Darius — Dive In

(Universal) ** (out of 3)

The fact that Darius auditioned for Popstars and ranked No. 3, has already made him a household name. Dive In is an album of great maturity for an artist who’s just 22. Colourblind kicks off proceedings in a gentle, poppy guitar-driven sense with easy lyrics and a memorable chorus and turns out to be a tentative test song for what lies ahead. The real surprise comes with the title track, that opens with an irresistible chorus: "Take a long shot and give it all you’ve got / You’ll never know unless you try." Dive In is without a doubt one of the better pop albums released this year. Darius’ honeyed baritone and warm Scottish charm would probably be enough to win the album a fair audience.

DARIUS
DIVE IN

It’s probable the name Darius produces some ugly images for reality TV viewers. A cringe-worthy rendition of Baby One More Time, perhaps. Or constant proclamations of “I love you” to fellow contestants. Both moments are of course from the British series of Popstars, which eventually created Hearsay and Liberty X.

Yes, that Darius.

Things have changed significantly since New Zealand audiences last saw him though. Despite vicious criticism from the British tabloid press, he boldly faced off against Simon Cowell on the original Pop Idol, eventually placing third.

The resulting record contract led to Dive In, a credible album containing some pop gems. There are the incredibly catchy singles Colourblind and Rushes, along with the charmingly melodic Gotta Know Tonight and Simple Like The Truth – DAN WOOTTON

If both your parents are doctors, should you be one too? Apparently not! Unlike his folks, Darius (Danesh) prefers to sing. The dude plays the saxophone and piano and write his own tracks. You will remember him as the singer-songwriter of 'Colourblind'. This debut single zoomed right up the Scottish and British pop charts. But success didn't come easy for him. Darius started out in the televised star search contests "Popstars" and "Pop Idol". Cheers for this hardy guy who has made it.

It's hard to be taken seriously if you are a pop-ster from Britain. Think back and you'll realize that apart from George Michael, Phil Collins and The Beatles, not many British artistes have broken ground in the US market. Even The Eurythmics and Robbie Williams are but a speck in the vast American market.

Darius Danesh was one of the top winners in a Pop Idol contest held in the UK some time back. He swore that he'd be releasing a million-selling album. Brave words for a 22 year old rookie.

Well, the good news is that Darius is truly blessed. He may not possess the strongest set of lung-pipes but he has a lot going for him. For starters, he writes his own material (very important for breakthrough acts nowadays) and they are, in all honesty, not at all bad. In fact, there are a couple here that have proven to be hits.

He is also very easy on the eyes, 'pop- idol' material for the gazillions of young ladies out there. Lastly, he writes about relationship and love, coupled with some pretty memorable melodies and hooks. His music is easy to identify with.

Though Dive In has an acoustic guitar base, Darius produces in a decidedly different way compared to Canadian counterpart, John Mayer. Whilst the latter relies on raw sound, Darius opts for crisp acoustic guitar riffs that are sometimes layered with futuristic sounds inspired by dance guru, Mirwais Ahmadzai.

Dive In wisely opens with three already released singles which have had tremendous success in the British market. Colourblind, Rushes and Incredible are definite radio airplay choices. The songs do not really peak, rather they make for perfect mid-tempo play - a perfect companion if you're ever on a long road trip.

The lyrical ideas around the songs are also interesting and in the case of Rushes, there is brilliant use of keyboard strings at the choruses, definitely saving it from typical mid-tempo acoustic mush. Incredible aspires a little toward Madonna's music. The break-beats are ever so slight while the choruses dive in heavy guitar riffs - macho!

From there, the album glides on to other light up-tempo numbers, of course with the pre-requisite ballads here and there. Darius claims to have grown up listening to the Beatles and confesses to being heavily influenced by the mega-band.

If his acoustic tunes are anything to go by, then he is at least, truthful. The reason why this release is doing so well in Britain is largely due to the fact that it does not in the least sound like a Brit album. The guitar arrangements make this offering sound largely, American.

Darius is picking up where Ronan and Mayer left off, but unlike Ronan, young Darius is not relying on rehashing other people's tunes. He writes good material himself.

Make way for an artiste who will hopefully mature and find his true acoustic style. All the pop-idol jokes aside, Darius seems determined to break the mould and gain respect. If this debut is anything to go by, he is here to stay.

Blushes and Rushes

If you've found yourself annoyed but still humming the peppy "Colourblind," it's possible that you'd feel very sick as you go through almost an hour of pop sweetness dressed as soft rock.

But Darius Danesh is having a ball; he goes falsetto like Darren Hayes, oozes mush like Robbie Williams and dances like Ricky Martin.

He confesses that the first song he ever wrote was "a silly love song for his girlfriend," and things haven't changed much since then. The hit "Rushes," has him mouthing sugary stuff like "she's got a blind smile and a soft touch," and the upbeat "Dive In," can only come from someone who's having a great time.

To his credit Darius sings, plays and writes some of his own music which makes him a tad bit talented than other eye candy pop stars. If you totally swoon over mush melodies, Darius' Dive In is the album to go out and buy.

If you don't already know who Darius Danesh is, he's UK's latest pop export whose debut single, "Colourblind" shot to the number one spot in the UK charts last August. Darius won third place after Gareth Gates and Will Young in UK talent show Pop Idol. Before that he took part in Popstars (the show that made now defunct pop group Hear'say), but he didn't make the cut. He plucked up his courage and joined Pop Idol to make a second bid for stardom.

Many industry observers say he's got a higher chance at career longevity compared to the other two. Not only does he play the guitar but he writes all of his songs and didn't lay a hand on a single cover. That got Darius more than a few nods, "I've been writing songs since the age of 13. I'm self-taught on guitar, and I always wanted to see people's reaction to my songs, which are snapshots of experiences I've had."

With star producer Steve Lilywhite at the helm of his album, Darius worked with The Misfits, Mike Hedges (Travis, Manic Street Preachers) and LA-based The Matrix (Avril Lavigne). After soaking in this newfound knowledge, Darius tried his hand at producing "Better Than That".

"Incredible (What I Meant To Say)" is lush and dreamy with its layered guitar lines and vocals, while "Sliding Doors" has got a great sing-a-long chorus with insistent snappy guitar riffs for company. Another standout track is "Mercury Rising" that has Darius' vocals in falsetto against a backdrop of quiet introspection and swirly instrumentation.

Dive In is one of the best pop albums to come out of the UK this year with its breezy summery pop. We think that Darius' debut sounds like Ronan Keating meets John Mayer. Darius says, "Dive In is hopefully going to be one the feel-good albums for 2003. We're living in a world where so many bad things are going on, but there's so much great stuff too, and sometimes we need to remind ourselves of that, whether it's a song on the radio or a bunch of songs on an album. Hopefully that album will be Dive In."

Buzz: The Record: Take the dive with Darius
Yushaimi Yahaya

DARIUS - Dive In

METHINKS Coldplay’s comments on this dude’s single, ‘Colourblind’, outdoing them to take the No. 1 spot on the UK charts recently was sarcasm masquerading as compliment.

Coldplay had attributed the success of Darius, who is of Scottish and Persian blood, to the dude’s dashing looks. “He is better looking than all of us,” were the band’s exact words.

