OK Now

Jon McLaughlin | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 7, 2008)
• Original Release Date: 2008
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Island
• ASIN: B001AX9DRC
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #31,938 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

About the Artist

"It's like who am I and why am I here?" "Beating My Heart" A great deal has happened to Jon McLaughlin between the release of his debut Island Records album INDIANA last year, and his new, sophomore effort, OK NOW.

When we last saw him, the 25-year-old singer/songwriter was giving a show-stopping performance of the Oscar-nominated "So Close," the song he sang in the hit Disney movie Enchanted, on the worldwide telecast of the 80th Annual Academy Awards ceremony.

The appearance re-ignited INDIANA, spurring a 1,514% overnight sales increase at Amazon, sending it to the #1 spot on its Movers & Shakers chart, and creating solid momentum for his latest release. The single from INDIANA, "Beautiful Disaster" attracted over 420,000 digital fans when featured as Download of The Week.

And after getting major touring slots with Sara Bareilles, Paolo Nutini and Kelly Clarkson, along with dates with Colbie Caillat, Duffy and One Republic under his belt, Jon McLaughlin hit his stride on the road.

Flushed with that success, McLaughlin entered an L.A. recording studio last year intent on undergoing both a musical and stylistic transformation. The heartland piano player expanded his palette by working with new producer John Fields (Rooney, Jonas Brothers, Lifehouse, Switchfoot), co-writing with the likes of Jason Reeves (Colbie Callait's "Bubbly") as well as writer/producers Tricky and The-Dream (Rihanna's "Umbrella"), Troy Verges (Kenny Chesney's "You Save Me") and Brett James (Carrie Underwood's "Jesus, Take The Wheel").

McLaughlin admits the experience of appearing in Enchanted and performing on the Oscar telecast was a career-defining moment.

"The whole thing has taken on a life of its own," he says. "I wasn't even supposed to be in the movie. I love Disney ballads, but I didn't necessarily connect it to what I do as an artist. But that image of an old-school crooner inspired me. I was able to see myself as something different, which helped me open up to try new things on this album. I wasn't afraid to try on some new looks, either."

Jon describes himself as a "child of the `80s" in talking about the musical direction of OK NOW, with the very first single "Beating My Heart" the perfect example, an introspective, existential tune about nothing less than the meaning of life, with an elaborate pop-rock production that evokes Coldplay, thanks to soaring synths and a crackling backbeat.

With producer Fields playing bass, drums, slide guitar and a variety of other instruments, McLaughlin also enlisted the talents of ace players such as guitarists Tim Pierce and David Ryan Harris, as well as drummer Dorian Crozier in the studio.

Jon describes "You Can Never Go Back," which he co-wrote with acclaimed L.A. singer/songwriter Bleu, as his attempt to write a "late-`70s, early-`80s Billy Joel song," an admonition to not dwell on the past that evokes the blue-eyed soul of the Bee Gees crossed with Hall and Oates, buttressed by Fields' George Harrison-like slide guitar riffs.

McLaughlin's soul/R&B croon also characterizes "Things That You Say," a bittersweet song about "loneliness, the isolation you feel when you're trying to connect with anybody, but end up with these shallow, going-through-the-motions relationships instead."

Synthesizers introduce "You Are the One I Love," a song Jon co-wrote with Jason Reeves, inspired by the tabloid reports about Amy Winehouse's stormy relationship with her husband Blake that shows an empathy to the beleaguered pair. The multi-layered production is driven home by Peter Gabriel-like tribal drum rhythms.

"I feel for them," McLaughlin admits. "Who's to say any of our relationships are any less dysfunctional? I think it's cool that they're so madly in love."

"The Middle" is about being able to take the Hoosier kid out of Indiana, but not being able to take Indiana out of the Hoosier. The youngster who grew up in a conservative Midwestern household admits home is where his heart still remains: "Let me tell you now where I went wrong/Hollywood is just another place/I don't belong."

"Four Years" is another Billy Joel-style, tongue-in-cheek take on a `50s rocker about high school peer pressure that advises freshmen not to worry about the dictates of fashion.

"You just spend so much time worrying about stupid stuff that just doesn't matter," says McLaughlin, who insists his own high school years were pretty good. "I wish I could get back all the money I spent on Abercrombie and Fitch back then. If I heard this song when I was still in high school, I still don't think it would change anything. You can't change high school kids' minds about these things...but I'm still going to try."

"We All Need Saving," a song about the importance of friendship, starts with a stack of Beach Boys-styled street corner doo-wop oooh-oooh harmonies McLaughlin recorded late one night on Garageband.com, which gives the song its sacred feel, while "Throw My Love Around" counsels that, with only one life left to live, it's preferable to take risks then end up having regrets.

