George Huff’s "Miracles" CD – A First Listen

American Idol has been pumping out new artists for four seasons now, some successful, and others whose albums have flopped with a resounding thud. The problem for most of these artists has been finding a niche, and then promoting their work to people who buy music within that narrowly defined parameter. The big word here is promotion – without the support of the record label and an aggressive promotional campaign, these newcomers don’t have a chance in an already saturated marketplace.

Along comes George Huff – the spiritual, throwback, funky wonder who endeared himself to his fans during his run on American Idol 3. George faced some formidable competition that season, and finished a respectable fifth. But you already know that, right? What we need to understand is that, once the season is over, it’s a whole new ball game, and a former Idol’s success or failure really has nothing to do with his or her placement on the show.

There were few people who didn’t like George Huff. His infectious smile and excitement caused legions of fans to offer collective hugs and smiles through cyberspace. But 18 months have passed since George’s run on Idol ended, and an entire new crop of Idols have graduated, and are fighting for recognition in the industry.

George’s new CD, Miracles was supposed to be released in May or June, which would have allowed for at least one promotional appearance on the show. Instead, the people at Word Records pushed this album back, deciding to risk losing that window of opportunity, and focus instead on quality. It is too soon to tell whether or not that gamble paid off in terms of sales. One thing is for sure, however. The extra effort on production and song selection has elevated this album from being just another post-Idol endeavor to making it an independent work that stands on its own merit.

If you have preconceived notions about this album, forget about it. Miracles is a pleasant surprise, and moves George in a much more contemporary direction. He is, after all, only 24-years old! It’s inspirational, but does not beat the listener over the head. Rather, the message is woven somewhat subtly through the lyrics, resulting in an enjoyable musical experience.

Here are my impressions of the 11 tracks on this CD:

”Real Love (I Got It)” – Kenyetta Jerkins/Freddie Jerkins, III/LaShawn Daniels
Who is this guy? Is it Usher? Jay-Z? No siree, it’s our very own George Huff in modified hip-hop mode. The beats are strong and George spits out the lyrics with precision and clarity. The song is contemporary and appealing, and a complete surprise for anyone who had preconceived notions about how this post-Idol George would sound!

” Fortunes” – George Huff/Dan Muckala/Brad Russell
Another contemporary sound, this time with a slower beat and even stronger message. George sings about what’s really important to him in this life, and that is love. Fortune and fame really don’t matter in the end, it’s all about laughter and joy, and helping somebody else The song is a very comfortable fit for his voice, right within his range, and allowing for a couple of nifty vocal runs.

”See What God Can Do” – George Huff/Cindy Morgan/Dan Muckala
No mistaking the message here, but the song has a smooth bass line and nice mellow feel, with subtly jazz overtones. I really like the cool blending of the backup vocals on this one. They are not overpowering; rather they enhance George’s voice. He sings it from his soul and the result is that we get the message loud and clear.

”Miracles” – Felton Offard/Ron Walters, Jr.
I have to say that the first time I heard this one, I broke down shamelessly! The song takes me right back to May 2003 when George was on Idol, and we were beginning to believe that he might just make it all the way to the end. We were devastated when he was eliminated, but in the end, the miracle wasn’t about winning at all. It was about how miracles can happen in “ordinary ways” and “happen every day,” and that the real miracle was the love that grew from the experience. What’s so cool is that we knew that even then! And now, he’s back to sing about it.

”Feels Like Heaven” – George Huff/Greg Bieck/Tayler Hayes-Bleck
This is another very hip, contemporary tune, and I daresay, George sounds a little bit like Luther here, offering up a smooth, cool vibe, nicely intertwined with a jazzy back beat. This song is a nice vehicle for his range and he pulls it off beautifully.