He's personally utterly charming, has a consistently pleasing, soulful voice and has the looks of a star, so it's truly disappointing that Kris Allen's debut album is no more memorable or engaging than it is. There are great moments here that point toward the possibility of future achievement, but too often this collection is simply dull and derivative. Kris Allen joins the growing pack of mediocre first albums from American Idol champions.
An Unfortunate Facelessness
It didn't have to all be this way, because the great moments are stellar and give us glimpses of a Kris Allen with real emotion losing himself in making his music. However, too often we get something that sounds like Maroon 5 without Adam Levine's creepy edge or faceless radio-friendly songs that would leave you asking the name of the artist five times before you remembered. One example is "Before We Come Undone" that sounds a bit like a poppier Chris Daughtry without the distinctive rasp. Listen to this song outside of the context of the album, and I doubt that all but the most dedicated fans would automatically realize this is Kris Allen.
A Voice To Be Treasured
When the songs work like the lead single, Kris Allen's earnest cover of the Script's "Live Like We're Dying," it's obvious that his voice is an instrument to be treasured. Vocally, Allen can have a commanding presence on record that was too often only hinted at on American Idol. Tackling the ballad "Bring It Back" by Eg White, best known for his work on Adele's breakthrough "Chasing Pavements," Kris Allen turns in a performance in which his voice seems to lovingly caress the words with impressive technical control. On the handclapping "Alright With Me," he issues a full-throated welcome to the party for the listener punctuated by horns and acoustic guitar.
Top Tracks on 'Kris Allen'
- "Live Like We're Dying"
- "Bring It Back"
- "Alright With Me"
- "Heartless"
Looking Forward To Album #2
Kris Allen is certainly not the first American Idol champion to turn in a mediocre first album. That seems to be more the rule instead of exception. He can certainly take solace in the fact that Kelly Clarkson did not soar with her first effort. When competing on American Idol, it seemed that Kris Allen shined at choosing the best songs to showcase his talents. It is likely his artistic control here was minimal. As Kris Allen progresses further in his career, we are sure to see more of the muse which took him to victory this past spring. For now, enjoy the key tracks including a revamped take on his version of Kanye West's "Heartless" first introduced on the show, and look forward to the future for this clearly talented pop vocalist.
Released November 2009 by Jive Records
