Save yourselves kids, Mark Ronson’s all out assault on the world of popular Music looks set to rage on unappeased. Simply not content with collecting producing credits on hot licks by global media sensations such as Macy Gray and Christina Aguilera, not to mention releasing THAT covers album which sat atop every critic’s top ten list back in ‘07, the cockney charmer is working his Midas touch yet again.
Daniel Merriweather is the chap responsible for loaning that soulful croon to Ronson’s cover of the Smith’s classic ‘Stop Me If You Think You’ve Heard This One Before’, commercially the most successful excerpt from ‘Version’. The impressive feedback of said collaboration has convinced the two to pair up for an entire album the result being ‘Love & War’
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Trading heavily off the trademark Ronson sound ‘Love & War’ is a mixed bag. Opener ‘For Your Money’ certainly sets the tone well, essentially a bluesy ballad it crawls along at it’s own pace, dictating the mood of what’s to follow and really underscores Merriweather’s smoky vocal talents. ‘Impossible’ continues the trend, rolling along a sharp melody that effortlessly melds into an acid jazz backdrop. As the tracks begin to stack up however, a sudden realisation dawns, this all sounds a little too familiar. From the lightweight basslines all the way up to the flirtatious brass section this almost sounds like Version 2.0. The soulful sentiments of ‘Chainsaw’, the sober folk on ‘Cigarettes’ you’d swear this set was modelled song for song on the Version template. Even current single ‘Red’ featuring Sean Lennon on axe can’t break the monotony.
It should be noted this is officially a Daniel Merriweather album, sadly he can’t quite shake the inevitable shadow of his famous producer friend. ‘Love & War’ is certainly full of promise, at times confident, melodic and articulate, however, it’s leading attribute would appear to be, you guessed it, it’s production.
Stop me if you think you’ve heard this one before? I think we have!
Rating: 
