Jon Solo - Laughing At Me

Hear The Track Here

I like a man who knows what he wants, as some legendary ditzy blond once put it. Why spend all those nights trying to dream up a vibrant, recognisable name for you band when you could just call it what it was. Take, just as example, Jon (his name) Solo (how he does it). Neat, effective and does exactly what it says on the tin. Moreover, it's so short and so simple that even yer average knuckle dragger could find their way to the page time and time again, also - as a side effect - elevating their own self esteem into the bargain. All the bases covered as it were. Damn, they should put Jon in charge of the Eurozone he'd have it working properly lickety spilt.

There again, maybe not...

From the outset, with Elisabeth Shue (June 2009) Jon Solo showed that he has a very fine pop sensibility that - for me - seems to improve with each succeeding release. Kill Shot To The Heart (October 2011), a Bond theme song that never was, could sit easily among the real Bond themes and nobody would bat an eyelid, so perfect was the recreation. Being the gearhead I am I fixated on one thing from the track that snagged me from the beginning. It's a kind of gamelan sound that occurs throughout the song and it was my personal hook into it, but one instrument does not a classic make. That's another thing this guy does well, his choice and blends of sounds all add to the overall impact of the track.

At this stage of the game, the man hasn't delivered a dud and isn't likely to if Laughing At Me (either version as it happens) is any indication. As I said earlier, classic rock pop is what Jon does best so expect to hear hints of Beatles, West Coast rock and even Duran Duran. On top of all this he is a very strong songwriter, putting together interesting and varied arrangements that always add to the proceedings and point the song right at your pleasure centres. I think it is right to say that Jon's musical vision might take more than a couple of plays to register, but the repeated playing is always a pleasure with music of this quality and style.

Highly Recommended and MUST HAVE for fans.