singer/songwriter. Jon doesn’t sit much on stage, he more hovers over the stool in front of his piano. He does a sort of “stand, lean, lunge” into the keys. He licks his fingers quickly (perhaps for entertainment value?) before taking on the keys. He uses very quick movements and raises his hands higher when playing than I am used to, so it almost looks as if he is slapping the keys - sometimes his hands were just a blur.

On the one song where Jon was front and center (a Beatles cover of “Come Together”), I watched and remembered what he had told me on the bus: “It’s different because I am always used to having something, even if it is just a guitar. It’s kind of a security thing so it’s been really good to just for a couple minutes on this song it’s just me. It’s just you, which is a really naked feeling; you either go one way or the other, and if you go the right way it’s very liberating, it’s cool.” Remembering that and watching him made me giggle and hope that he was up there not feeling naked. He is definitely more comfortable behind the piano.

I was very entertained by the show, and from the looks of the extremely varied crowd, they were too. I had done a quick demographic sweep while I was there, and there were anywhere from 16-year-old fans, to middle-aged women, as well as men of all ages and types. If there was no show going on, there was no way – from the looks of the crowd – that I would have been able to tell what type of musician was playing that night. I was sitting next to two hardcore fans who had met Jon in Santa Cruz. They were both 18 and had driven from Auburn to see him. They were really excited and knew almost all the songs.

I am thankful that I did the interview with Jon. It really changed my opinions on this singer/songwriter, and will hopefully allow me to be more open-minded next time I hear a top 40 hit, instead of scoffing, “sell out.” Jon’s career is very important to him, but so is his wife (he has her name tattooed on his arm) and his potential family. Eyes glimmering, he says that he is hoping there will be kids in the future, and that he can work that into a touring schedule. He has a very realistic view of the future that actually inspired me. He says, “I feel like you just have to keep a completely clean slate and just see, especially with the life that we lead, it’s like, just see what happens. I am trying to just be a little more ya know, stonerish without being a stoner, just kind of go with the flow. What else are you going to do?” I’d like to just leave it at that.

Posted: April 15, 2009

Original source:
http://fringemag.com/features/jon-mclaughlin-deeper-than-you-think

3 New Songs + Concert review

Here are three new songs that have been captured on video for the past couple of months during Jon's concerts. Hopefully this is a sign of a new album coming soon (perhaps at the end of this year or early next year!?)

Tentatively titled: You Belong With Me


Audio mp3:
http://www.sendspace.com/file/mngjma

Eyes On You (this one was actually performed early 2008 and would have ended up on 'OK Now', unfortunately it didn't)


Audio mp3
http://www.sendspace.com/file/mhjdzm

Untitled (jokingly titled "Streets of Philadephia" at the night of the performance)


Audio mp3:
http://www.sendspace.com/file/sl6y1c

Additionally, here is a brief review from our friend Homertilicus, who attended the Jon concert at the SOMA in San Diego, CA on the 27th of February.
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The concert ended fairly early. Doors were at 7:00pm. The opening act, Blue In The Face, took the stage at like 7:30pm. Jon came out at about 8:30pm. He played until 10:25ish and the show was over.

After the opening act finished, Jon's band started setting up. The stage didn't have a curtain, so we could see all the stagehands and band members setting up their equipment. I saw Dylan and Bobby come out and test their guitars. There was a stagehand testing Jon's keyboard and mic. And I guess the sound level was waaay too low since Dylan had to recheck it and retest it a few times until we finally heard sound from it. They set up for a while, then they disappeared backstage.

With no curtain to block their entrance, the band members finally took the stage and picked up their instruments. Jon just came right out with them. He didn't make a later entrance or anything grand. He just walked out on stage with everyone in the dimly lit stage and put up his hand to greet the crowd. There was only about 100 people there, maybe less. The venue was small and it wasn't even filled. I think it's because Soma is a punk rock/hardcore venue - so no one knew Jon was playing there. There wasn't a marquee or anything outside that had Jon's name or anything.

Jon opened the show with "Always On My Mind" playing guitar and then moved into "Beating My Heart". The setlist was, and I don't remember the exact order: "Always On My Mind", "Beating My Heart", "Perfect", "You Are The One I Love", "Human", "Amelia's Missing" (with extended instrumental break, yay!) "Indiana", "Why I'm Talking to You", "Come Together" (Beatles cover), "You Can Never Go Back", "Piano Man" (Billy Joel cover), "Mary Jane's Last Dance" (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers cover), "Indiana" and "Four Years". The encore was "Mary Jane" and "Four Years". Oh and he played a new song, which he says is untitled, but it's pretty clear that it's called "You Belong With Me" since that's the main part of the chorus and keeps getting repeated. It's an uptempo piano rock song. The music is reminscent of U2's "Beautiful Day".