Methinks it’s a putdown but Darius seems anything but perturbed.

In fact, many a magazine used that quote to heap praises on Darius, who has been, prematurely I argue, been forecasted as the latest Brit sensation set to take the globe by storm.

Huh? This dude? Get real, guys.

This bloke, undoubtedly, can sing, though.

In fact, he sounds eeriely close to Ronan Keating. And while Keating can only croon, Darius plays the guitar and writes his own stuff.

So? Yep, hold that thought on taking the world by storm.

This kid is too raw, and just stands mere millimetres away from crossing that line into the ‘boyband’ world.

His prettier-than-Elvis looks gives the impression that he is BB-certified.

Musically, he even sounds like Ronan, especially when he dabbles in acoustic-guitar Brit pop that he seems convinced is his ticket to fame.

Colourblind, which has been topping the UK chart for some time, could come from a Boyzone album, but the track has a really catchy chorus which explains why it sits pretty on top of the UK charts.

In fact, the similarities to Ronan are apparent in several tracks, especially in Rushes and Incredible (What I Meant To Say).

These, unfortunately, are average. And sadly, tracks like Dive In, Gotta Know Tonight, Sliding Doors and Simple Like The Truth fall under the same category. I do, however, like the dreamy Girl In The Moon that is devoid of any ‘boyband’ hints with its clever Brit alternative sounds.

There is also a potential hit in the soaring high Mercury Rising, which I believe is in the movie’s soundtrack.

This one is dashing and intricate, and really showcases his admirable vocal ability.

Darius has got a fine reach, as evidenced by his intermittent high pitched wails.

The lad’s got potential but it will take a more mature outing to convince me that the world’s gonna fall at his feet.

He told us he’d have a platinum album by the time he’s 30 – and now he’s left the bad Britney impressions and the ponytail behind - could ‘Dive In’ be it? Listen to the album and win it here!

After winning the bronze medal in Pop Idol, Darius concentrated on writing songs, strumming his guitar and building up a credible image, while Will and Gareth have raced to the top of the chart so many times that they risk running out of steam. But is 'Dive In' the album with which this 22 year old Scot will achieve his goal?

Best Tracks

Darius's chart-topping debut single 'Colourblind', 'Sliding Doors' with it's dramatic string arrangement, and the catchy title track and potential single 'Dive In', a top notch pop/rock tune which includes plenty of high notes which show off Darius's voice. And, 'I'm Not Buying' which in places sounds like 'Walk On' by U2.

Tracks to skip... 'Incredible' is forgettable while 'Mocking Bird' is a bit on the soppy side.

Overall verdict

'Dive In' is a collection of mature pop/rock tunes, all co-written by Darius and mostly featuring lyrics about lurve. Danesh's sound has described as a male Natalie Imbruglia, but it’s actually more similar to Ronan Keating on a good day or U2 on a bad day. ‘Dive In’ demonstrates Darius’s skills as a singer/songwriter, and shows that with a change in attitude, an image makeover and a heavy dose of ambition, almost anything is possible.

DIVE IN
Darius, Mercury, 2002

Darius (Darius Danesh) made his stage debut at a kindergarten musical at the tender age of four. He appeared on the British star-search show called Popstars, which led to his fame. He has now released his first album, called Dive In.

This is singer-songwriter stuff, and he does a good job of it. Most of the tunes are about relationships, but there's lots of interesting riffs and guitar work to combat the boring subject matter.

Recommended.

Darius
"Dive In" (Mercury Records)

Choice Cuts: ''Colorblind,'' ''Dive In,'' ''Sliding Doors,'' ''Better Than That,'' ''Rushes'' Graffiti Wall: Your Comments

Our Rating: 7 / 10
Your Rating: 6.9 / 10 in 14 votes

Sounds Like: One has to admire Darius Danesh for his survivor skills alone. Popstars made him the No. 1 most hated wannabe in the U.K., but all the bad press hasn't deterred the 22-year-old Scot from taking another shot at the fame game. Darius auditioned for a spot on Pop Idol and came in third. He's also successfully transformed himself from a sleazy douche bag into a clean-shaven heartthrob. And guess what? Darius's debut No. 1 single -- "Colorblind" -- is not a cover! Will Young and Gareth Gates simply pale in comparison. You May Have Heard: The catchy "Colorblind," and Darius's Top 10 follow-up singles "Rushes" and "Incredible."

We Fancy: There's a lot of love, as Darius likes to say, on this album. Love is a great muse, but when taken too seriously, dramatics of epic proportions can be a huge turn-off. Luckily, Darius's charming approach to love on "Colorblind," "Rushes," "Sliding Doors," and "Dive In" is an uplifting breeze. Darius co-writes the songs -- there's even a hidden demo track called "Gotta Know Tonight" -- and the acoustic guitar instrumentation hints at his attempts to steer away from pop. A pop star who pays attention to his art, without trying too hard, certainly impresses.

We're Not Sure about : Careful! When love gets too intense -- "I love you/ You love me/ But you never say that to me" -- it can turn into a cheesy affair.

Verdict: "Dive In is hopefully going to be one of the feel-good albums for 2003," says Darius in his official biography. Bet you he's nailed that one down. -- Lennat Mak

When an unknown Scotsman called Darius Danesh auditioned for Popstars with an excruciating version of Britney Spears' Baby One More Time, he seemed set to be little more than one of reality TV's embarrassing footnotes. But the determined Darius resurfaced on Pop Idol (minus his ponytail and beard) - and sported a startling new attitude which took him all the way to the final three.

While Will Young and Gareth Gates were swept up in the euphoria of being the nation's new favourites, Darius cannily melted away for months. While his Pop Idol colleagues were breaking chart records with hastily-arranged cover songs, the Edinburgh lad was biding his time, and sure enough, scored a debut number one with Colourblind with far less fuss.

Darius seems determined to do different, co-writing every track on his new album Dive In - and putting his name right through it like a stick of seaside rock. 'Colourblind' kicks off proceedings in a light, poppy, guitar-driven sense with easy lyrics and a memorable chorus - and turns out to be a tentative test song for some of what lies ahead. New single Rushes is hardly a quirky experiment lacking in pop sensibilities, but is a rich, chugging, rock-tinged little song. And a chorus backed by a vein of Celtic fiddles is an electrifying treat.

The lush strings make a comeback in the album's title track, which is another strong song which sits comfortably in the rock-pop camp and has a hard-to-ignore uplifting vibe. But Darius is a man of more than one mood - he has a flair for whimsical lyrics, possesses a voice which can pour out moments of vulnerability, and has been blessed with other musicians who balance the equation.

I Gotta Know Tonight and sweet tune Girl In The Moon lay to rest the old image of Darius Danesh, the supremely over-confident Popstars hopeful who lacked sensitivity. But Darius the successful solo singer-songwriter seems to musically excel with interludes of bursting happiness. 'Sliding Doors' is another rich feast of strings, guitars and layered instrumentation which stands out— and sees Darius's distinctive voice exercised to its fullest, while Mocking Bird is another upbeat treat capable of beating the murkiest of moods.

