James Blunt: ilikemusic because... conversation is so limited
dasps: ilikemusic because... it's make me cool and numb n i love to hear music.
robbie: ilikemusic because... my friends say its cool
Hard-Fi: ilikemusic because... what else is there to like?!
Dave: ilikemusic because... Without it there wouldnt be a Global Gathering
Danny: ilikemusic because... It's my life
Lee: ilikemusic because... It makes me want to rave my nut off
Sharleen Spiteri: ilikemusic because... it takes me to places that life can't
dj.NOMSTA*: ilikemusic because.... music likesme!
Darren: ilikemusic because... It makes me dance like a motherf**ker
Jack McManus - Bang On The Piano single and Either Side Of Midnight album
See Jack McManus at his piano, and it's hard to imagine man and keyboard apart. The musical hooks fly in from all corners on his debut album, "Either Side of Midnight", but if there's one constant it's the part played by Jack's take-everywhere upright. It's a surprise, then, to learn most of his songs started life as melody lines worked out on a trumpet.
The mad-haired 23-year-old looks an unlikely candidate for a career as a professional trumpet player, but that's the way things were heading until his demo of (brass-free) songs landed him both a publishing and record deal earlier this year.
The son of a rock & roll pyrotechnics expert from Bromley, Jack grew up listening to the likes of Elton John and Billy Joel; an un-snobby devotion to stick-in-your-head melodies is a hallmark of his song writing. Jack's talents had their first recorded outing earlier this year on Groove Armada's Soundboy Rock album. He co-wrote 'From The Rooftops', and a spacey version of his voice propels the finished track on its Erik Satie-ish path.
His vocals get a warmer, live-sounding treatment courtesy of producer Steve Robson on "Either Side of Midnight" (Universal Music Record Label). It's an instantly-accessible, refreshingly "up" album, as evidenced by the joyous first single "Bang On The Piano". Other highlights are the unashamedly beautiful "Fine Time To Lose Your Mind" with its echoes of the Eagles and Wichita Lineman, the glorious singalong "You Think I Don't Care" and the title track, which recalls the swoonsome pop of the Alessi Brothers.
See Jack live in 2008.
Download album track Not The Hardest Part for free at:
http://www.u-download.co.uk/jackmcmanus
Watch Jack perform Fine Time solo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgHFzwihh-M
Jack's debut single 'Bang On The Piano' is released on Polydor Records on April 28th with his album Either Side Of Midnight to follow on May 5th.
Also See: ilikemusic.com
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