He said that when he's having fun on stage, he likes to sing songs that aren't his, but songs that most people will know. He said he sings enough songs that no one knows - his songs. When he sang "Mary Jane", he dedicated it to a girl in the audience who said it was her birthday and he even said happy birthday to her after the song. And he dedicated it to his former college dormmate who was in the audience but didn't raise his hand to be recognized. Jon said his roommate was always playing that song in college, so he sings it now.

After the show ended, the crowd dispersed really quickly. There were a lot of people hanging out in the lobby waiting for Jon to come out, but they quickly left after like 10 minutes. Then the security kicked everyone out, so we waited outside the front entrance. Then the security locked the front doors and told people that Jon wasn't coming out and that we should all leave. A lot of people left, but a group of girls circled around the back of the building. I followed them with my friend. We waited around by the backstage exit for Jon. And another group of girls waited by his tour bus. After waiting for a little while, I noticed that the girls by the tour bus were taking pictures. I didn't know if Jon was there cuz I couldn't see him and I thought that maybe the girls were just taking pictures by the bus. Turns out, Jon was on the bus and he came out to take pictures with everyone and sign whatever they had.

So the group I was with by the backstage exit made our way over to Jon. I got a picture with him, he signed my CDs and laughed when he saw I had his self-titled indie album. He was like, "whaaaat? I don't even own this one anymore...." and he smiled. I shook his hand this time and thanked him. Even though I've met him once before, I was still super nervous. I wanted to take a separate picture with just me and him, but there was a group of girls still waiting and Jon was cold. He was still wearing the same thin little T-shirt he had on stage and he was like, "geez, why's it so cold here tonight" when he was signing my CDs. Ironic, right? Since he just said on stage that San Diego has fantastic weather. Poor guy. It was like 50 degrees, but he was sweating on stage and I think his shirt was still a little wet so that made him colder. Still, he stayed out there and greeted everyone and signed stuff for everyone. There must have been like 20 people all together. He's a trooper and was super nice.

Jon's voice was on point at this show. He sounded absolutely fantastic on every song and never hit a bum note. I love that even with a small turnout, he still gave a passionate, energetic performance. The upside to the venue was that the sound was fantastic. When I saw him in LA at the El Rey Theatre, I stood too close to the stage and missed the "sweet spot" of the sound system. So it was hard to hear him clearly since the sound system was positioned to be best heard by the center of the room. At Soma, I was in the sweet spot and close to the stage. The bass was thumping so hard you could feel it and everything was clear. Loved it!

Here are some great pics he took at the concert:

http://i43.tinypic.com/34yyy3d.jpg

http://i44.tinypic.com/2zp0409.jpg

This one is epic
http://i44.tinypic.com/2ibl2tj.jpg

http://i39.tinypic.com/aubk40.jpg

http://i41.tinypic.com/2a83tbt.jpg

http://i40.tinypic.com/29lbodw.jpg

http://i42.tinypic.com/29wk9d3.jpg

http://i43.tinypic.com/zt82v6.jpg

http://i42.tinypic.com/bc5l5.jpg

http://i41.tinypic.com/auwa3n.jpg

His signed CDs:
http://i39.tinypic.com/25fpx83.jpg


**Please do not take his pics and claim them as your own. You can ask him in the shout box if you want to post them anywhere else (if he doesn't mind).**
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Thanks for the review bud!

And enjoy everyone :o)

TOUR SPOTLIGHT: Jon McLaughlin

Here's a concert review of Jon's recent performance at Chicago's House of Blues by CMC (Christian Music Central).

02-23-2009
by Andy Argyrakis
Tour Spotlight: Jon McLaughlin
“OK Now Tour”
House of Blues/Chicago, IL
Friday, February 20, 2009

Between an Oscar nomination for the single “So Close” (from the Disney movie Enchanted) to tours with Kelly Clarkson, O.A.R., Sister Hazel and Paolo Nutini, it’s easy to assume Jon McLaughlin is entirely concentrated on the mainstream market. However, the Island Records artist has made a point to do a reverse crossover of sorts, signing in the secular scene, but making sure subsequent CDs are available in Christian bookstores, making himself available to faith-based media and peppering statements of faith into several songs.

