‘Well, I love America’ declares Daniel Wylie on his new solo album Car Guitar Star. With music as refreshing as his, surely it is only a matter of time before America returns the compliment.

Daniel was once the leading light, songwriter, and vocalist of Glasgow band the Cosmic Rough Riders. In 2002 he left to embark on a solo career. His first album was the highly acclaimed Ramshackle Beauty. He followed that with other excellent releases: Postcards, and The High Cost Of Happiness.

A description of his music is perhaps best captured by the title of the album he wrote whilst with the Cosmic Rough Riders, Enjoy The Melodic Sunshine. His ability to write such engagingly memorable songs is captured in that one sentence. It perfectly expresses the journey through life, and the radiant glow of the tracks are written around impossibly catchy music.

UK magazine New Musical Express declared, quite simply, that Daniel is a ‘pop genius’. Meanwhile The Sunday Times makes comparisons to the likes of The Beatles, The Byrds, and The Beach Boys. High stakes indeed, and yet, I couldn’t agree more. With another national newspaper adding the inevitable ‘shamefully under-rated’ to its glowing review, it is time that the situation was finally put right.

In another era Daniel Wylie would have become a household name, of that I have no doubt. His infectious, feel-good shades of Americana style would have propelled him to wider recognition. He is a man who has music flowing from him. There is nothing contrived, false, or forced about any of it. It is as natural as the summer day it inspires within you.

Don't make the mistake of thinking that it's just light throwaway music. There can be a slightly darker melancholic side within the thoughtful lyrics. Strip away those rich melodies and you will find that he has a lot of relevance to say. Some of the frustrations of life are there. Yet he manages to remain devoid of bitterness. These are balanced heartfelt observations.

As he travels on the road from here to there he clearly absorbs what he sees, understands it, and then produces some of the warmest music you will hear in a long time.

It is a song of life on the road that opens Car Guitar Star. “I Love America” is his view of travelling across the country. “I’m A Machine” is somewhat darker, and yet still sounds wonderfully upbeat. “I Can Fly” draws you in like the long days of youth he sings of. The  catchy and soaring hook of the chorus is an example of exactly why NME declared him to be a ‘pop genius’.

“You Go There”, and “Hold Me Close”, an excellent song of love within a new relationship, lead to the title track. There is a strong message within its lyrics for the download age. It has Daniel pointing out what we must all take note of. He sings, ‘music gets cheapened when people are taking it for free’. Within a typically infectious chorus he adds, ‘I know the net made it easy to get, but don’t steal from me. What about the poor musician, who is it wants to steal our vision.’ The song ends with the unthinkable, ‘then there’d be no new music, no incentive to make it’.