Jon McLaughlin
OK Now

Campus Correspondent Review By Trevor Starnes
Samford University

Indiana’s own Jon McLaughlin brings his jazz-infused pop ballads, influenced heavily by those Midwest roots and idol Billy Joel, back for his sophomore record Ok Now (Island Def Jam). Back in his day, Joel was a fresh innovative sound that strayed away from the heavy metal and disco that took up most of the radio waves throughout the late 1970s. McLaughlin, on the other hand, has a smooth voice to go along with his skill set on the keys, but one must expect something new and something fresh from an up and coming artist. Unfortunately, McLaughlin does not meet this expectation.

On his new release Ok Now, McLaughlin has stuck to basically the sound of Indiana, his first release, incorporating no new sound.  His music is simple and easy to listen to, but at the same time, he sounds like most contemporary artists. The singer/songwriter seems to have conformed to the mediocre sounds of pop like fellow artists Daniel Powter and James Blunt (to name but a few). Yes, he has a smooth voice, his music sells well and screaming teenage girls love him, but as far as musical genius, there is nothing out of the ordinary.

“4 Years” is a high school ballad about not getting caught up in their four years of high school and striving for something beyond youthful competition, but the lyrics he uses are corny and amateur. (“And the queen of the nerds and the king of the prom get a job...She’s living her dreams while he sleeps with his crown”). At least the lead single “Beating My Heart” is a pop sensation, with a chorus that’s catchy and easy to sing along to. At least he does well in creating a song that allows the listener to sing along, but anyone expecting him to be the next John Mayer will be regrettably let down since Ok Now is just ok.