Whilst James Blunt topped the charts with "You're Beautiful", taking plaudits by the truckload and having the nation's eyes focussed on him, in the background and prevented from reaching the top spot in the singles charts by that release was Daniel Powter and "Bad Day". Like Blunt, very few ... Read review
A review by Soho_Black on Daniel Powter - Daniel Powter November 18th, 2005
Author's product rating:
Originality
Average
Lyrics
Standard
Quality and consistency of tracks
One hit and lots of B-sides
How does it compare to the artist's other releases
Not applicable
Value for Money
Poor
Advantages:
Some decently crafted pop songs
Disadvantages:
A very short album, so not good value for money
Recommend to potential buyers:
no
Full review
Whilst James Blunt topped the charts with "You're Beautiful", taking plaudits by the truckload and having the nation's eyes focussed on him, in the background and prevented from reaching the top spot in the singles charts by that release was Daniel Powter and "Bad Day". Like Blunt, very few people seemed to have heard of him prior to the release and it was a pop ballad that got him to the top end of the chart.
My main concern before getting the album was the same one I had when Uncle Kracker's "Follow Me" was a big hit a few years ago. He had a major hit with a pop ballad which was not at all indicative of his usual style, with him being a rap artist. I was concerned that Daniel Powter's album would turn out much the same way. A secondary concern was that he would prove to be TOO similar to James Blunt - who has some great songs, but songs that get on your nerves after you've played them too many times.
The title to the opening track, "Song 6", is a little encouraging, as it's in a similar style to Blur's "Song 2". However similar the titles may be, the songs couldn't be more different. Powter's version is a mid tempo pop r 'n' b number, not too dissimilar to a lot of current pop music, but certainly having a more upbeat edge than James Blunt.
"Free Loop", which is to be the second single from the album, is a little more what you'll be expecting from the radio. It's a largely piano led mid tempo pop song, similar in style to "Bad Day", although a little more jaunty and upbeat than that track, especially in the chorus.
If you've heard of Daniel Powter before now, "Bad Day" is probably where you've heard him from. This is a very simple piano led pop ballad, although it does have a slightly more upbeat feel than James Blunt's sound and whilst the lyrics aren't as thoughtful as Blunt's, Powter's singing is better. This song also has a far more rounded sound, particularly later on in the song and it's a truly decent pop song.
After this quite laid back start to the album, strange things happen with "Suspect". Powter's vocal has a strange duck like quality to it and reminds me of Macy Gray. The music suddenly gets a lot louder and more upbeat and this is an r 'n' b influenced pop track. It's a refreshing change from what has gone before, but the strangeness of the vocal is a little bit of a distraction.
The piano intro to "Lie to Me" sounds a little like the theme to "Cheers!" but once the song gets going it turns into a down tempo pop-r 'n' b number. Fortunately, his vocals are back to normal, apart from the mildly annoying falsetto in the chorus. I think he's trying to be Justin Timberlake on this one, but doesn't seem to quite be able to pull it off.
There is another obvious James Blunt comparison with "Jimmy Gets High" evoking thoughts of Blunt's "So Long Jimmy". Indeed, the song is possibly the closest Powter gets to Blunt's sound, with a falsetto chorus making the vocals sound more like Blunt and the opening to the song being vocal and piano led. Later on, though, this does expand into something a little more rounded, but it's still essentially little more than a less than impressive mid tempo pop song.
There's a darker feel to "Styrofoam", with the piano being a little deeper and reminding me a little of "Imagine", although more in the feel rather than in the sound. Powter's songs don't have that kind of quality and what you get here is another pop ballad, again slightly in the James Blunt mould that has nothing to separate it from anything else apart from some slightly dodgy rhyming couplets in the chorus. Well, what would you rhyme "Styrofoam" with?
There is a return to the more upbeat and r 'n' b influenced songs with "Hollywood". Musically and lyrically, there is a Justin Timberlake feel to the song, even down to the vocal delivery in parts, although when Powter gets the falsetto out later in the song, it sounds more like the Scissor Sisters for a moment. I'm not quite sure that Powter has the charisma in his voice to pull it off an imitation of either act but it's a decent foot tapping number regardless.
"Lost on the Stoop" again starts off as a piano led pop ballad and again in the James Blunt mould. It's slightly darker than some of the earlier tracks again, though, and there's an almost soaring falsetto on some of the vocals which, combined with some of the orchestral work, makes me wonder if he's trying to imitate Jeff Buckley. Whilst this may be a bit cheerier and less annoying than James Blunt's songs, if only just, Powter certainly isn't in Buckley's league.
There's one last stab at the r 'n' b influenced pop sound as "Give Me Life" closes the album. Again, there are signs of Justin Timberlake here, but in a more pop influenced way and without the same charisma. It's a more down tempo number than "Hollywood" and doesn't work nearly as well.
Whilst what you get with Daniel Powter is a decent enough pop album, there's nothing particularly special here. There are some nicely done ballads and a couple of decent Justin Timberlake sounding tracks, but there's nothing that really grabs you. In a world filled with solo male vocalists performing mid-tempo and ballad type pop songs such as James Blunt and David Gray, Powter really needs something a little more special to stand out.
The length of the album, at only 37 minutes long spread over 10 tracks is less than impressive as well. This wouldn't make the album terribly good value if it was better than it is, but it can't even claim to be a top quality 37 minutes. The one advantage this album does have over James Blunt's "Back to Bedlam" is that there's more variation of sound and the vocals are less whiny and irritating, meaning that it will get more plays before it starts to get really irritating.
