by Debra Au
Daily Lobo
I cannot deny it. I'm a sucker for a guy who can play the piano.
Daniel Powter may not be one of the first names to come to mind when thinking of contemporary artists who don't rely on big bands, but Powter is getting there. The Canadian has been enjoying recent success in Europe - even being compared to Elton John - and is now playing his piano for those of us on the other side of the ocean.
If you've been listening to the radio at all within the past couple of weeks, chances are that you've heard that melancholic piano intro to "Bad Day." If you haven't, turn to any Top 40 music station, and it'll probably be playing as you read this. Not that I'm complaining. "Bad Day" has been one of my favorites lately. I mean, who hasn't had a couple of bad days at the end of the semester?
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But what makes the song work - albeit cheesy - is it allows the listener to wallow in self-pity for a couple of verses and then is able to transform such sulking into a sense of optimism. Ah, the magic of pop music.
My guess is his next single will either be the upbeat "Free Loop" or the funkier "Lie to Me." It all depends on what direction Powter is willing to take. If he, or most likely his record company, wants to continue his mainstream success, tracks like "Free Loop" or even "Jimmy Gets High" will do just that. They may be a little formulized, but they are able to appeal to a much wider audience than the more indie tracks like "Hollywood" or "Lost on the Stoop."
Whichever song will be hitting the air waves makes no difference to me. But another song needs to be released, and soon. "Bad Day" is on the borderline of being overplayed, and Powter has too much talent to go by the wayside and join the legions of one-hit wonders.
The only issue I have with the album is the track "Suspect." While in an attempt to sound edgier than he is, Powter completely changes his voice from his normal high pitch to a much deeper, Donald Duck-esque vocal concoction. It's just not pretty. And the album could have done fine without it.
He just needs to find his voice - literally. His mix of glass-shattering falsetto and a normal singing voice make him sound like two completely different artists.
Even though Powter's first album release has its rough spots, its enormous potential certainly outweighs such blemishes as "Suspect." His piano prowess significantly increases its fluidity and defines the album. And while other similar artists such as Gavin DeGraw seem to be on a musical hiatus, Daniel Powter is just the guy to fill the void.
Daniel Powter
Daniel Powter
Grade: A
