Taylor Hicks' New Look!

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Taylor Hicks

Taylor Hicks Album Review

We heard good things about Taylor's album, and so we did the natural thing and bought the CD (well, we love music!). We first listened to it later in the evening while we were cleaning with the kids, but even after we lost the concentration necessary to really review this album, we could tell Taylor's offering is among the best of the Idol contestants up until now. You can tell he's been at this performing/recording thing for a while, and you know he figured out his way around the studio pretty quickly.

Before I get too far, the "Do I Make You Proud" / "Takin' It To The Streets"single is sold as a stand-alone CD, and neither song is on his debut album. But don't let that stop you! You can buy both!

The first time through, the tunes seem simple enough, but listening more closely I can tell they are anything but simplistic. And like good ol' Southern Comfort, the music goes down smoothly and gives a little kick (I hear that's how it feels, having never tried it myself!). All in all, from opening drum riff to closing gospel chorus, this is quintessential Taylor Hicks.

1. Runaround: This is a great opening track. It leads with a hard shuffle beat, brings in Taylor's vocals over the top, and quickly gives way to great brass licks and a gospel choir. It's a good one.

2. Dream Myself Awake: This track was written by Rob Thomas and has the kind of chords and lyrics that give it a modern feel, but with Taylor's comfortable vocals and the tune's Southern styling, you'd swear you've heard it somewhere before. And just when I was missing the brass, in comes the horn section with some Chicago-like riffs. Awesome!

3. Heaven Knows: This is a Ray Charles and Smokey Robinson tune with a funky intro. The background horns sound like classic Tower of Power, and you know Taylor was dancin' that microphone stand all around that cramped little studio booth.

4. Gonna Move: The intro to this track screams of Summer nights on a Birmingham porch, and the rest of the song keeps painting the picture from there. Taylor shows off his skills on the "harp," and any recording featuring a group called The Almost Exhausted Tabernacle Choir is aces in my book.

5. Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home): This is a Marvin Gaye song, but Taylor has definitely provided a new take on it. It has a fresh, almost 90s Sting-like quality to the background arrangement. Bonus: you get the classic, raspy vocals we're used to hearing from Taylor.

6. Give Me Tonight: This track gives off a definite funk vibe. It reminds me of the great funk/rock/soul type tunes of the 80s. At one point I was getting ready for Axel Foley to jump out and shove a banana in somebody's tailpipe. Wait! I'd swear some of these riffs are straight out of the soundtrack from "The Karate Kid." Great tune!

7. Just To Feel That Way: This next song has nice 12/8 rhythm that has become so popular lately. Taylor gets to show off his (not seen enough) softer side, but he maintains that typical edge to his vocals.

8. The Maze: This is another one of those "comfortable" rock tunes with a modern feel, but it's not the best on the album in my opinion. It is still a good song, though.

9. Places I've Been: Here is the requisite Diane Warren tune. I guess you need one like this since "Do I Make You Proud" is nowhere to be seen on the album. "Places I've Been" sounds like the American Idol, and if Taylor hadn't recorded it, someone from the show would have this year.

10. Soul Thing: This track is a Hicks original and is my favorite by far. I remember hearing it on his old website before we even knew he was in the Top 12. Somebody was circulating it well before the finals. It has a great feel, plenty of soul, a fantastic back beat, and a wonderful chorus. The lyrics and the style are definitely from the South, and Taylor sounds perfect on it.

11. The Deal: This one is also written by Mr. Hicks and is another great showing from the soul man. In the right style. Just right.

12. The Right Place: This final track is written by Bryan Adams and like so many of his songs, it is a great tune. We get to see the softer side of Taylor again, but he will still bring the Hicks intensity, especially at the end. "You've come to the right place, baby"

My favorite tracks on the album are "Soul Thing," "Gonna Move," and the rest of the album. Honestly, I can't pick just one third place.

