By Megan King

Great musicians should always have a certain quality that separates them from everyone else. And in a time where guys with guitars are seemingly taking over the nation, it’s essential to be able to bring something new and refreshing to the table if you expect to make a mark in the industry. John Mayer, Dave Matthews and Jason Mraz were all able to do that. Up-and-comer, Howie Day, though, doesn’t seem to be delivering.

It’s not to say that his re-release of the 2003 album, Stop All the World Now, is bad. It just seems to be missing that certain something that would really catapult Day to the top of the charts. The CD starts off strong enough, with songs like “Brace Yourself” and “Perfect Time Of Day,” showing off Day’s powerful vocal range. Yet, while his voice is undeniably strong, the problem lies in the fact that he sounds just like everyone else-there is nothing special to set him apart from the numerous other singer/songwriters out there.

The third song, however, entitled “Collide,” is a standout song; with the 25-piece London Session Orchestra behind him, Day displays his lyrical ability with lines like “Even the best fall down sometimes / Even the wrong words seem to rhyme / Out of the doubt that fills my mind / I somehow find you and I collide.”

“Sunday Morning Song” picks the tempo back up with its fun and light message; the infectious chorus and toe-tapping percussion section also make this an enjoyable tune. Additional songs like “I’ll Take On You” and “Numbness of Sound,” incorporate haunting lyrics with a strong string section. Yet, while both are solid songs, they seem overproduced at times, and lack the depth needed to become real gems.

Luckily, this re-release of Stop All The World Now also includes four bonus tracks; two new songs and acoustic versions of “Brace Yourself” and “Collide.” The two previously unreleased tracks, “This Time Around” and “Standing In The Sun,” add a faster and more up-beat feel to the album, something much needed to balance out the numerous slow, depressing ballads. The acoustic versions are also a nice treat, allowing the listener to enjoy just Day’s voice and guitar.

While Stop All The World Now is by no means a bad record, it’s far from great. Day is on the right track with this re-release of Stop All The World Now, but he still has a lot of work to do.