Even with that consideration, it's over priced at £8.99 from Amazon and Play.com and £8.75 from CD Wow. Even the £6.12 price from the Amazon Marketplace is really too much to pay for a lacklustre album. Copies have been seen on eBay from £0.99, but I'd only buy this if you really liked one of the singles but don't already have a copy.
Playing this album won't necessarily make it a bad day, but there are better ways to spend your time and money than this.
Advantages: Fantastic music, Slow and fast songs Disadvantages: Nothing
*** ABOUT DANIEL POWTER***
I first heard of Daniel Powter when I heard his single ‘Bad Day’, which was a number 1 hit. Daniel was born on Feb 25th 1971 and is a Canadian artist. Daniel is well known for playing the piano as many people and many of his fans may have noticed when performing live. Daniel decided to take up playing the piano when bullies destroyed his violin. Daniel has released many songs into the charts and across the world but none ... ...pop and indie pop.
Daniel Powter has released 3 albums in total including:
I’m Your Betty – Released in 2000
Daniel Powter – Released in 2005
Under The Radar – Released in 2008
***THE ALBUM***
These are the songs on the album, I have reviewed them the order they are on the album.
• Song 6 –This song isn’t as slow as some of his other songs and is more upbeat and has a very catchy chorus. When this song first starts you think it is going to ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: Great album, great voice, great tracks Disadvantages: none for me
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Daniel Powter - Daniel Powter ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Born in 1971, Daniel grew up in a place called Okanagan in British Colombia, He had always known he would do something with music…never being into sports like his friends. He learnt to play violin instead, which gave kids an excuse to tease him, which along with being dyslexic didn't make school life easy or a very happy time for him!
2 things happened to make him ... ...a rock feel to it, Daniel sounds a bit redneck in this, It does make a nice change from the other songs and breaks the album up a bit for me, I didn't like this track to begin with but it is one which really grows on you. Tonight, I'll walk Sit down and let me know my rights Tell about, tell about someone else I know it, I know it This time is suspect there are I talk and give me you the time
5} Lie To Me
~~~~~~~~~~~
***Again the falsetto sound ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: Some Great Tracks Disadvantages: Some Very Average Tracks
...while I eventually opted for Daniel Powters' self titled album.
The first I knew of this artist was his chart entry 'Bad Day' and too me this is displays the general style of the album, piano centric, generally laid back, philosophic tunes with Daniels falesto lyrics laid over the top.
The album is made up of 10 tracks (listed below) which to me is a little short, 12 I think is ideal
1. Song 6 2. Free Loop 3. Bad Day 4. Suspect 5. Lie To Me
6. Jimmy ... ...album, and is what brought Daniel Powter back into my mind. Again this is a track that most people should be able to relate to, focussing on a lover who lies to their partner, with the title of the track coming from the main, line from a very punchy and catchy chorus. 'Jimmy Gets High', the next track, keeps the album going strong, and in fact is my favourite track of the album, relating the stereotypical rock and roll lifestyle. Unfortunately from ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Advantages: Gentle and Easy to Lisen too Disadvantages: Not as well known as he should be..
I bought this album after Bad Day was released. I just really liked the song. I didn't know anything about the guy who sang it. I am a bit out of it with the modern day music (although I am only 26) so I really didn't know what I was getting. When I buy a new album I tend to first play a few of the songs quickly, just listen to the first few lines of each to get a feel for the album. I then start at the begining and listen for as long as I have time ... ...Day" I felt like I knew what the album would be like. pretty much more of the same I though. The rest of the tracks are very different form "Bad day" which I think is very suitable for the British Public's taste. The rest of the songs I don't think will be as commonly liked.
The rest of the tracks have a very R & B gentle feel. He reminded me a lot like Tracy Chapman who I always liked. He has such a harrowing voice that I really enjoyed listening ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Advantages: Good rang of song's to suit all tastes in music Disadvantages: Could do with a few more tracks, never the less very good
...I think the problem with Daniel is that people compare him to James blunt to much where they are slightly similar in the sound, I think the actual lyrics and musical talent is very different. Blunt has a very deep and meaningful way of writing music, which to me comes across very winy and slightly needy, whereas Daniel Powter breezes over a situation with the lyrics and lets the music tell the story, creating a much more thought provoking song. But ... ...probably everyone has heard off Daniel Powter from his very popular chart topper 'Bad day' But if you haven't heard of him, not to worry, you don't need to off to love this album, he has a wonderful voice and great talent which combined give you very good listening enjoyment.
Although Powter is a great singer and song writer, I do think if he is to top the charts above the many over successful male solo artist's like Blunt and David Gray (off whom ...
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Label / Distributor: Warner Bros. / Cinram Logistics
Engineer: David Boucher; Jeff Dawson
Producer: Mitchell Froom; Jeff Dawson
Pieces in Set: 1
Studio / Live: Studio
Format: Performer
EAN: 93624933229
Catalogue Number: 9362493322
Additional notes
Album Notes: Debut album from young Canadian singer songwriter. Thwarted by dyslexia in his childhood quest to become a classical violinist, he turned to the piano and pop songwriting. His album, full of radio friendly, piano driven adult pop, has echoes of soft rock acts such as Coldplay, Maroon 5 and Gavin DeGraw. Produced by Mitchell Froom (Elvis Costello, Maria McKee, Crowded House) and Powter's longterm collaborator Jeff Dawson, it includes the single 'Bad Day'.
Titles on disc 1
1.: Song 6
2.: Free Loop
3.: Bad Day
4.: Suspect
5.: Lie To Me
6.: Jimmy Gets High
7.: Styrofoam
8.: Hollywood
9.: Lost On The Stoop
10.: Give Me Life
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Listed on Ciao since : 15/08/2005
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