|
His a very entertaining entertainer when he's on stage, but when he's not on stage putting on a show, he just can't sing. Like I've said before, the dude can't sing.
I enjoyed it even more after seeing Taylor Hicks in concert singing most of the songs on the CD.The only thing that disappoints me about this CD is that "Do I Make You Proud" is a free download instead of being included. This is a great CD. It is authentic Taylor Hicks at his finest with his own style. The free download doesn't help me when I am listening to the CD in my car which is where I do most of my listening.I would recommend this CD to anybody who has followed Taylor since American Idol or is just beginning to follow him. I had put off buying it because I wasn't sure if I would like it or not. I was not disappointed.
Taylor is, however, one of my favorite idols, but I don't think that this album does him justice. Something is missing from this studio recording, the soulful voice and aura that I know Taylor Hicks has does not shine through on this recording. There are a few good parts, but for the most part, it sounds rather karaoke-ish and there are many parts that just make me want to skip to the next track. I liked this album but didn't love it. I really enjoyed watching Taylor Hicks on American Idol, and I think I might enjoy watching him live than listening to a recording.
Just gotta love his bluesy-soul. Great first CD from the American Idol Season 5 winner.
Hicks is a capable rhythm guitarist and a fine harmonica player - though you wouldn't know it from this album. He is far too talented to fade into obscurity. Hicks displays a truly impressive array of emotion and power. He possess an intense, focused stage presence - when he sings a song, he truly means it. His 2005 CD, "Under the Radar," is even better - seven original songs that demonstrate a lot of songwriting maturity from 1997's "In Your Time." It should be noted that his major label debut, "Taylor Hicks," is not really in line with those earlier recordings.
I used to work in the music business (managed a mid-level rock band, I'd rather not mention names) and I just never thought Idol was more than amateur hour. Hicks was unceremoniously dumped from his label, there seems to be a surge of people rushing to say he had no talent to begin with. Throughout it's 7-minute-plus duration, Mr. Hicks via early recordings he released independently prior to his victorious run on Idol. This album was underpromoted by Idol standards - there was no official single released to radio stations until months after it's release. But honestly, the producers of the new album didn't do him many favors.Since Mr.
Actually, I caught one of his shows from his tour last year. He stands out - for all the right reasons. I'm sure most of the differences can be chalked up to making him "more commercial." There is a glossy, over-produced sheen to this album that is (thankfully) not present on "In Your Time" and "Under the Radar." As a musician, Mr. They don't exist. I hope he can overcome the stigma he is currently saddled with (first Idol winner dropped from label after only one album). I must confess, dear readers, that I am not enamored with the American Idol phenomenon.
Hicks the songwriter, he is restricted to a pair of rerecordings carried over from "Under the Radar." In fact, it is on these holdovers that the weaknessess of this album become apparent - especially so if we look at a third rerecording, "Hell of a Day" which is a bonus track on some editions. The closing track "The Right Place", written by Bryan Adams for the late Ray Charles (who passed on before being able to record it), showcases Taylor's voice perfectly. Friends of mine sold me on Mr. Where were the supporting music videos that have been a standard part of music marketing for decades. The Rob Thomas-written "Dream Myself Awake" is a decent pop song. Taylor Hicks intrigued me, however, because he couldn't fit the American Idol paradigm less if he tried. Not necessarily the best type of song for Taylor, but not a bad way to bridge Taylor's 'old school' approach with something more current. Of course, I mentioned the Hicks originals earliers, "Soul Thing" and "The Deal" - both of which would have made ideal single choices (particularly the upbeat "Soul Thing").
Despite all this, the album was certified Platinum and spawned a pair of modest Adult Contemporary hit songs.I like this album because Taylor Hicks manages to shine through it all - even though he was saddled with a fair amount of poor material. Clearly, they didn't know quite what to do with Taylor Hicks and ended up doing as little as possible. "The Maze" would've made a good single choice - it is contemporary sounding, with a sort-of Maroon 5 vibe. In every single case, the songs he performed from this album fared significantly better in concert.Taylor Hicks was an unusual winner for American Idol. I've heard pre-Idol live versions of Taylor performing Paul Pena's "Gonna Move" that are far better than the smooth studio version found here - but that doesn't render it useless, covering this type of material suits Hicks well. As for Mr. Most of the rest is a mixed bag. His voice has a gruff, lived-in quality that perfectly suits the material he obviously loves.
The opening track "The Runaround" is an energetic pop/soul number that is one of the best tracks here. Without exception, the original versions on "Under the Radar" are much more authentically soulful than the busier arrangements found on "Taylor Hicks." Don't get me wrong - these songs ("Soul Thing" and "The Deal" are the others) - are strong enough to survive the reworkings. Anyone who has doubts about his artistic validity needs to check out his stirring performance of "Georgia On My Mind" (the closing track on his first independent release, "In Your Time"). His musicianship is limited to a couple of cameo appearances from his harmonica.
|