If any comparisons have to made with his former Pop Idol colleagues, then it's all in their voices. Gareth has the boyish voice of an angel, Will is a honeyed tenor, while Darius is blessed with a chocolately baritone with an easy elasticity— and sounds superb on this album. 'Dive In' is a thoughtfully-produced, even collection of songs with no nasty blips and a clutch of tunes which make a lasting impression— plus a hidden track to search for. Darius's rich voice is a beautiful instrument which blows his contemporaries out of the water— although as Pop Idol showed, it is not everyone's first choice.

His musical sensibilities have been allowed to shine through, and his rock-edged pop is reminiscent of a male Natalie Imbruglia. Above all, he has made every effort to shake off his Pop Idol tag, and coming third was possibly the best thing that ever happened to him. But better still, Darius can look back on his Britney Spears moment and laugh it off for good with this piece of work under his belt.

- Michael Osborn

* Versions of this article were published on BBC News Online and BBC Ceefax.

Dive In by Darius

There's a lot of love in this room... which is all you really need to say to identify the artist behind Dive In. Darius, the darling of reality TV, has finally unleashed his debut album on the expectant masses - who are unlikely to be disappointed! Having ditched any preconceptions about what a pop star is Darius as came a long way and matured during this journey and this has shown through his music. The album starts with the number one hit, Colour blind, before moving into the more up beat and very sexy Rushes. Further songs, such as I'm Not Buying and Simple Like The Truth, are for someone who is looking for relaxing, even romancing music, which isn't too slushy. There are cool tracks too, such as the brilliant Sliding Doors, which includes Darius talking at the end of the track, in his sexy voice! Basically, every song has received 100% effort and the album is definitely a grower.

ALBUM: Darius - Dive In (Universal/Mercury)

What is it that you don't like/respect about pop acts? Is it that they never write/produce their own material? Is it that they rarely play an instrument? Is it that they use more covers than Lords Cricket ground when it rains? Or is it the simply that most of them sound terrible? Well here is a pop album that fills all of the gaps left by the churned out dross: Darius. Not only did Darius play guitar for a number of the tracks, but he wrote/co-wrote all of the songs and co-produced some. All this would stand for nothing if the album wasn't just a great pop album. The tracks are amply catchy and accessible but never bland and soulless like most extruded-pop, and most importantly Darius just is a great singer - it's his corny self-belief that makes him so great; he's not afraid to explore his voice. I will lose my job for this but I just love this album. Bryan Adams hits ballad mode with a packet of Lockets. JG

Release date: 2 Dec

Press contact: Mercury [all]

Darius - Dive In

Darius was the only contestant in Pop Idol i admired, he genuinely wanted to be it, everyone else just wanted to be famous, and have proven this by releasing whatever was given to them to release. Look at Gareth and will for a fine example!

Darius wanted to be rock and roll from day one, he wanted it his way, on his terms, organised by his people. He didn't want to be spoon-fed, he wrote his own songs, played instruments, and he meant everything he said. There actually was a lot of love in that room, i went in and checked with a love meter.

The lyrics on this album are heartfelt, i am a tear, I was born in your eye, I'll live on your cheek, and I'll die on your lip. Although its soppy as a wet shite its friggin poetry man. Billy Shakespeare would be proud of Darius for keeping the ball rolling. Its more poetic than Gareth 'scatman' Gates.

The only thing i will say against this album is that it is very repetitive and samey, he needs to differentiate between each track, and give the album direction. Make it tell a story, give it a start middle and end. Don't be afraid to shout it out loud. 6.5 out of 10

Darius Danesh "Dive In"

Hot on the heels of his debut number 1 single 'Colourblind' and the follow-up 'Rushes', comes his eagerly awaited debut album. This album is full of energy, heartfelt songs and optimistic melodies. It features twelve brand new recordings that positively brim with ear-pleasing tunefulness. A stunning mix of cool ballads and up-tempo pop, highlights include the fantastic title track, 'Dive In', 'Sliding Doors' and the gorgeous anthem 'I Gotta Know Tonight'. If you fancy a relaxing, melodic Sunday afternoon CD, then this is the baby for you!

I give it a debut-fantastic 9 out of 10.

Dive In', Darius (Mercury Records 2002)

I've developed something of an admiration for Darius Danesh. Possibly it's helped by the fact that I never got round to watching his reputedly awful antics on 'Popstars'. Around the time of the first series, I was working in a monotonous job, alongside a slimy individual who claimed to have bullied Mr Danesh at school, and revelled in his downfall as it unfolded on national television. Last laugh's on him, I suppose, as Darius has risen from the ashes spectacularly to storm the charts, and deliver the 'feelgood album of 2003' as someone has already put it. I have to agree!

Yes, the debut is finally here from Popstars' cheesiest export, Mr. Darius Danesh. Having turned down a major deal to be able to write his own album, has he made the right decision? Well yes. While 'Dive In' isn't what you'd call revolution music it has a certain class, a certain charm, a certain... something. Darius'songwriting is pretty good for a first attempt, and tunes like 'Dive In', 'Rushes' and 'Sliding Doors' will have his fans swooning nationwide. Probably won't sell as well as anyting by the Rivals, Fame Academy or any of the rest, but it darn well should! Darius, we salute you - your hard work has finally paid off. RECOMMENDED

Average customer rating 5 star

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Darius - Dive In

Remember Darius doing his cringeworthy version of Baby One More Time on Popstars? But then who reappears on Pop Idol? A de-ponytailed Darius! And he'd obviously been rehearsing, this time he came third. But while and gareth were doing the chat show circiut , Darius was busy co-writing 'Dive-In'. And it's making quite a splash - full of catchy chourses and rock-edged tunes, we dived straight in and loved it.

it was given 7/9 on the scale

He told us he’d have a platinum album by the time he’s 30 – and now he’s left the bad Britney impressions and the ponytail behind - could ‘Dive In’ be it? Listen to the album and win it here!

winning the bronze medal in Pop Idol, Darius concentrated on writing songs, strumming his guitar and building up a credible image, while Will and Gareth have raced to the top of the chart so many times that they risk running out of steam. But is 'Dive In' the album with which this 22 year old Scot will achieve his goal?

Best Tracks

Darius's chart-topping debut single 'Colourblind', 'Sliding Doors' with it's dramatic string arrangement, and the catchy title track and potential single 'Dive In', a top notch pop/rock tune which includes plenty of high notes which show off Darius's voice. And, 'I'm Not Buying' which in places sounds like 'Walk On' by U2.

Tracks to skip...

'Incredible' is forgettable while 'Mocking Bird' is a bit on the soppy side.

Overall verdict

'Dive In' is a collection of mature pop/rock tunes, all co-written by Darius and mostly featuring lyrics about lurve. Danesh's sound has described as a male Natalie Imbruglia, but it’s actually more similar to Ronan Keating on a good day or U2 on a bad day. ‘Dive In’ demonstrates Darius’s skills as a singer/songwriter, and shows that with a change in attitude, an image makeover and a heavy dose of ambition, almost anything is possible.

Joke's Over

Rock: Darius was famous for being a loser but he's had the last laugh, says Don Carnell

Darius
Dive In
Mercury 2 star (average)

Darius may have been laughed off "Pop Stars" but he got his own back when his "Colourblind" debut single kept both George Michael and Britney from the number one spot.

