By Elyssa Goldstein
On A Song Like This, Mississippi native Rob Blackledge, has crafted one of the most solid debut records since pop-rock counterparts, John Mayer (Room for Squares), Jason Mraz (Waiting for My Rocket to Come) and Gavin DeGraw (Chariot).
Blackledge’s first foray into the music industry came with 2005’s A Step in the Dark EP, which featured early versions of “Innocent Rebel” and “Beautiful Mistake.” With help from friends and fellow musicians, Dave Barnes and Andy Davis, Blackledge was able to develop his craft from simple acoustic melodies to innovative compositions.
A Song Like This showcases this transformation brilliantly. Blackledge has the ability to create the radio-friendly hit while maintaining his uniqueness. His powerful tenor voice has hints of soul, jazz, and blues (with an effortless falsetto akin to Ari Hest), backed by songs with hints of Ben Jelen piano arrangements, Ben Folds and Rufus Wainwright harmonic breakdowns (“Am I To Blame”), and Stevie Wonder riffs. Blackledge was trained in guitar and piano in his youth, but his full-length debut is the first display of his dominance on the bass and drums as well. Blackledge has the musical ability and highlights his talents magnificently in his co-producing effort with Josh Reynolds. There is truly something for everyone in each of the twelve compositions on A Song Like This.
“Beautiful Mistake” and “Worth Taking” are airplay-ready material with catchy, recognizable lyrics.
“One Step Away,” “Trying to Say,” and “Innocent Rebel” are the quirky piano jams that you can’t help but tap your foot along to. “Get Loose” and “Doin’ Our Own Thing” are the smooth cuts that get the listener in a joyful groove.
“Broadway,” the album’s closing track, is also its crowning achievement. A positively stunning piano ballad complimented only by Blackledge’s pure vocal should be laden with praise for the effort of its writers, Blackledge and Andy Davis. (Blackledge wrote all of the album’s tracks, while co-writing with Andy Davis on the aforementioned “Broadway” and “Innocent Rebel”). “Broadway” has lyrics made for quoting: “She wanted Broadway/underneath the lights/she wanted encores/at the end of every night/She planned to keep on singing/and the audience was tough/this wasn’t Broadway/but it was close enough.”
Rob Blackledge is currently on tour opening for Toby Lightman and Matt Wertz. The entourage recently played at New York City’s Knitting Factory. For more information visit www.robblackledgemusic.com.