By Elyssa A. Goldstein

A typical rock band does not feature a mandolin, fiddle or an upright bass, but that is why Blue Merle is far from your typical rock band. Jason Oettel (bass) and William Ellis (drums and percussion) both received bachelor’s degrees in Studio Music and Jazz which attest for the multitude of instruments performed by the band and their incredible musicianship. Guitarist, keyboardist, and lead singer, Luke Reynolds, channels Coldplay’s Chris Martin on this record, with an occasional hint of Five For Fighting’s John Ondrasik. His raspy tenor and airy falsetto combine beautifully to deliver passionate lyrics about the many sides of love.

Burning In The Sun was produced and mixed by Stephen Harris, who has also worked with U2 and Dave Matthews Band. While the technical aspects of this album are some of the best exhibited on a debut record, the creative aspect is the band’s major downfall. Nearly every track on the record goes by with the same mid-tempo groove and similar chord progressions, making the listener bored and discouraged at times. The tracks all seem to melt together as opposed to standing out and grabbing the listener’s attention each and every time.

Blue Merle is truly the American Coldplay. The vocals and the songs themselves sound like a near-flawless rip-off of A Rush of Blood to the Head. However, Blue Merle’s songs are not nearly as catchy and poetic as Coldplay. The title track, while melodic and more memorable than other tracks, cannot be compared to “Politik,” Coldplay’s album opener. “If I Could” and “Lucky to Know You” don’t hold a candle to “The Scientist” or “Clocks.” If Blue Merle came first, it most likely wouldn’t have mattered because Martin and Coldplay are simply better songwriters than Reynolds and Blue Merle.

Blue Merle succeeds in breaking away from the Coldplay comparison on “Places,” but it takes eight tracks to get there, and one wonders if the average listener would still be interested at that point. After “Places,” the album is able to stand on its own a bit, but it may be due to the use of guitars and the absence of Martin’s rollicking piano lines that fuel every Coldplay record. “Either Way It Goes” is a standout track on the album, but it would have been more effective near the beginning of the record.

All in all, Blue Merle entered the music industry with a respectable debut album, but under heavy comparison to Coldplay. It will be interesting to see if future efforts from the band can be appreciated for there own merit.