That same spirit of taking chances informed the making of OK NOW.

"My philosophy has changed," nods McLaughlin. "Now I believe you should get crazy in the studio, explore different sounds, and I love the challenge of recreating the songs in the live setting -that's the best part."

OK NOW is OK to go.

Product Description

American heartland singer-songwriter and pianist Jon McLaughlin - whose show-stopping live performance of "So Close," the Oscar-nominated song from the Disney movie Enchanted, was seen world¬wide during the 80th annual Academy Awards ceremonies - has returned with OK NOW, his second album for Island Records, due October 7th. Fans are getting a sample with the release of a new single, "Beating My Heart," which impacted at the Hot AC radio format on June 9th.

"Beating My Heart" was written by Jon McLaughlin and produced by John Fields, known for his recent chart-topping work with the Jonas Brothers, Lifehouse, and Switchfoot. The new album is being mixed by Tom Lord-Alge and will feature the soon-to-be hit "Smack In To You," written and produced by the Grammy award-winning team of Tricky and The-Dream.

Jon's triumphant Oscar night performance ignited an astonishing 1,514% overnight sales increase at Amazon for Indiana, which neatly took over the #1 spot on the Movers & Shakers chart. "Musically, the big winner of the night was Jon McLaughlin," wrote FoxNews.com's Roger Friedman in his Oscars coverage. "He sang one of the Enchanted songs. Talk about a break-out moment! That's a phenomenal voice... McLaughlin could be the next big thing."

Indiana, Jon McLaughlin's first major label album, received maximum exposure on tours with Sara Bareilles last summer, Paolo Nutini in the fall, and then climaxing with Kelly Clarkson on her 24-city North American tour, October through December.

Named one of "The 10 Hot Guys of Summer" by US Weekly magazine last year, Jon was also seen performing on the CBS-TV daytime drama The Bold & The Beautiful, on NBC's The Today Show and on NBC's The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

Jon McLaughlin Photos

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just as Good if not Better, October 10, 2008

By 

A. Yunker - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: OK Now (Audio CD)

Quite often when I buy a new cd it will take me more than a day to get through. There's couple reasons for that. 1. I'm too busy to listen to it straight though. 2. Some songs just really turn me off to it. This album however was the complete opposite... I ran to my room and listened to it straight through 2 times. Each song intriguing me. I'd have to say my least favorite song would have to be Beating My Heart, but that's not to say I don't like it. However I find with many albums, the truly good songs are the unreleased ones. My personnal favorite is Four Years followed closely by Dance Your Life Away. Four Years made me cry the first time I listened to it. It's had the same effect on a lot of my friends. And "Dance" was just such a fun song. I'm not saying that Dance could be considered a masterpiece, but so often masterpieces do nothing for me. I can enjoy a simple, happy song, and that's what "Dance" is. A song slimply celebrating life. I could sit here and type my praise of each song, but I'll let you make you own decision. But I will say one thing, just like his last album, not one song is like another which to me makes a good album, and a good artist. Variety

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent CD!, October 13, 2008

By 

Karen L. Hinson - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: OK Now (Audio CD)

I can't remember the last time I was so excited about a secular artist releasing a new CD. I must say after listening to Jon McLaughlin's lastest effort, I am not disappointed. It is somewhat different sounding from his last CD, Indiana, so it is hard for me to pick a favorite between the two. It is a hard choice, but my favorite track is the final one on the CD. The song about dancing is really the only one I'm not particularly fond of. I look forward to what Jon does musically in the future. I just hope he keeps on his current track and keeps it rated G!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Different from Indiana, but not in a good way, February 17, 2009

By 

C. Matson "bookworm and engineering student" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: OK Now (Audio CD)

I bought Indiana about a year and a half ago, and I was quickly captivated by Jon McLaughlin's upbeat piano and introspective lyrics, reminiscent of Billy Joel and Ben Folds. However, this new album is too slickly produced for me to love it in the same way. It's no accident that the "customers also purchased" albums that Amazon shows are largely from "American Idol" products, because this album has the same saccharine quality. Jon's talent is sadly obscured by gooey dance-pop stylings here. When I was listening to "Dance Your Life Away," my husband actually thought it was a Justin Timberlake song! Not good at all. I'm as sentimental as they come and I found a few of these songs ("You Are the One I Love," "Four Years") to be unbearably corny.

There are some great songs on this album ("Why I'm Talking To You" has an awesome old-school R&B feel, and "Things That You Say" combines a soaring melody with poignant lyrics), hence the three-star rating. But I hope that with his next album, Jon strips things down and goes back to showcasing his talent on the piano. I saw him recently in concert and it was a great experience - he's a great performer who knows how to get the crowd going. I would love for him to put out a live album.