I've gotta say of all the albums put out by American Idols, this is probably my favorite. Admittedly I haven't heard Carrie's (and heard great things about it), but I doubt seriously it would cast much of a shadow on Taylor's. Get it. Listen to it. And even if you are not a member of the Soul Patrol (I wasn't going to say it, but oh well!), you will love this album!

Something Funny . . . or Disturbing!

I was looking for some Idol-related stuff earlier today and came across this video. It's classic JibJab set to the Weird Al "hit" (if there is such a thing) "Do I Creep You Out." Since the answer to that question is usually "yes," I wanted to see how it turned out. For me the answer is still "yes." What will your answer be?

Do I Creep You Out | Send To Friends | Funny Animations at JibJab

Taylor Hicks Goes Platinum . . .

. . . before even releasing his first single!! AMAZING!! We've heard nothing but good about his album. The reviews are truly phenomenal. We've heard that NPR has had interviews with people who have said that his original songs (he's written many of them) are better than the others! His songwriting and style are highly praised. We've ordered a copy for ourselves. :) We can post a review once we listen to it.



Here's the very short article that highlights Taylor going Platinum:
http://top40-charts.com/news.php?nid=29847

Kurt Cobain took all the talent with him

So here we are sitting down to enjoy another evening of people who should never sing. The show opens with another lame shot of the city backdrop and an annoying Seacrest comment about the screaming of the locals. A few more of those shots would have been more interesting then the two tortursome hours of untalented hacks parading in front of the triumverate of weirdness. Let's start on the triumverate, what the hell is wrong with Paula? At one point she actually said, "Hold on to your dreams becaue they will get you something someday". I think she's taking animal tranquilizers, she's even more incoherent then the last few seasons. On to Randy, appearently he's starting to wear down under the pressure of 200k or so really horrible singers. He's gotten rude and nasty and apeparently is trying to take some of Simon's press and airtime. Simon is Simon, he hasn't changed but you can see the shock in his eyes as some people come through the doors. I did think it was a little girlie on his part not to at least stand up as Taylor Hicks wannabe rushed him with hair gel. Before I end this section....perhaps a new do wouldn't hurt, I mean he does look like he combs his hair with buttered toast.

I'm sure by now you are wondering about Kenny and Cartman up there, well to be honest it was the first thing I thought of when Kenneth Briggs and Jonathan Jayne first stepped into our lives. Simon called poor Ken a bush baby and the hard part of that is that it's completely true. But as soon as I hear Jonathan sing, I knew we had found the real life Kenny and Cartman. Take a quick listen to Cartman singing "Come Sail Away" and tell me you don't hear the obvious connection. Now Kenny doesn't really speak but he sure does look like Kenneth.

I'm just basically scared at this point, 16, 000 people in Minnesota yeilded 17 contestants, 10,000 people in Seattle yielded only 14, this basically .13%, not 1.3...that would be 130 people. Less then one percent of the state had any talent. Now, before anyone accuses me of not being a singer, or being brave enough to audition, I know I can't sing, and now I know 99.87% of Seattle can't either.

C'mon people, when your husband says don't waste your time, stay home. Spend some quality time looking in the mirror, do you look ridiculous? Are you sure you don't? Check one more time, a lot of ridiculous people showed up. Check with friends and relatives, and if Randy, Paula and Simon say NO, this is probably two bits of bad news for you.
1. You can't sing
2. Your friends and family are either too scared to tell you, think it's funny to not tell you, or are coddling you like an idiot.
Any way you slice it, that's going to really change your future thoughts about them isn't it?

I'm begging you Memphis, do not blashpheme the King, do not show up in Gold Lame jackets or black leather suits. No polyester jumpsuits with belts that used to be a rear bumper for a Pontiac Bonneville. Just show up in your regular clothes, sing like yourself, and then leave when they give you an answer.

My last thoughts for you Memphis folks, don't sing any of the judges songs, don't sing their favorite songs, and certainly don't try to style Simon's hair.