Considering such a solid foothold on both sides of the fence (alongside the mega hit in-the-making “Beating My Heart” from his second national release OK Now), the Indiana native had no trouble selling out Chicago’s House of Blues. Though it’s impossible to gauge what the audience believed from a spiritual perspective, they were overwhelmingly supportive of McLaughlin’s music, participating in a 90-minute sing-a-long that found the piano popper with modern rock backers covering all the major bases of his career and cover songs that shaped those very steps.

The show opened with the punchy piano ditty “Industry,” an honest look at the music business that found the troubadour stripping away the mask of pretense to promote genuine artistry and integrity. The ultra-infectious “Beating My Heart” followed, placed surprisingly early in the set given its endless radio play these days, but nonetheless a worthwhile decision that involved the entire crowd from the onset. “Perfect” played out as an affirming anthem of marriage with McLaughlin showing off his “Amy” tattoo during blissful lines like: “Cause I found someone to walk me through this life/The brightest sun has opened up my eyes.”

By “You Can Never Go Back,” the headliner traded in his spot in front of the keyboard for an electric guitar, in turn, kicking up the vibe to a grittier feel. Though that transition would continue a couple more times throughout the night, McLaughlin seemed most at home tickling the ivories, even dismissing the band at one point to perform a solo rendition of Billy Joel’s “Piano Man,” explaining that very artist and song got him started on his own musical path.

In reality, McLaughlin’s style in the studio runs closer to an Abercrombie & Fitch version of Ben Folds, though he shed most of the preppiness on stage to interject some rough-necked blues into the original “Why I’m Talking To You,” along with a psychedelic side throughout The Beatles’ “Come Together.” The urge to remake another oldie came during the encore, thanks to a true to form jangle rock cover of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers’ “Mary Jane’s Last Dance,” though going to the cover well a third time seemed a bit excessive, especially for someone with two full-length albums and a slew of indie projects.

Nonetheless, the show still left room for plenty of fan favorites, including the self-esteem driven “Beautiful Disaster,” the six-string strummer “Always On My Mind” and the through provoking ballad “Human,” which as the title implies, was a heart on sleeve assessment of human nature. “Four Years” provided the most impact on both sonic and semi-spiritual planes, expanding beyond the recorded version into an extended jam that emphasized the fleeting time frame of a student’s high school experience: “Next time you’re walking through your school/Take a look at who’s surrounding you/Or hounding you/Cause it’s all just castles in the sand.” Between those positive sentiments and vibrant musical expressions, McLaughlin remains a steady force in today’s pop climate that can simultaneously entertain and enlighten.

Also check out these great pictures taken at the concert:




More at:
http://s258.photobucket.com/albums/hh261/CCM_Magazine/Jon%20McLaughlin/

Original source:
http://www.cmcentral.com/rss/8627.html

Hoopla Feature Artist

Jon McLaughlin Ready to Release Sophomore Effort, Ok Now

Words and Photos by Joe Koch

Photo by Joe Koch

After releasing his debut, Indiana, on Island Def Jam records, Jon Mclaughlin is now ready to put forth his sophomore effort, OK Now, which hits store shelves Oct. 7. I recently caught up with Jon at his hotel in Niagara Falls, N.Y. before his show with Eddie Money. He filled us in on his new record and what it's like to perform at the Oscars.
After Indiana, Jon felt it was time for a musical and stylistic transformation. His first major label release Indiana was the first time he had to co-write with anyone; he also felt the need to prove how capable he was at the piano.
Prior to this he had released an EP, which was solo piano, that he recorded eight songs in two hours. It was "a throw and go style," said Jon. "I've always been a huge Ben Folds Five fan. I love the mentality of whatever happens that ends up being the record." Originally, Jon wanted Indiana to sound like Ben Fold's album, Whatever and Ever Amen. Ben opted to not record with guitars and let the piano be the driving force behind the music. Jon quickly realized that it really didn't fit his music style. But don't get me wrong, Jon's piano playing shines with impressiveness on Indiana.
Ironically, the opportunity for him to perform the hit song "So Close" from the 2007 Disney movie "Enchanted" did not come from his ability to play the keys. Jon was able to play an old-school crooner. It gave him an opportunity to try something different, ultimately influencing his new record.
The highlight came when he found out at the end of 2007 that the movie was up for an Oscar and he was asked to perform "So Close" at the 80th Annual Academy Awards ceremony.
"I had recorded it about a year and a half before it premiered. Then when I watched it for the first time and then the second ... I was like, 'This is a classic Disney movie,'" explained Jon. He had no idea that it had the potential to get nominated for an Oscar. "The excitement builds about a month before and then you show up a week in advance to do the rehearsals, then you're walking down the red carpet with George Clooney in front of you and you perform and you go to the after party," said Jon. "Then it's over and you go back to your hotel room and you think, 'How do I go back to living my life after I've just been to the Oscars?' It's crazy." He refers to it as a career defining moment.
The Oscar performance was the perfect event to refuel people's interest in Jon Mclaughlin's music. Indiana saw a 1,514 percent overnight sales increase at Amazon.com, which hopefully will peak people's interest in Jon's new release.
Now ready to take his music into a new direction, OK Now you will see that the piano is not the main focus and the core element is the work that went into writing songs that would be more accessible, allowing a broader target audience.
"The Piano is featured, but we pick and choose where we're gonna have it. As opposed to every song starting out with the guy at the piano," says Jon. "As a record I felt like I knew what should happen, pretty early on. It wasn't just writing songs, and then we'll just piece something together and give it a name. All the songs had a theme."

