| After garnering industry attention in Australia and | | | | and emotive vocals (oh and the brief bongo break |
| signing with independent label Marlin the now | | | | down on this cut is wicked). |
| 26-year-old Daniel Merriweather has swapped the | | | | Guests are scarce but he teams up with Washington, |
| streets of Melbourne and his native Australia for the | | | | D.C. hip hopper Wale on the bouncy, piano and horn |
| cosmopolitan bustle of Manhattan, downtown NYC. | | | | driven jam, Change. Wale almost steals the show with |
| I still remember Mr Merriweather putting a pen to my | | | | a seamless, head-nodding verse on a track pleading |
| copy of City Rules one of several tracks set to | | | | for a little open-mindedness. The only other guest is |
| feature on his debut album that he would later shelve | | | | British songbird and multi-Grammy Award winner |
| because the label just "wasn't ready and that's not | | | | Adele who joins Daniel on the broody Water And A |
| how I wanted it to be." | | | | Flame. |
| Thankfully nature intervened and his demos came to | | | | Highlights are the fun, old western sounding Cigarettes |
| the attention of super-producer Mark Ronson who | | | | and the powerful, string infused ballad, Red. There are |
| instantly fell in love with his voice. What followed was | | | | touches of rock, gospel and classic soul, however a |
| not only the birth of a unique working partnership but | | | | little more funk would have been nice. Those who |
| also a great friendship. After a few years in the | | | | have heard Daniel on Ronson's album Here Comes |
| making Merriweather has put together his long awaited | | | | The Fuzz (on the track She's Got Me) should |
| debut, Love & War. Merriweather and Ronson | | | | sympathise with me here. |
| pen most of the album which focuses on life, love and | | | | I was surprised not to see more of a hip hop influence |
| struggles. | | | | on Love & War and Merriweather's frequent |
| The opener For Your Money could have been stolen | | | | partner in crime, Phrase is nowhere to be seen. Some |
| from Lenny Kravitz's vault, however nothing can be | | | | tracks do start to sound very similar after a few |
| taken away from Merriweather's own unique vocals. | | | | listens but the writing and warmth of the album |
| The energetic track Impossible is for those who fell in | | | | certainly make up for it. In the end this is a great |
| love with Daniel after hearing his breakthrough track | | | | collection of thoughtful, moving and entertaining tunes. |
| Stop Me (featured on Mark Ronson's album Version). | | | | Available through Universal Music. |
| Could You is in the same vain with funky undertones | | | | |