La Rocca

OK Okay (Dangerbird)

By Niema Jordan
Published: September 21st, 2008 | 9:00am

Are you wondering what kind of music to expect on La Rocca’s second album OK Okay? Three songs from the album will be featured on the upcoming season of One Tree Hill. The same show that featured three songs from the Los Angeles-based band as well as songs from Coldplay and Ingrid Michaelson last season.

When “Paris” begins to play, it is hard not to get lost in the melody. For a moment the lyrics “I am not made of glass tonight,” followed closely by “I’m not breaking down tonight,” cause ears to perk up; but soon the soothing melody kicks in again, and the piano carries the listener back into a dreamlike state.

“Ballad Of Arizona” is a bit more upbeat, and attentively is the only way to listen. The primarily Irish quartet (keyboard player Nick Haworth is English) takes a stab at politics, singing “I don’t know what you want / I don’t know what you want / And neither does your ___”; the blank being filled in with Head Of State, Uncle Sam, and Robin Hood among other terms, depending on the verse. The harmonica-fused tune is by far one of the standout songs of this mellow keyboard and guitar-infused album.

Be sure to listen to the last track “Roadway Hymn” all the way through. Not only does the song evoke a cross country road trip via Route 66, but turning it off means you will miss out the on the beautifully composed bonus track, “Love Under Key.” It is safe to say that OK Okay offers a large dose of pop that is easy to listen to, but it’s doesn’t have the makings of a breakthrough album.

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