Review - Lawson - Chapman Square (Deluxe Edition)

<a href="http://popbangboom.blogspot.com/2012/09/listen-up-lawson.html">Lawson</a> is the newest in a long (LONG) line of pop rock bands, each one garnering a collection of similar-sounding radio singles. The British group seemed to pop up out of nowhere, with their first single only being released in May of this year. Since then, they have managed three top ten hits, and this CD debuted (and peaked we can say for sure) at number four. Not too shabby. Makes me think they had A LOT of label support. Like, a label created them for this purpose. But, who knows.

‘Chapman Square’ is a fun, rocking effort that is sure to release another few singles before it is done. But, which ones? The blended guitars and pumped-up basslines all seem to sound the same, and the album feels more like three songs repeated over and over rather than a collection of sixteen individual tracks (on the deluxe edition).

Super producer John Shanks is responsible for much of the album, which should come as a surprise to no one. Shanks is the man who crafted some of the best known (and poppiest) pop rock in the past decade or two. We’re talking Ashlee Simpson, Miley Cyrus, Hilary Duff, Kelly Clarkson, Backstreet Boys and so on and so on. Once you know that, you know what’s coming on here.

Lawson are making it work in the UK, but their US attempt might not be as successful. It all just sounds too tired; we’ve heard this all before, only with more pizazz. Although, seeing as how the Jonas Brothers haven’t been around for a while and the latest from Boys Like Girls and the All-American Rejects both tanked, maybe there’s an opportunity for a new pretty-boy rock band.

‘Chapman Square’ is available as an <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Chapman-Square-Lawson/dp/B0090NNQD6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1355220326&sr=8-1&keywords=lawson">import only</a>, and there are no plans for it to be released in the US just yet.

Listen to: “Taking Over Me”