Photo by Joe Koch

Some key ingredients to making this album a possible success is the hiring of producer John Fields (Rooney, Jonas Brothers, Lifehouse and Switchfoot.) Jon also teamed up with some pretty reputable song-writers like Jason Reeves (Colbie Callait's "Bubbly") as well as writer/producers Tricky and The-Dream (Rihanna's "Umbrella"), Troy Verges (Kenny Chesney's "You Save Me") and Brett James (Carrie Underwood's "Jesus, Take the Wheel.")
"I was really excited to work with acclaimed L.A. singer/songwriter Bleau," said Jon. They co-wrote "You Can Never Go Back.
Jon feels fortunate to have the support of his label. With the industry struggling, there’s not many labels allowing artist to grow and develop their music.
"The album feels right for the next move in my career," said Jon. The slow pace is exactly what he wants. He's very content with supporting acts like Kelly Clarkson.
"It's stress-free. I mean you have to work a little harder to get peoples attention, but it always goes over well," he said. With the release of OK Now, he will take a short break and then do the media circuit of TV, radio, football games and interviews. You can currently catch the first single "Beating My Heart" on the VH-1 countdown.

Photo by Joe Koch

Source: http://www.hooplamusicmagazine.com/feature_artist/jon_mclaughlin/jon_mclaughlin.htm

Christian Music Today Review

Jon McLaughlin
OK Now (Island Records)
Released October 2008
By Russ Breimeier
*** (3 Star) Rating

Sounds like … glossy AC pop reminiscent of Mark Schultz, Michael W. Smith, Scott Krippayne, Dave Barnes, and Matt Wertz.

At a glance … compared to McLaughlin's impressive 2007 debut, the glossy pop songs of OK Now lack the depth and distinctive hooks to be as memorable.

It's been just 15 months since Jon McLaughlin made his national debut with Indiana, but a lot has happened in that time. Strong reviews and various movie soundtrack appearances had already made him a rising star, but then his music sales spiked the day after the 25-year-old singer/songwriter performed "So Close" from Enchanted on the 2008 Academy Awards. From there, he's only gained exposure by touring with Sara Bareilles, Duffy, Kelly Clarkson, and other prominent names. It's a good thing he was able to strike while the iron was hot by quickly recording a follow-up … or is it?

Largely produced by John Fields (Jonas Brothers, Lifehouse), OK Now finds McLaughlin broadening his sound from the more organic piano-pop of his previous release. The stylistic variation works when the hooks are strong and the style is focused. "Dance Your Life Away" is a fun, fluffy throwback to '80s rock about living for the moment, and "Why I'm Talking to You" uses soulful '70s pop—sorta like Billy Joel meets Stevie Wonder—as a pickup line to the hot chick at a party.

Too often, however, the pop exploration makes McLaughlin's sound indistinct and generic. Much of that is due to the songwriting. With little more than atmosphere going for them, the songs gravitate toward simplistic and repetitive relationship sentiments ("Always on My Mind, "Smack Into You"). At least "Throw My Love Around" succeeds in spite of that, only because it has a better written melody.

McLaughlin is at his best when the lyric is more specific or personable. In "Four Years," he depicts time in high school as frivolous and fleeting. With "You Can Never Go Back," he warns against living in the past (while amusingly giving some musical nods to late '70s pop). He expounds on the need to lean on others during hard times through the harmony-laden "We All Need Saving." The songwriter is at his most confessional with "The Middle," lamenting that fame and celebrity has cost him time with loved ones: "Let me tell you now where I went wrong/Hollywood is just another place I don't belong." As far as spiritual content, only the single "Beating My Heart" vaguely suggests that we exist because God gives us life and purpose.