"Dive In," his debut album, continues in the same vein, a dozen highly polished, up front, self penned pop songs any 10-year old could memorise, and even the likes of Noel Gallagher grudgingly respect.

On the album where each track blends seamlessly into the next, the strident "Rushes" is typical of his schtick, a place where honeyed harmonies and an addictive hook jostle for attention.

This is low attention-span fare. You hear it, you like it, you even admire it at times. But then you forget it.

However, on this evidence, Darius is here for the long haul and he'll soon be popping up to remind you that daytime radio was designed with the likes of him in mind.

Dive In - Darius

Scotland's very own Tom Jones, Darius Danesh just keeps churning out the hits with his debut album.

His mature pop offers a genuine alternative to the other manufactured pop out just in time for Xmas. Sounding like a cross between Tom Jones and Savage Garden having a head on collision with Robbie Williams, Dive In could well be the Pop Idol album of the year, with Darius aiming a little higher in the lucrative market than Gareth Gates.

Okay, so the tunes may still ooze that Darius cheeseiness that he alone can do so well, but hey you've got to hand it to the boy, formally the underdog of Pop Idol; he really has proved them all wrong.

Boasting the already hit singles Colorblind and the cheesy Rushes this is not just an album of filler tracks. Mercury Rising has to be one of the most mature sounding songs to date. However, Incredible (What I Meant To Say) should maybe have been kept on the shelf if those self-assured, bordering on arrogant lines are anything to go by. But all the same it seems that some of these tracks could end up on a Dawson's Creek soundtrack sometime soon.

A couple of the tunes are almost cringe-inducing and the lyrics are anything but challenging. However, it is clear from this debut album that Darius Danesh is not just a puppy you buy for Xmas and then abandon. Expect to see this Pop Idol doing his thing for a very long time.

Further Information Out on Mercury records.

She gives it three stars out of five.

Darius - Dive In (Mercury) ***

GIVEN the heave-ho from Popstars for being too much of an individual, yet returning shorn and smiling for Pop Idol, Darius is surely the most interesting prospect yet to emerge from reality TV pop.

Here he delivers up an album of crafty, hook-filled pop, bristling with acoustic guitar and ambitious vocal lines. A very creditable start to a career which you have got to believe will outlast that of Will and Gareth.

Serial Pop Contest Entrant's Debut

Darius - ' Dive In '

Mercury 063 592-21 : 53.10 Minutes

** ( = a rating of Average )

Darius Danesh's ceaseless namechecking of Robbie Williams , combined with his record company's eager deployment of the term " singer-songwriter " reveals much about where the 22 year old Glaswegian sees his career going. He does of course co-compose his own songs , but whether this raises his music above that of , say , Gareth Gates is another matter. The problem is that while theres nothing especially offensive about the diluted Deacon Blue-isms of the title track or recent hit ' Colourblind ' , neither is there much to distinguish them. And even a lavish Steve Lillywhite production can't obscure Darius's drippy lyrics and canine eagerness to please. Peter Paphides

by David Sinclair

Ive had a sneaking admiration for Darius ever since he told the judging panel of Popstars that it was their loss, not his, that they had decided to eject him from their silly competition.That was straight after his toe curling assault on Britney spears song and how the nation laughed.But actually the bumptious scotsman was the only participant in that sorry charade to display any self respect.While all around him contestants collapsed in tears of either gratitude or despair as if the judges were handing down the word of God, Darius exhibited a rock like inner confidence that rendered him impervious to their decrees. I ll be back he promised like Arnold Schwarzenegger with an acoustic guitar and now as good as his word here he is with Dive In, an album which already boasts a former no.1 hit Colourblind and his current no.5 hit Rushes. The new received wisdom that whatever his faults, Darius has a pleasant personality and co-writes his own songs. Indeed his reluctance to record cover versions has earned him industry wide respect and celebrity endorsements have come thick and fast from sources ranging from Coldplays Chris Martin to Noel Gallagher, in other words hes not as bad as we thought he was and certainly stands a cut above all the other prefab pop stars and idols out there. But sheesh just how bad does it have to be these days to be bad? for a while I came initially to praise Darius, it is hard not to bury him when you are presented with an album that is as cliched as this. A succession of unfailingly nice love songs drive by clean acoustic guitars and antiseptically bright pop arrangements, it is the sort of album that even fans old Marti Pellow and Ronan Keating are lkely to find a mite SLICK and superficial. The soul searching lyrics although dounbtless sincerely felt are expressed in the sort of fame school speak that packages emotions in a series of upbeat slogans as on the chorus of the title track "take a long shot?give it what youve got,Youll never know unless you try?you can only sink or swim, baby just dive in. BUT Darius has a decent voice and its not all grim as it could have been by any means. The best song !!! Sliding doors , finds him on a lively Craig David met this girl in a tube station trip she takes my breath away he sings when he finds his life being changed by this sudden twist of fate making up in sheer enthusiasm of what he lacks in poetic inspiration. sorry it is so long.

ALBUM OF THE WEEK

NEVER underestimate the power of self-belief.

Darius Danesh always knew he'd release a record and wasn't about to let short- sighted Popstars judges, a bad beard and a dodgy Britney cover get in the way of his musical ambitions. Now, after a rollercoaster ride to success, Darius has finally reached his moment of glory - his debut album.

While many of the pop stars of TV reality shows have relied upon hype and cover versions to make their mark, Darius has remained true to his beliefs and held out to make an album which he could be proud of.

Dive In is an outstanding debut. Quite aside from his two great singles Colourblind and Rushes, there are too many self- assured tracks to mention.

Nevertheless, the likes of Simple Like The Truth, Sliding Doors, I Gotta Know Tonight and Better Than That are testament to the talent the rising Scots star has to offer.

But perhaps best of all he's steered well clear of unoriginal cover versions.

Encouragingly optimistic, Dive In brims with melodies and tunes which Darius' pop pals could only dream of creating. Effortlessly swaying from uptempo pop to cool acoustic tracks, the album has been carefully crafted by an understated artist with his eye on the bigger picture.

While the likes of Will and Gareth may happily rely on the teen-scream appeal, Darius isn't about to limit his potential to one market. He's got the whole world in his sight and with sounds like these there's every reason Darius' dreams will come true.

by Michael Osborn

BBC News Online

Darius Danesh came third in ITV talent show Pop Idol but has been determined to stand out from the crowd by writing his own material on his debut album.

When an unknown Scotsman called Darius Danesh auditioned for Popstars with an excruciating version of Britney Spears' Baby One More Time, he seemed set to be little more than one of reality TV's embarrassing footnotes.

But the determined Danesh resurfaced on Pop Idol minus the ponytail and beard and with a startling new attitude which took him all the way to the final three.

While Will Young and Gareth Gates were swept up in the euphoria of being the nation's new favourites, Danesh cannily melted away for months.

Danesh can now put that Britney Spears moment behind him

While his Pop Idol colleagues were breaking chart records with hastily-arranged cover songs, the Edinburgh lad was biding his time, and sure enough, scored a debut number one with Colourblind amidst far less fuss.

Danesh seems determined to be different, co-writing every track on his new album Dive In and stamping his name right through it like a stick of seaside rock.

