Wade on Birmingham

Taylor Hicks: On the record

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After a successful tour for “American Idol,” does Taylor Hicks have anything left to prove?

Well, he has yet to put out a CD under new management.

That changes Tuesday with the release of “Taylor Hicks” [Amazon | iTunes], a pop/blues/soul album that tones down the numerous “woo!” and “yeah!” interjections to which TV fans have grown accustomed.

Hicks delivers what he has long promised: a fun, lively set of songs that play to his strengths of performance and precision.

Updated with free song download …

 

Ray Charles haunts two of the tracks, the organ groove of “Heaven Knows” and the closing ballad, “The Right Place.” Listening to “Heaven,” I thought I was hearing a New Wave cover of “What’d I Say” with its gospel flair, horn-driven funk and upbeat style.

Canadian rocker Bryan Adams penned “Place” specifically for Charles, who never had the chance to record it. In comes Hicks, who provides more feeling with a (relatively) stripped-down sound for this heartfelt number.

Big names pop up as songwriters throughout the disc, including Diane Warren who delivers “Places I’ve Been.” Hicks connects again, with lyrics echoing his musician’s wanderlust.

One cover finds its way onto the disc as well, the Marvin Gaye single, “Wherever I Lay My Hat.” While I’ve heard covers that do little more than fill CD space, Hicks’ update provides a fresh and lovely take on another song about the call of the road.

Opening track and leadoff single “The Runaround” is a big, bouncy song, one that has Hicks in there somewhere. So generic is the vocal sound that I can hear any other pop vocalist in it without much of a stretch.

“Gonna Move” offers the least among the bunch. Funky bass line and Memphis horns aside, the chorus alone is a groaner: “I’m gonna move away from here; you can find me if you wanna go there.”

Some songs are all feel good without being particularly memorable. The trademark Hicks growl and edge (yes, edge) are in short supply on this album.

Hicks resurrects two songs he wrote from the indie disc,“Under the Radar”: “Soul Thing” and “The Deal.” Both are a little slicker than before, but hang on to his roots as a soulful crooner.

“Taylor Hicks” the album gives a true reflection of Taylor Hicks the man. Even with their quirks and slickness, they deliver a good time and a funky beat.

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Also:

  • Review: “An album that will surely satisfy anybody that loved to hear him on the show, and one that stands as one of the best Idol-related records yet made.” (Allmusic.com)
  • Review: “Taylor’s voice is rich and soulful, but I don’t hear the originality I think the guy is capable of.” (USA Today)
  • Review: “It’s choked with bland leftovers and ill-fitting covers.” (Newsday [New York])
  • Seattle Times: “I can’t please everyone, and I’m not trying to.”
  • Birmingham News: Hicks talks track by track
  • Lyrics for some of the songs
  • CD available at Amazon | Laser’s Edge (Homewood)
  • Appearing this week on … “The View” (10 a.m. today, ABC 33/40) … “Dr. Phil” (3 p.m. today, CBS 42) … “The Early Show” (7 a.m. Tuesday, CBS 42) … “Showbiz Tonight” (10 p.m. Tuesday, CNN) … “Martha” (noon Wednesday, NBC 13) … “Christmas in Washington” (9 p.m. Wednesday, TNT) … “The Megan Mullally Show” (10 a.m. Thursday, NBC 13)
  • Solo tour performance March 10 at the Alabama Theatre; tickets on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday
  • Update: free MP3 download of “Do I Make You Proud”

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Read more on Taylor Hicks.

2 Yips for “Taylor Hicks: On the record”

  1. zanna
    Monday, December 11, 2006, 9:31 pm
    1

    There was also an interesting story in Sunday’s New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/10/arts/music/10news.1.html

  2. Wade
    Tuesday, December 12, 2006, 8:43 am
    2

    I saw that story, along with a few more since I ran the review. The publicity machine is in full force …

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