Chris Daughtry, last season’s American Idol “rock guy” released his first album today. I downloaded it. I wasn’t going to, I was going to wait until I could hear more than 30 second snippets off of iTunes, but then I caught him on GMA this morning and sold me.
Comparisons to Nickelback, Fuel and Live are going to come fast and hard and let me tell you, I can only barely tolerate Nickelback and I listen to Fuel and Live just fine on rock radio, but I don’t own any of their stuff.
The difference for me is that Chris Daughtry knows he’s got a good, solid, rock voice and doesn’t try to beat your ears up trying to impress you.
Okay, some of you want to know creds before you put down your money. Producer is Howard Benson lately of My Chemical Romance and All American Rejects. Say what you want about those two bands, they’re not weak in the production department. Oh, and some guitar hero who calls himself Slash makes an appearance on one of the tracks. Yes, the tophatted one himself.
It’s Not Over – Solid track. Probably the first single. Teenage girls will be singing this 5 years from now, creepy teenage boys will be burning CDs with this for the pretty girls they’re stalking.
Used To – Kind of went right by me.
Home – Another one that will get a lot of airplay, especially this time of year. Our folks in the sandbox are going to be listening to this…a LOT. Hell, I am home and it made me homesick.
Over You – One of those, you’re gone but I’m okay about it…now…songs. Note to songwriters, keep the word “closure” out of your songs. It’s too 90s Pop Psych. Kind of creepy. Good hooks though.
Crashed – I think there’s a nod to Robert Plant here. The sitar going through this is very nice. You know that girl/guy you just “crashed” into and you both almost killed each other because the attraction was too strong too fast? Yeah, it’s about that. Well done.
Feels Like Tonight – Another one the girls are going to love. And another one for stalkers to burn on their disks. Great freaking vocals though. If he doesn’t trash his voice young, this guy’s going to be another one of those singers that can make his voice sound like a siren if he wants to.
What I Want – Slash is on this one. It kicks serious ass. Takes you by the throat and screams in your face. I think these two should work together a LOT.
Breakdown – There are some great freaking lines in this song. “Open up the book you beat me with again. Read it off one sentence at a time.” Yeah, I dated that chick. One complaint, and I have it about a couple of the tracks, but his one especially. Starting acoustic, then going hard isn’t necessary every time. You can stay acoustic. Really. It wouldn’t hurt this song one bit.
Gone – How many girlfriends has this guy lost? Good song on it’s own. Endless bass chord at the end? What the hell was that all about?
There and Back Again – Funky and psychedelic. Linkin Park meets old Ted Nugent. I REALLY like this track. There’s that fading bass chord again. Quit. It.
All These Lives – Wow. The anti-war track. Solid. Will be covered. Endless fading bass chord at the end with a scratch across it. Look, you’re starting to piss me off with that.
What About Now – The “we didn’t work before how about now?” song. That chord again, just not as long.
Sorry (Bonus Track on iTunes) – Could have left it off. Another good one on its own. WTF is up with the fading chord at the end of every freaking song?
The songs are all solid works on their own, I just don’t see myself listening to the entire album very much. I’m not disappointed. I like the songs, just too much all at once? Does that make sense?
Buy it. Listen to it. Tell me what you think.