Colourblind kicks off proceedings with its light, poppy, guitar-driven manner, easy lyrics and a memorable chorus and turns out to be a tentative test song for some of what lies ahead.

New single Rushes is hardly a quirky experiment lacking in pop sensibilities, but it is a rich, chugging, rock-tinged little ditty. And a chorus backed by a vein of Celtic fiddles is an electrifying treat.

The lush strings make a comeback in the album's title track, another strong song which sits comfortably in the rock-pop camp and has a hard-to-ignore uplifting vibe.

Coming third was possibly the best thing that ever happened to him

But Danesh is a man of more than one mood - he has a flair for whimsical lyrics, possesses a voice which can pour out moments of vulnerability, and has been blessed with other musicians who balance the equation.

I Gotta Know Tonight and sweet tune Girl In The Moon lay to rest the old image of Darius Danesh, the supremely over-confident Popstars hopeful who lacked sensitivity.

In contrast, Danesh, the successful solo singer-songwriter, seems to musically excel on this upbeat collection.

Sliding Doors is another rich feast of strings, guitars and layered instrumentation and sees Danesh's distinctive voice exercised to its fullest, while Mocking Bird is another cheery treat capable of beating the murkiest of moods.

If any comparisons have to be made with his former Pop Idol colleagues, then it is all in their voices.

Gareth has the boyish voice of an angel, Will is a honeyed tenor, while Darius is blessed with a chocolately baritone with an easy elasticity - and sounds superb on this album.

Dive In is a thoughtfully produced, even collection of songs with no nasty blips and a clutch of tunes which make a lasting impression - plus a hidden track to search for.

Danesh's rich voice is a beautiful instrument which blows his contemporaries out of the water - although as Pop Idol showed, it is not everyone's first choice.

His musical sensibilities have been allowed to shine through, and his rock-edged pop is reminiscent of a male Natalie Imbruglia.

Above all, he has made every effort to shake off his Pop Idol tag, and coming third was possibly the best thing that ever happened to him.

But better still, Danesh can look back on his Britney Spears moment and laugh it off for good with this piece of work under his belt.

Dive In by Darius is out now on Mercury Records.

DARIUS - DIVE IN

'I will have a triple platinum album by the time I'm 35' he told us on Popstars. How we scoffed at the time but now Darius is well on his way.

Finding his own feet with Dive In we are treated to a mix of acoustic light pop/rock. The title track is a punchy l'il devil and Incredible also gets our ears perky.

ALBUM OF THE WEEK

Darius debut album is packed with 13 of the most hummable strummable slices of pop sneak has heard in ages,but its the words which really make it stick out form the pack. At a tim when most lyrics are written with a pack of my first song fridge magnets, darius words are like a breath of fresh air. Tunes such as incredible and slidind doors give colourblind and rushes a run for there money and ballads like gotta know show the scottish giants softer side. awwwOne critisism no baby one more time. Awww the swizz!

also beautifu poster and sneak confessions of darius. Icluding he said he would only pose naked for 1billion penny sweets so if any body wants to chip in for those let me know

5 stars

Released on: Mon 2 Dec 2002

DARIUS - 'DIVE IN' (MERCURY)

Dive In

Celebrity watching has long overtaken football as the most popular spectator sport in the UK. These days the whole nation thrills guiltily to the fame game. What own goal could be as spectacular as the collapse of a Mariah or Whitney? What derby match could thrill as much as the latest clash between Liam and Noel? What gruesome relegation could match the sad meltdown of Michael Jackson?

And just as in football, improbable heroes sometimes emerge from disaster, lifted high through sheer discipline and willpower. And never has there been a disaster quite like the sight of Darius Danesh hamming his way through the first 'Pop Stars'. Forget David Brent, his rendition of 'Baby One More Time' was the ultimate in cringe TV.

And yet - one goatee lighter, and two big hits heavier - here Darius stands with his first album as a singer/songwriter, standing apart from the cover song blight of his fellow 'Pop Idols', no pawn of a marketing team. Well, to a point. Danesh still owes his fame to the marketing teams behind 'Pop Stars' and 'Pop Idol', and as a songwriter he's supported by a cast that would shame 'Pearl Harbour'.

Yet 'Dive In' is, without a doubt, one of the better pop albums released this year. Danesh's honeyed baritone and warm Scottish charm would probably be enough to win 'Dive In' a fair audience, but some genuinely delightful tunes may make him a bigger star than anyone yet guesses.

So while 'Incredible' ploughs the same dull, earnest earth as Ronan Keating, recent hit 'Rushes' has a lightness of touch that the growling one can only dream of. And if 'Girl In The Moon' is tiresome balladry-by-numbers, 'Colourblind' was a deserved Number One, with its breezy chorus and country tempo. On well crafted, earnest tunes like 'I'm Not Buying' and 'Sliding Doors', it's even possible to imagine Danesh breaking America.

The real surprise comes on the title track, which opens with a daringly rough guitar line that could be The Cult, and lifts off into a ducking, diving rock song complete with an irresistible chorus: "Take a long shot and give it all you've got/ You'll never know unless you try", Danesh sings, happily and aptly.

So, improbably, the national joke delivers a rich and rewarding debut album. It's Danesh on the half way line. He shoots, he scores!

As he is keen to point out darius has written every track on this album,but has he bitten off more than he can chew?Not even close. This is full of top class pop from start to finish and for a guy who has been labelled the cheesiest man in pop he has provewd he is extra matured. Do yourself and dive in to this album. Best track :colourblind and rushes are catchy but the gorgeous Mercury rising gives them a run for there money

Worst:Gotta know sounds like a second rate bbmak

Brace yourself for easy listenin guitar flicking pop. 4/5

Darius dives in and does ok

Darius - Dive in (Mercury) ***

THERE'S nothing that would give me greater pleasure in the stressful run-up to Christmas than to kick preposterous would-be Pop Idol Darius around but -- rather annoyingly -- Mr Danesh has come up with a resoundingly not-rubbish album. Dive In is way more convincing than the Colgate-toothed conveyer-belt balladry of his nominal peers Will Young and Gareth Gates, although the rocky guitar instrumentation is understandably more Natalie Imbruglia than Nirvana.

There's a couple of tracks to skip -- the insipid Girl In The Moon, the Ronan Keatingly awful Simple Like The Truth -- but the rest is alarmingly solid, crunchy stuff. The title track appears to eulogise Danesh's own struggle against Pete Waterman and that creepy bloke with the tight trousers. 'Take a long shot, give it all you got,' he warbles. 'You'll never know unless you try.' But once the MOR dust has settled, what really shines through is Danesh's bullish self-belief. It'll be interesting to see how far it can carry him. Whisper it: could he be the new Wet Wet Wet?

