American Idol CD Review: “Elliott Yamin” – A First Listen

There’s no question that American Idol 5 produced a bumper crop of talent, and CDs from this bunch have been raining down on us since last fall. But with all the surrounding hoopla, last season’s third-place finisher, Elliott Yamin, seemed to have taken a back seat in this parade of success. Well, fear not. With the release of his self-titled CD, Elliott has jumped into the driver’s seat and is ready for his own journey to get underway.

What makes this CD so special is that Elliott’s managed to retain the signature sound that made him so popular on the show but still move forward with fresh, new songs. There’s something for everyone here – jazz, R&B, pop, and even a little hip-hop. The thread that holds this CD together is Elliott’s smooth-as-silk vocals and his ability to handle complex lyrics effortlessly. And it’s the lyrics that really grabbed me the first time through. Elliott makes it appear that he is singing these songs to me, personally, and that is the mark of a true artist.

Here’s my impression of each track:

“Movin’ On” – This is the first single from the album. It features a nice jazzy backbeat with a bit of hip-hop flavor. Elliott’s voice is solid, and he maneuvers through the lyrics with ease and conviction. It’s radio-friendly, with a head-bopping beat, yet doesn’t compromise his vocals. Great choice for a first single.

“Wait for You” – Here’s the album’s first R&B-style ballad. Again, Elliott’s mastery of a thick series of lyrics is impressive. The song has a rich layering of instruments – strings, keyboard, and subtle percussion. Elliott sells this one convincingly, despite a slight leaning towards the 1990s “boy band” sound towards the end.

“Find a Way” – Elliott takes on current social issues in this remarkable track. It’s the kind of song that makes me want to jump up, pump my fist, and shout, “Right on.” The song has a wicked instrumental track, interesting layerings, and quick changes in tempo. But despite the power of the song, Elliott scales the various heights like a pro. He even scats! Fabulous tune, just fabulous.

“One Word” – Elliott pours his heart and soul into this love song, but avoids becoming overly sentimental. The song has a contemporary beat, strong lyrics, and may be even more radio-friendly than “Movin’ On.” As I listened to this one, I realized how very much I’ve missed hearing Elliott’s voice.

“You Are the One” – Now here’s what I call the “tearjerker” love song. It opens with just Elliott and a piano, and builds from there. His vocal control is superb and his presentation strong. Again, the lyrics are tight and he sings them from the gut. This song will be used on someone’s soundtrack, I’d guarantee it. It’s solid from start to finish. My favorite yet.

“I’m the Man” – Once I pull myself together after hearing “You Are the One,” I’m ready for a change of pace, for sure! This song gives us a taste of jazzy Elliott. It’s not as complex lyrically, but again, the genius here is in the production and synchronicity of his vocals. Powerful stuff. What’s great is that his vocals are subtle but never get lost in the mix. There are even some cool rock guitars at the end.

“Train Wreck” –The arrangement is a bit more laid back, and the song is easy on the ears. Nothing terribly challenging here, but it is audibly pleasing with a nice mix of horns and guitars. Kind of a throw-away, in my estimation.

“Free” – This song has the same kind of uplifting foundation of “Find a Way” but on more personal level. Think “I Believe I Can Fly.” It’s nice, though, and knowing what we know about Elliott and his journey to date, it is highly appropriate. He tells us that it really doesn’t matter what “they” say, we should not be afraid to fly. His voice soars and I feel my spirits uplift. Seriously! Thanks, Elliott.

“Alright” – Now this is different. The song opens with a serious drumline and a foot-tapping, head-bopping, heavy, heavy beat. The lyrics don’t really matter because this one makes me want to clap my hands and dance. So I do! Every album needs a dance tune, right!

“Take my Breath Away” – Elliott’s definitely in love! There’s no other way he could sell this one as convincingly! It’s old-school with a real nice R&B beat, but it’s tuned a bit differently. He runs through it with ease, even pulls off a nice falsetto. Great solid tune.

“A Song for You” – Elliott closes the album with a tribute to his idol, Donny Hathaway, and he does Donny proud. I smile, remembering Elliott on Idol and how often he moved me. Nothing new about this rendition, but it’s nice to hear him do a studio version. Elliott’s voice is really distinctive and I like the simple arrangement.

Overall, this CD is solid as a rock. It captures the essence of Elliott’s voice in a number of different types of songs, yet doesn’t stray so far away from Idol Elliott as to alienate his fans. It can be tricky to produce a CD with new material that can appeal to not only the fans from the show, but also attract new listeners. Elliott Yamin has the potential to do just that.

Donna Reynolds is a freelance writer based in Syracuse, New York. While entertainment sustains her emotionally, she earns her daily bread by writing and editing web copy. Check out her new website at www.idolthoughts.net. Donna loves mail, so shoot her an email at foxydonna@earthlink.net.

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