What a joy. Amid the clashing of guitars, the banging of backbeats and the struggling for
melodies comes a middle-of-the-road wonder, coloring the pages of mp3.com with the flavor of European pop.
Senior Merlo's material, most of it in a language other than English, is simply delightful. I realize many of the artists on mp3.com, especially in rock and alternative, are ready to stamp Merlo's stuff as hokey and lame. This is probably why the artists who would do that are lacking a certain class in their own music. Merlo's stuff is mighty in a traditional respect that cannot be denied and certainly should be listened to by artists who have nothing to do with this genre.
To learn. To be exposed to other things, the kind of things that can open up the creative
process. Merlo's songs are solid and he delivers them confidently. He is a pure artist with an innocence not found often in a 40-year-old (I don't have it at 50).
I urge all of you to take a journey; go to Merlo's site, sit back with a glass of wine,
strong coffee, a smoke; open the window nearest you and feel the breeze; and listen...

---

By now, readers of these reviews must be well aware of my penchant for the 'unobvious'
                    and the magic of the element of surprise and originality in songs. However, I can still hear
                    a rock-solid standard that is well-constructed and perfectly organized.

                    Duvall's 'Never Be Free' incorporates every smart element a standard must have. This
                    melodic torch song, though it covers the usual territory, is a template for how to take
                    the usual territory and give it a fresh spin.

                    The lyrics emote the feeling of chaos love is, certainly when rejected, and they cover
                    every angle with a memorable melody and inspired performance. 

                    Even if you don't like this kind of music you have to respect its honesty and strength as
                    it is delivered. If more of the hard-rockers on mp3.com extracted elements from songs
                    like this and translated them into their own voices, it would be amazing how musical
                    ground could be broken and not just trampled on again and again.

                    Fine work, Duvall.