American Idol drops solid debut cd
Issue date: 9/24/07 Section: Arts & Culture
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American Idol castaway Elliot Yamin has released an album of epic proportions with his self-titled debut.
From one listen of the first track on the album, it becomes crucially apparent that America made the wrong decision when they voted this young man off the highly rated competition.
While several others from his season on American Idol have all made star turns since leaving the show, he is the clear-cut soul man of the bunch.
Boasting a strong, buttery baritone, Yamin sings with a rich and soulful passion that is betrayed only by his bohemian white-boy image and beginnings on a pop-culture phenomenon.
Able to belt out a classic Donny Hathaway standard with the same power and conviction that he uses to salute the love of his life, Yamin proves that he definitely has the pipes.
On the album's opening track, Moving On, Yamin spits laments on abandoning a useless relationship atop of bouncy production, and reveals on the album's best songs.
He also proves that he has the vocal and topical dexterity to carry out a variety of themes. On Find A Way, he takes an interesting political stand while on the uplifting Free, he flips to inspirational and makes for a track of anthem proportions.
Another standout on the album is Yamin's cover of the Donny Hathaway classic A Song For You. He delivers this song with amazing clarity and passion and his delivery marks his vocal style as distinctive and powerful.
Production throughout the album is also well done, making every effort to compliment Yamin's smooth vocals, which succeed on almost every offering.
The album's only weak point comes in the form of the limited number topics that get full attention and number of tracks on the overall disc. Coming in at a slim 11 tracks (and two bonus tracks) there is a lot more he could have put on the album.
Perhaps there is a little saved for next time…
Bottom Line: This is a solid album from an amazing artist and is worth every penny of its purchase price. •
Gregory Brand, Jr.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
nanassetta
posted 9/24/07 @ 7:39 AM CST
Great review! Great CD. Kudos to Elliott Yamin!
Kay
posted 9/24/07 @ 8:29 AM CST
Crushed would be an understatment to express what I was feeling when Elliott was eliminated from American Idol, I couldn't understand why the rest of the world didn't see or hear what I heard. (Continued…)
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