Pop: New Releases: Darius: Dive In
Dan Cairns
DARIUS
Dive in
Mercury 635922

HERE’s a turn-up. Not only is this Popstars also-ran’s debut a comparative masterpiece when lined up beside the efforts from his rivals, Gareth and Will; it could also, with the right marketing, be a real contender for US success. At a time when the talk is yet again of Robbie Williams’s chances of Stateside stardom — and, after Escapology’s mix of calculation and poor-little-rich-man’s whining, this may require divine intervention — here comes plucky Mr Danesh to knock Robbie for six. Co-writing all of the radio-perfect tracks, Darius rarely puts a foot wrong (though the kilt he wore at the Smash Hits awards proves he’s still dependably ridiculous). Highlights include Rushes, Girl in the Moon and the title track. Who would have thought it? Not, you suspect, Simon Cowell. Two stars

DARIUS: DIVE IN

(Mercury) *** 3 stars

It is wrong to compare- wrong but inevitable- but in the light of Will and Gareth's albums, this sounds so proper that you could almost forget his Popstars orgins.

Buthe real questionis this: would it be any good if it wasn't by Darius? And The answer is, well, yes. Yes-ish.

All 12 tracks were written by our Darius and he plays guitar and sings and its lighweight- of course it's lightweight- but its solid. Competent. And there's enough here to suggest that, unlike his peers, he is likely to have a future.

Darius- Dive In

Isn't it amazing what a good shave can do? One-time national embarrassment Darius has reinvented himself as the real pop idol. A guitar based album with a gleaming top sheen.

3/5

DARIUS – DIVE IN
By Michael Osborn

This Scotsman seemed set to be little more than a sad footnote in TV history when he tortured Britney Spears’ Baby One More Time in a Popstars audition.

But he resurfaced on Pop Idol minus the ponytail and beard – and a new attitude which took him to the final three.

While Will and Gareth were busy having huge hits, Darius cannily melted away.

He bided his time and hit number one with less fuss – this debut album shows him keen to shake off the Pop Idol tag.

The Edinburgh lad has co-written every track on Dive In, and has managed to put his name through it like a musical stick of seaside rock.

Chart-topper Colourblind is a light, poppy song with easy lyrics – and is a frothier start to what lies ahead.

New single Rushes is a rich, chugging little song with an electrifying chorus backed by a vein of Celtic fiddles.

The lush strings return on the title track – another strong, uplifting tune.

This young mad can pull off more than one mood, with a flair for whimsical lyrics and a voice which can pour out moments of vulnerability.

I Gotta Know Tonight and the sweet Girl In The Moon lay to rest the old image of the over-confident Darius Danesh – less than sensitive Popstars hopeful.

If the Pop Idol comparison is to be made, then it works in Darius’s favour.

He has a chocolatey, elastic voice which sound superb on this album.

This album is a thoughtfully-produced, even collection of songs with no nasty blips and a clutch of tunes which make an impression – plus a hidden track.

Darius’s mature, rich voice is a beautiful instrument which blows his peers out of the water.

Musically, he’s not far off a male Natalie Imbruglia, which a rock-tinged vibe distant from the Pop Idol ilk.

Darius can lay to rest the Britney ghost for good with this to his credit

New Releases: In at the deep end
Fiona Shepherd

Darius: Dive In
Mercury, £13.99 **

EVERY loser wins, as Nick Berry once sang, applying the farcical fuzzy logic that only ever seems to crop up in naff pop songs. Darius Danesh took third place in a TV talent show at the start of the year. The two lads who trounced him went on to release the biggest selling singles of the year and, following in their slipstream, Darius managed a chart-topping hit of his own.

But TV talent totty is two a penny these days. Where Darius has the edge is in his sociopathic determination to "make it".

His idiosyncratic interpretation of Britney Spears’s Baby One More Time on the original Popstars series was one of TV’s most exquisite cringe moments, up there with the best of The Office, and should have sent him crawling back under his stone for good. Instead, he returned to possible mockery on Pop Idol and this time prevailed. Apparently, we all love a survivor and this album is Darius’s reward for not doing us all a favour and packing it in. While Will and Gareth have both been sold short by the material they have been supplied with, Darius is actually a little spoilt by his set, having had a hand in the writing of Dive In. Its catalogue of breezy, upbeat mediocrity is not dissimilar to the mainstream pop/rock of Darren Hayes and the Calling, two current nonentities who flop about listlessly in the no man’s land between the teeny and adult markets. Standout track I Gotta Know Tonight - that is, the only one that hangs around in the memory after numerous listens - is probably earmarked as a future single in the Darius campaign of attrition and, were it not for his limited vocals, closing ballad Mercury Rising could have been the song to raise the bar above the general personality vacuum on offer here.

When Darius Danesh walked away from the Pop Idol contest with third place and told the world he'd have a platinum album by the age of 35 half the country thought he was an arrogant tosser, the rest of us thought he'd do it well before that. Well here's that album. OK it hasn't sold platinum at time of writing 'cos it's not even in the shops yet, but you can wager your donkey (or bet your ass, whichever you prefer) it will, no question.

Dive In is an album of great maturity for an artist of just 22. The whole record oozes it - the music, the lyrics, the packaging, even the very touching letter to mum and dad which replaces the usual 'thanks' list. Everything about this belies that it's a debut record.

Darius is a brilliant songwriter. His lyrical ideas are interesting - see 'Rushes', 'Incredible (What I Meant To Say)' and 'Simple Like The Truth' as good examples and he gives great melody. He has assistance on the songwriting front from some of this country's finest; Chris Braide, Andrew Frampton, Pete Glenister, Deni Lew, Alex James, Nicky Graham, and The Matrix have lent a helping hand, but in all cases the lead credit goes to Darius. He also plays guitar on most tracks and is credited as 'Pernickity Producer'.

Dive In is a 12 track album and I'm pleased to be able to continue a popular UK-Fusion tradition of disagreeing with Heat magazine. There are not eight great tracks, as per their review. ALL of the tracks are excellent. I've now listened to the album four times and my favourites, aside from the singles, are 'Better Than That' - brilliant singalong chorus, 'I'm Not Buying' - thumping U2-style bassline and 'Mercury Rising' - lush and gorgeous. That, however, will change and that's why this record is great - it stands up to repeated listens and each song has so much in it that your favourite will change over and over. I should also mention Darius' voice - from the falsetto to the baritone - every note is perfect and it has such a wealth of texture, that it really should belong to someone with twice his age and experience.

The music industry is said to be in crisis, and there are dozens of arguments as to why the likes of Pop Idol and Popstars could be the death of the industry. The manipulation and over-marketing of music is emphasized by everyone, but when those programmes help to discover talent of this calibre, how can they be bad? Sure they gave us the likes of Hear'Say and Gareth Gates, but as we've already seen the wheat will rise and the chaff will be left behind. Darius is exactly what the music industry has been looking for - an artist who can sing, perform, write his own material, and looks great into the bargain.

I rarely give 5/5 for album reviews, but in this case it's well deserved. Buy this album very soon and submerge yourself in Darius!

