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Track Listings
| 1. Promising Promises |
| 2. You Never Know |
| 3. Summer Is Over feat. Sara Bareilles |
| 4. The Atmosphere |
| 5. What I Want |
| 6. I'll Follow You |
| 7. Maybe It's Over (feat. Xenia Martinez) |
| 8. If Only I |
| 9. Falling |
| 10. Without You Now |
| 11. My Girl Tonight |
| 12. These Crazy Times |
Editorial Reviews
Jon McLaughlin's new album Promising Promises embodies McLaughlin's irresistible songwriting style along with his sweetly melancholic approach to storytelling. As he explains, "It feels really good to have a record that I'm working on that I can really deliver wholeheartedly knowing that the fans are getting a piece of me." He continues, "There isn't a note on the record that I didn't spend hours scrutinizing over, or at the very least sitting with and playing over and over again. I feel like it's a real connection to me." Promising Promises takes flight on the album's first single, "Summer Is Over," (featuring Sara Bareilles) written for a friend in the throes of a crushing break-up. The track is the perhaps the most incendiary of Jon's career. Also at the core of Promising Promises are songs like "These Crazy Times,' (written after the Gulf of Mexico oil spill), "If Only I" (bearing a different take on loss, written from the perspective of a person deeply, madly in love with someone they've never worked up the courage to talk to) and the album's consuming title track, "Promising Promises," a piano tour-de-force.
Customer Reviews
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:MP3 Music
Jon is the total package. This album is one amazing song after another. I find myself frustrated when I feel like I haven't been able to hear enough of the songs on my car ride to work. I have at least 7 favorites on this album (Only if I, Promising Promises, The Atmosphere, You Never Know, I'll Follow You, Summer is Over, Falling, My Girl Tonight...and every other song on the album...is that more than 7? oops :) . It is a perfect progression from his album 'Indiana'. And the bonus song accompaning Track #12 is a pleasant surprise. You will not be disappointed with this purchase. Love this man.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By composinkid
Format:MP3 Music
Simply amazing. You can tell so much work is put into each and every song, as they have instrumentations that are more complex than any top 40 song out there. Every song is catchy with gorgeous and fun melodies, and the lyrics have a depth to them that is rare to find on the radio nowadays. The songs also encompass many different genres. The track I'll Follow You is a gorgeous piano/cello ballad, and The Atmosphere is an incredible upbeat song that changes time meters for the chorus (from 4/4 to 6/8, which you never hear on the radio either; if you're a music major you'll know what I'm talking about). I can listen to every single track on this album on repeat. Buy this album, you won't be disappointed.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By J. Hathaway
Format:Audio CD
I don't know how Jon does it, but somehow, I feel like he jumps into my soul and writes an album that my soul needs. His lyrical rainbow of sorts twists from one direction to another incapsulating you in an emotionally immersive musical experience. 'Promising Promises' is a close follow up to his independent album 'Forever If Ever' that was released last fall; reusing some of those extraordinary songs and adding some new ones. I couldn't wait to hear "The Atmosphere," having heard it at the Super Bowl Village when it was premiered live. "The Atmosphere" gives 'Promising Promises' a fresh touch, while "Falling" puts you in the mood to find your one and ONLY special someone. I think that he got his piano grove back while writing the music and lyrics of this album; and I love the refined restraint of Razor & Tie to keep that grove intact. Awesome album... 'Forever If Ever' has been playing non stop in my car since the 9th of September and this new 'Promising Promises' will certainly be my fall back for this summer. Great job, well done Jon. I love it. I can't wait to see you again live!!! Ok now... stop reading and trust me Amazon shoppers... BUY IT ALREADY!!!!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By danbooke2001
Format:MP3 Music|Amazon Verified Purchase
Bought this album after running across the solo version of Promising Promises on YouTube and was so impressed by how he could make the piano sing, I decided I had to buy the album. There is not a single song on the album that I do not like. If you have heard his music and like it at all, you will not be disappointed in this purchase.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Kristi
Format:Audio CD
This CD does not have a single song on it that I want to skip over. They all have such a great melody and contain such a variety of emotions. It definitely holds up with Indiana, his first album, that made me fall in love with him in the beginning.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By LittleLady
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Each song seems so powerful and clearly written from the heart. Great beats. Great hooks. Great lyrics. I love the whole CD.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
And sadly, so is the fact that only 3 other people reviewed this wonder so far. An atrocity! I'm not even going to get into naming people who make worse music than Jon but get more sales because generally, lots of people have a love for music and we all definitely need to make money. So let them. However, it's a pure tragedy that 2011's Forever If Ever (which I happily bought) didn't move more product than it did. I see harsh realities for this CD too which probably is his best yet. The only thing disappointing here is that Jon decided to keep that track with Xenia and let go of others to make up Promising Promises. Please pick this up if you like heartfelt soft rock. This guy really deserves it. :)
The album is chock full of wondrous, well-written, piano-driven love songs. It also has a mix of tempos going on. His vocals have grown a lot too since his Indiana days. They are less strained than before.
P.S. If you bought 2011's Forever If Ever then just buy the tracks "The Atmosphere", "You Never Know", "Falling" and maybe the newer version of "Summer Is Over" which now features vocals from the astoundingly big-voiced, Sara Bareilles. They're the newbies.
4.6 stars.
The album is chock full of wondrous, well-written, piano-driven love songs. It also has a mix of tempos going on. His vocals have grown a lot too since his Indiana days. They are less strained than before.
P.S. If you bought 2011's Forever If Ever then just buy the tracks "The Atmosphere", "You Never Know", "Falling" and maybe the newer version of "Summer Is Over" which now features vocals from the astoundingly big-voiced, Sara Bareilles. They're the newbies.
4.6 stars.
By stixx
Format:MP3 Music
Without question one of my favorite albums. Not just of the last year or two, but of all time! My goodness, but he has talent!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great CD
I found Jon to be a great musician and songwriter. My son lent me a previous CD, Forever If Ever. Some of the same songs but never published? Read more
Published 5 months ago by S & J
5.0 out of 5 stars
Why isn't this guy a star!?!?!?!?
Why isn't this guy a star? Great voice, great musician, great songs, great looking! He should be topping the charts!
Published 6 months ago by Kevin
5.0 out of 5 stars
his best yet
love this album- I can listen to it on repeat all the way through. No bonified hits but really, really solid all the way through. You should own this album!
Published 7 months ago by nate
