How we like him now? A bit more than last time, actually…
[Video][Website]
[6.00]
Anthony Miccio: Funny, I thought his last name was Gokey.
[4]
Alfred Soto: Mark Ronson coaxing an Aussie into his best Lovin’ Spoonful imitation, over spidery guitar.
[5]
Michaelangelo Matos: It’ll probably be a good while before I start disliking Mark Ronson’s more-Mod-than-thou production style, but getting the bass sound and horn parts just so doesn’t equal compelling songwriting or, especially, singing. If Merriweather’s a soul man I’m the Easter Bunny, and I don’t even like dyeing eggs.
[5]
Chuck Eddy: I do like that surf’n’spy guitar sample. And there’s something funereal in the melody of his ooh-ooh-oohs that suggests some Motown classic sifted through “Wild World” or “It’s A Sin”. But I’m not buying his blue-eyed Levi Stubbs, and I’m buying the lyrics even less. Wonder if I’d trust this more if Mark Ronson wasn’t involved.
[7]
Martin Kavka: I find it really difficult to assess musical homage. Take this, for example. It sounds a lot like The Animals’ version of “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood.” A lot. However, there’s no single element that is a clear example of theft. On the other hand, there’s more being borrowed here than just a sensibility. But what? How? In any case, the seamless recombination of the past makes this Merriweather’s strongest solo single yet.
[9]
Anthony Easton: Being self-reflexive of your cliches does not excuse them; being meta about your love songs does not mean that you are allowed this level of slop.
[2]
John Seroff: Merriweather’s versatile voice recalls the soulful screams and velvet tone of a young Terence Trent D’Arby. The rock-solid (if derivative) structure is rent rococo by innovative flourishes; a different instrument or variation on the theme is introduced virtually every four measures. When every other track on the jukebox considers itself out the door with 1.5 ideas (looking at you, Pitbull), it’s refreshing to find a song with considerable complexity and higher aspirations. This sounds suspiciously like it could break out as a ‘Rehab’ sized hit; I’m gonna feel real dumb if my obsessive repeat play (“Just one more time through the “I-would-do-any-thing-and-ev-ry-thing” part…”) leaves this jewel unlistenable by the time it becomes ubiquitous, but my iTunes count (thirty-five and rising) suggests that’s a risk I’m willing to take.
[10]
Martin Skidmore: This is a bit brighter than the last rather Blunt/Morrison one. Here we have a Ronson production heading more into Jamiroquai territory. He has some vocal talent, and even sounds lovely on the odd word or two, but his melisma feels painfully stiff and clumsy, and the song is dreary.
[4]
Matt Cibula: And just when I was about to give up, here comes a blast combining many sounds I love with a great singer who kind of sounds like if Roland Gift had ever really had any guts to go with his glory. Wish dude didn’t roll up his sleeves like that in the video, though, that’s pretty gross.
[8]