Alison Barclay

We would have told you about the multimedia bonus (featuring "behind-the-scenes video footage from the Colourblind and Rushes video in Los Angeles"!), but um, it's not running via Darius' website at the time of this review going live. Should be from 2 December, though. - Ed

Guitar Pop Brilliance

If Darius' distinctive brand of pop has got you got under the collar and clamouring for guitar lessons, his debut album will certainly tickle your taste buds with 12 self-penned insights into the mind of Mr Danesh. Whether its the romantic Simple Like the Truth, the catchy What I Meant to Say (Incredible) or the bittersweet I Gotta Know Tonight, each track is distinctive, memorable and wholly original. There's something here for everyone craving an alternative to substandard cheesy pop.
Serena Lacey
(smash Hits give it 5 bats = smash)

It was always tempting to assume on principle that Darius - the one kicked off either Popstars or Pop Idol, or maybe it was both, whatever - would put out a rubbish debut album. Darius's defining quality is his acoustic guitar - which he seems to think makes him Bob Dylan to Gareth Gates's Ronan Keating. The thing crops up over again on Dive In - an album of grating pop ballads as bad as they are forgettable. Darius's other quality is his desperate hunger for fame - which not only translates on record as an immunity to quality control but, in not caring either, as shameless arrogance. He should have called the album Dive In - And To Hell With The Consequences...

Darius: Dive In
(Mercury)
Alexis Petridis

In recent years, much fuss has been made about the necessity for rock and pop artists to write their own material. It is the line in the sand that must not be crossed if credibility is to be maintained. Artists who write their own songs are good. Artists who do not are the root of all evil.

Any logic that suggests Elvis Presley's Suspicious Minds or Marvin Gaye's I Heard it Through the Grapevine are in some way inferior records to Richard Ashcroft's Come on People (We're Making It Now) is questionable at best. Nevertheless, the notion that writing your own songs affords instant credibility has become a widely held belief. It has led Darius Danesh, the Popstars failure who subsequently came third in Pop Idol, to become 2002's most unlikely alt-rock cause célèbre. He has appeared on radio with Coldplay's Chris Martin and Ash's Tim Wheeler, featured on the NME's One Love compilation alongside the Stereophonics and the Prodigy and got the thumbs up from Liam Gallagher. The reason? Unlike Will and Gareth, Danesh writes his own songs.

He claims to have rejected a five-album deal offered by Pop Idol judge Simon Cowell because Cowell would not let him sing his own material. Cowell, however, claims he rejected Danesh: "He played me three of his songs, and I didn't think any of them were good enough." That comment could give any potential purchaser of Danesh's debut album the sweats. Cowell chooses Westlife's singles. He clearly thinks Bop Bop Baby and Flying Without Wings are "good enough". How bad does a song have to be before he considers it beyond the pale? What did Danesh play him? A rewrite of Chopsticks?

Perhaps he played him Mockingbird. Dive In's penultimate track fancies itself as an enigma, its true meaning swathed in the impenetrable metaphor of a love song. In fact, it is difficult to imagine how its subject matter could be made more obvious unless Danesh plans to perform it on stage while waving an enormous placard featuring Simon Cowell's face. "For him, it's all about control," huffs Danesh. "He knows you care, he knows you give, but he couldn't care less - he fits you to his mould."

Alas, Mockingbird's righteous ire provides Dive In's solitary moment of individuality. Danesh may have escaped Cowell's Institute of Stepford Pop but apparently not quickly enough to avoid the fiendish process whereby potential chart-toppers are surgically deprived of their personality. Dive In's lyrics have been created by a computer, expertly programmed to generate piffle. Danesh is forever referring to women as sweet sensations or devilish temptations and imploring them to hold out for him, because he ain't givin' up on them. The reason he ain't givin' up on them is invariably because he knows that together they can reach somewhere called the highest high. After a few tracks, the urge to find this mysterious highest high and push Danesh off it is difficult to suppress.

Then there is Danesh's voice. If he was not to repeat his Popstars humiliation on Pop Idol, Danesh had to develop a new skill: the ability to appear on television without uniting Britain in a desire to slap him. He achieved this by laying on the charm. On Popstars, he had gone in for vocal melodramatics, resulting in a hysterical assault on Britney Spears's Hit Me Baby One More Time. On Pop Idol, he correctly surmised less was more.

These days, his voice twinkles chirpily, as if he's singing through a slightly obsequious smile. It's not a bad idea - it got him to Pop Idol's semi-final, after all - but it's not good enough to support an entire album. On Dive In, Danesh's emotional gearbox seems to be stuck in neutral. Regardless of the song's subject matter, he twinkles chirpily. Incredible (What I Meant to Say) concerns a man tormented by a relationship's pointless failure. After his post-Popstars period as a national laughing stock, you would expect Danesh to know a thing or two about failure and torment. If he does, he keeps it to himself: "I'm having a meltdown," he sings, with a cheerful indifference that suggests having a meltdown is roughly akin to having a Cornetto. You suspect that if he covered Joy Division's Atrocity Exhibition he would twinkle chirpily though that too.

Dive In's mid-tempo pop-rock comes tricked out with hip production touches: snappily edited acoustic guitars pinched from Madonna's Don't Tell Me, tabla drums and Bollywood strings, psychedelic guitars and Beatles-style backing vocals. Behind all this, however, lurk a host of unmemorable cliches trying to pass themselves off as original songs.

Danesh has more in common with his fellow Pop Idol finalists than he would like to think. Just as people voted for Will Young because he seemed like a nice bloke, so they praise Danesh for overcoming failure, wrestling with public humiliation and standing up to the odious Simon Cowell. Pretending he is a songwriting genius, however, is desperately wide of the mark.

Dive in, Mercury

How many times over the past year, do you think, has Darius Danesh thanked his lucky stars he didn't get sucked into the bottomless, career-crushing maw of Hear'say? The insults and humiliations of the Pop Stars judges, the risky assertions of stardom, the embarrassment over his bizarre Britney interpretation must all have seemed worthwhile when Darius finally scored a No 1 hit with "Colourblind". I'd imagine, though, that the eventual chart success was less satisfying than actually going into a studio to record an album of his own songs, perhaps the first real achievement of the entire reality-TV pop industry. Not that that should be taken as registering approval of his debut album, which, for all the "serious artist" packaging, merely demonstrates his facility with the same kinds of mealy-mouthed romantic cliché as his erstwhile competitors. None of the 12 songs strays more than a centimetre from the standard love-song gambits, and the only risky imagery occurs in "I'm Not Buying", in which a promising drug metaphor quickly peters out into infant-friendly legality: "So many fixes come too easy/ Leave us so unsatisfied/ Chasing the kite, addicted to high/ So many patches we have worn/ So many promises stillborn." Somehow, I can't help feeling that Darius is capable of much more than this; though it's questionable, on this showing, whether he has the desire.

DARIUS: DIVE IN

Released On 2nd December '02

You've got to applaud this fella for getting to where he is today. Laughed off Popstars, he went away, shaved off his goatee, chopped off his ponytail and became an instant heart-throb.

He may have come third in Pop Idol, but to many Darius was the true star of the series thanks to his bundles of charm, his dashing good looks and his already-in-place celebrity mystique.

While Will and Gareth kicked-off their careers with a bunch of covers, it was the lovely Darius who impressed us most with his self-penned MOR chart-topper, Colourblind, that had kids all over the place dancing with glee.

Like that, Dive In opts for a very middle of the road sounds that takes a rockier direction than his Pop Idol contemporaries. The songs trundle along pretty nicely, though it has to be said that it is occasionally difficult to tell where one song ends and another begins.

