Yahoo! Music Album Review

Released on 29/05/06
Label: Mercury

Given that Orson's singer, Jason Pebworth, used to be in the US production of "Phantom Of The Opera" and that he professes to both a love of Black Sabbath and show tunes, it's hardly surprising that the barrelling rock of the Hollywood funsters' debut is both ridiculously catchy, and hideously uncool. Yet even if MOR wasn't already poised for a major league comeback in 2006 - promising to make the words Middle Of The Road more badge of honour than an insult - "Bright Idea" would be making oversized '80s rock and gleaming LA sheen the new sound of summer.

Already first single, "No Tomorrow", a mighty no brainer of a hit, has scored their first UK number one, and the good news is, there's plenty more over-excitable dumb fun where that came from. "Bright Idea" is almost literally bursting with obvious hits; the kind of big, shiny drivetime radio eating anthems which record companies normally beg acts to write. Which makes it all the more ironic that they couldn't get signed in their native America. Passed over by every label going, they wisely scraped together $5000, recorded themselves the feel-good hit of the year, and then like Scissor Sisters before them, sought refuge this side of the Atlantic, finally being snapped up by Mercury.

Although hindsight, especially after a Number One single, is an amazing thing, it's not hard to see why Orson were willing to put their own money where no US label would. Living up to both the sing-along and stylistic promise of "No Tomorrow", the title track bounces to another irresistibly smiley chorus. "Already Over" soundtracks high school break-ups like only Huey Lewis & The News could and "So Ahead Of Me" struts across the neon-lit dance-floor, clicking its fingers and feeling like a distant old favourite before it even reaches the pogoing rush.

While most throwaway pop albums - and despite the guitars and the tales of love and loss, this is throwaway pop - would struggle to serve-up three equally unshakable singles, "Bright Idea" really does have them to spare. As everything from the head down, stadium romp of "Tryin' To Help" to the slinky Stones-y disco-rock of "Last Night" proves, Jason Pebworth doesn't know how to write anything but massive, instant hooks. And as if to finally cement their MOR credentials, even the cheesy mid-tempo swayer "Look Around" rates as a ballad that doesn't need skipping.

Without question, this year's Maroon 5 have arrived. Admittedly, that might not be a thought to thrill everyone, but make no mistake, resistance, no matter how well founded on grounds of style and good taste, is absolutely futile.

    by Mark Daniels