Music review: Richard Marx – 鈥楽ongwriter鈥�
Thirty-five years after his self-titled debut album was released featuring infectious hits such as 鈥淪hould鈥檝e Known Better,鈥� 鈥淒on鈥檛 Mean Nothing,鈥� 鈥淗old On to the Nights鈥� and 鈥淓ndless Summer Nights,鈥� Richard Marx demonstrates that he still can pen memorable songs that span multiple genres.
鈥淪ongwriter鈥� is an ambitious new release that finds the golden-voice singer-songwriter at the top of his game with five numbers each designated to the pop, country, rock and ballad categories.
鈥淪ame Heartbreak Different Day鈥� opens the set by offering catchy pop stylings with Marx unable to shake the memory of a broken relationship by declaring, 鈥淪ummers come and gone and I鈥檓 without you/Know I should move on but I don鈥檛 know how to/Give up now, tried a thousand ways/Same heartbreak, different day.鈥� I guess you can say that the new material is the same Marx, different album.
Marx proves he can rock when needed on the rousing tracks 鈥淢y Love, My Enemy,鈥� 鈥淛ust Go鈥� and 鈥淥ne More Yesterday.鈥�
鈥淪hame on You鈥� is the standout rocker that points an accusatory finger at those who encourage discord as Marx proclaims, 鈥淵ou are the poster boy for how low one can sink/You slither by your lies and never even blink.鈥�
For his country leanings, Marx gets a little assistance in the songwriting department from some major stars.
Co-written with Keith Urban, 鈥淥ne Day Longer鈥� certainly possesses Urban鈥檚 country charm and signature guitar style with Marx鈥檚 vocals a comfortable fit for the track about striving to keep a relationship strong during difficult times.
Darius Rucker lends his songwriting skills to 鈥淏reaking My Heart,鈥� a number about being blindsided by heartbreak.
Marx is perhaps at his best when delivering tender ballads that speak directly to the heart.
鈥淎lways,鈥� co-written with the legendary Burt Bacharach, is a beautiful piano arrangement that speaks about finding the perfect love as Marx declares, 鈥淎nd I鈥檝e been searching for you/Long before I ever saw your face/And this love I found with you/Is the love I鈥檒l hold on to/Always.鈥� Get ready to hear this one played at numerous wedding receptions.
Once again, Marx demonstrates that a well-written song is timeless, no matter what the style.