Individually, however, the songs fair better. The second single, Rushes, is a triumph (what a chorus) and Girl In The Moon and Sliding Doors also have pleasant tunes, but that's the problem. They're nice, but they're not earth-shattering, which is a shame because Darius really does deserves better. But who can knock him? He's been involved in all aspects of making this record and what Pop Idol members can you say has done that? Well done, boyo!

In a nutshell Darius has become so famous afterPS PI that he is now just a one name entity. So its strange to think that just over one year ago he was a cheesy,ponytailed,gotee bearded laughing stock in dire need of st tropez tan. But one incredible makeover later and dreamy darius is a favourite with housewives and teenagers a like. Hes already had a number one hisingle, and he co wrote all the tracks on his album.

WHATS IT LIKE: Dive in has a generic guitar pop runnung througheach track do first listen some tracks domerge into one. But as darius has been with his career be patient because the more you listen the more the tracks hold their own. Its a pretty grown up album fromaa 22 yr old and you wont find any cheery pop by numbers here. Instead there are plenty of laid back mid tempo tunes such a sthe latest single,incredoible and im not buying. There is a lot of love on this album in the shape of sumptuous ballads like the swoonyI gotta know tonight, simple like the truth and mercury rising. On the Downside mockingbird and sliding doors are a tad Dul!!!!????eh

HOW MANY GOOD ONES: 8 out 12

BEST: colourblind a huge grower

WORST TRACK: sliding doors(Who are these reviewers). Too nondescript for us and middleof the ronan

VERDICT: Oh how we laughed when darius arrogantly claimed on popstars he would have a triple plt album by the time he was 35

But sudenly it looksl ike his dream may be reality,and simon cowell could soon be kicking himself forletting darius slip through hi greasy fingers

ALBUM OF THE WEEK: Darius: Dive In (Mercury)

Kicking off with the chart-topping Colourblind and current single Rushes, 22-year-old Darius's assured debut album keeps the quality standard high throughout. With the Pop Idol star having co-written all of the tracks, fans are likely to appreciate the singer-songwriter posturing which makes him stand out from the Pop Idol pack. Highlights include I'm Not Buying, Better Than That and the title track, which sounds like a surefire future single.

"Overnight success is deceptive and can be dangerous, for one, it's not really earned in sweat and in blood; for two, it's not ever fully appreciated and for three, it doesn't point towards a long term career. Longevity is something important. I've got the fantastic privilege now of being able to release my own material, and express the words and melodies that have haunted me in my sleep. I'm over the moon!" - Darius

DARIUS DANESH is on track to achieve his dream of having a platinum album by the time he's 30 with the release of his impressive debut CD Dive In.

192 has been given an exclusive preview of the album, which hits the shops on December 2.

Among the 12 tracks are Darius' debut single Colourblind as well as his new single Rushes, which he showcased at this week's Smash Hits tour in Glasgow.

The 21-year-old star, originally of Bearsden, near Glasgow, is justifiably proud of the album, which he recorded in London and Los Angeles. He said: "It has been a labour of love for me. I have learned a lot from being in the studio with such talented people and the whole thing has been a blast.

"I feel that this has been my best opportunity to express myself yet.

"I have favourites on the album, but all the songs are my babies. They're all very precious to me."

Darius has come a long way from the early days when he was the stand- out wannabe on the first series of Popstars.

Since then, he has become one of the nation's best-loved singers, having topped the charts with Colourblind.

His new status was confirmed last night as he was due to pick up a prestigious Tartan Clef Award for Best Newcomer from the Nordoff- Robbins music charity. Also credited in the annual honours are legendary Scots songwriter Frankie Miller with a Lifetime Achievement award and Glaswegian Craig Armstrong - writer of the Moulin Rouge soundtrack - who scooped the Best Composer gong.

Darius said: "I'm really honoured. I'm a different person now to the old Darius. So much has happened to me that I don't even recognise the old me. I have grown up. I'm older and wiser."

Here's our track-by-track rundown of Dive In:

1. COLOURBLIND: Darius' chart-topper spent two weeks at No1. It remains fresh and kicks off the album with a familiar favourite. (9/10)

2. RUSHES: The next single continues where Colourblind left off. Darius' confidence is obviously on a high and his voice is in superb shape. (9/10)

3. INCREDIBLE: The song Darius unveiled live earlier this week is an uplifting anthem to a mystery girlfriend and brims with optimism. (8/10)

4. GIRL IN THE MOON: A great Beatles-style pop song. (9/10)

5. I'M NOT BUYING: There's a lot of love in the album and Darius' lyrics prove it. (6/10)

6. DIVE IN: The album's title track has a summer feel. A potential single. (9/10)

7. I GOTTA KNOW TONIGHT: Darius cranks up the romance as he sings, "I feel naked in your eyes, I'm out of control like I'm free-wheeling." (10/10)

8. SLIDING DOORS: Would suit a gigantic dance mix. Another chance for Darius to show off his vocal talent with this big uptempo sound. (8/10)

9. SIMPLE LIKE THE TRUTH: A touching ballad as Darius shows off his tender side by lowering the tempo. (8/10)

10. BETTER THAN THAT: Probably the weakest track on the album, but by no means a filler. (6/10)

11. MOCKINGBIRD: Sweeping guitars and Darius' ode to unrequited love this time. Superb pop song. (9/10)

12. MERCURY RISING: A Sixties-style chillout track, this one shows Darius' versatility. It's a classic. (10/10)

We all know the story of Darius. Dogged determination to be known, to be seen and to be accepted. Well it worked and two hit singles later we have his debut album on the shelves and in the charts.

The fact that Darius is already a household name makes it much easier to push his record. The public, although not that naive welcome the young man like their own son. Charming, handsome and with a good voice: he really is the boy next door.

This debut album ‘Dive In’ starts off with the two singles. Firstly ‘Colourblind’ a poppy, catchy, guitar based song comes complete with a video shot in the desert - and our Darius looking sufficiently cool, calm and every bit the star. It was a pleasant surprise when this track hit the radio. Darius had a lot to live up to after prophesing so much on the many TV appearances in his pre record deal time. It is a good track and has set the direction of a sound and look that was to come. Second up is the current single ‘Rushes’. Not a bad song, not the best but still living up to ‘Darius’ level of competency.

Unfortunately that is where it really ends. Although the rest of the album is full of competent songwriting you tend to start feeling that you’ve heard it all before. Darius never really gets out of second gear. The lyrical content is a real let down. Never really exploring any avenues of interest. ‘Tell me anything, tell me you love me’.. ..whatever..Darius whatever.

The production is very clean & precise. Nice acoustic guitars, which has become part of Darius’s trademark sound, and a sensible but never testing 'live band' feel with the odd added bit of quirkiness. It doesn’t do much more than that. It plods along with drab, mundane lyrics.

He does have a good voice and that is one of the saving graces of this album. However to my surprise and relief (let It be known), I stumbled across the last track on the album. ’Mercury Rising’ is a superb track. Darius’ voice is at it’s best. The lyrics? Well I don’t really care what the lyrics do although they do appear to be pretty good. But it is one of those tracks that you hear and you immediately know that you like it. I hope it will be the next single because I don’t think there are many more choices on the album. Maybe this will lead us into the next album’s territory. Who knows?

A competent first album but let down with a lack of real originality and predicable lyrics.

4.5 (out of 10)