Despite glossy production, McLaughlin's pop-perfect vocals, and some nice piano runs on his part, it's merely pleasant overall, not memorable. Compared to Indiana, the focus on OK Now is more on pop music than songwriting depth. As such, the album is simply OK.

Track Listing
1. Beating My Heart
2. 4 Years
3. You Can Never Go Back
4. Thing That You Say
5. The Middle
6. You Are the One I Love
7. Always On My Mind
8. Smack Into You
9. Dance Your Life Away
10. Why I'm Talking to You
11. Throw My Love Around
12. We All Need Saving

Source:
http://www.christianitytoday.com/music/reviews/2008/oknow.html

Pop singer McLaughlin gets "OK" for eclectic album

By Mikael Wood Mikael Wood – Mon Sep 1

NEW YORK (Billboard) – Jon McLaughlin can't deny that millions more people saw him perform at the Academy Awards than heard his new album.

"Indiana," his major-label debut, has sold 98,000 copies since its release in 2007, according to Nielsen SoundScan. That pales against the viewership for the Oscar telecast, where he performed "So Close," a tune from the hit fantasy "Enchanted."

Still, though the 25-year-old singer calls his "Enchanted" appearance "a great thing," he also admits, "I don't really want to be known as the guy in the movie who also has a CD coming out."

The October 7 release of McLaughlin's second Island Records set, "OK Now," may provide some help in that mission. An appealingly eclectic pop-rock disc laced with touches of blue-eyed soul, ELO-style glam and what McLaughlin calls "totally cheesy '80s pop," the album covers much more ground than the piano-heavy "Indiana" did.

John Fields, who produced the new album, says that considering how young McLaughlin is, "his musical complexity is refreshing."

"I work with a lot of kids his age," adds Fields, who's produced records by Mandy Moore and the Jonas Brothers. "A lot of them use the same chords -- what I call 'the four chords of doom.' Jon understands that you've got to try to diversify from that. He can kind of do anything."

McLaughlin cites as motivation the "not uncommon dream for an artist to go into the music world and just be able to do whatever." He points to Ray Charles' "Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music" as an example of the kind of creative freedom he covets.

"OK Now" was originally to have included a would-be pop hit called "Smack Into You," which was written and produced by the team behind Rihanna's "Umbrella." Yet after McLaughlin and Fields completed the rest of the album, the singer decided "Smack Into You" "didn't really fit in" with the other tracks.

"As you sit with a record you start changing your mind about certain things," McLaughlin says. "That wasn't the only song that was going to be on the album that we took off."

Fields says he can understand the label's desire to hook up McLaughlin -- "a great-looking guy who looks like a lifeguard" -- with proven hitmakers. But he insists "Beating My Heart," the album's lead single, has serious top 40 potential as well, and the label hopes it will broaden McLaughlin's audience beyond his fan base of 18- to 34-year-old females.

McLaughlin just completed a headlining tour, and he'll begin a stint on Hard Rock Cafe's Pinktober trek September 29 in Chicago.

McLaughlin says he's currently more concerned with the number of shows he plays than with the number of records he sells. "You could sell 5 million and not see any long-term benefit," he says. "Or you could sell 100,000, keep doing it the right way and watch it build."

Reuters/Billboard

http://news.yahoo.com/story//nm/20080902/music_nm/mclaughlin_dc

"Beating My Heart" Billboard Review

Beating My Heart

JON McLAUGHLIN

Producer(s): John Fields
Genre: POP
Label: Island

It's high time for singer/ songwriter Jon McLaughlin to earn his due. While the 25-year-old grazed the top 30 at adult top 40 radio last year with "Beautiful Disaster," he has become a frequent onscreen contributor, including TV's "Scrubs" and "Ghost Whisperer" and films "Georgia Rule" and "Enchanted," where his "So Close" earned an Academy Award nod. "Beating My Heart," the launch from second full-length "OK Now" (due Oct. 7), is a joyous uptempo romantic romp, featuring hook after hook, from tinkling piano to driving percussion and a start-and-stop bridge, alongside a joyous effortless vocal that soars with falsetto to the high heavens. The accompanying video is simple enough, but effectively illustrates McLaughlin's charms as a palatable sex symbol. "Heart" pumps with instantaneous hit potential, and proper promotion of it could propel the artist to superstar status. —Chuck Taylor

http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/content_display/reviews/singles/e3i602b52c6d164943ada45e88ff29767a8