Taylor Hicks is here to entertain you. He's here to make you feel like you're at a late-summer barbecue, laughing and singing along to his songs in that Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes "Havin' a Party" kind of way. He's here to make you dance around like an idiot, not giving a damn if the music is hokey or if he isn't the world's most marketable radio star. Sure, he's the slowest-selling of the American Idol winners, and sure, even I called him "inferior" to the girl he beat out (much to the chagrin of the rabid Soul Patrol), but it doesn't seem like Hicks, or his music, are built to care about all that.
In his major-label debut, Hicks pays tribute to the classic sounds of soul, funk, and R&B that he clung to so tightly during the Idol competition that it had Simon Cowell rolling his eyes as he admitted that Hicks was a force to be dealt with. Hicks is given plenty of help from masters of the genre, singing tunes penned by Marvin Gaye ("Wherever I Lay My Hat"), Rob Thomas ("Dream Myself Awake") and Bryan Adams ("The Right Place," originally written for Ray Charles), but he stamps each of them with his unique, fun style.
Popping the CD into your player will immediately take you back in time, with the rock-out party number "The Runaround." On stage during Idol, you could always tell that Hicks was having a blast, and he gives his listeners the same experience here and in "Heaven Knows" and "Give Me Tonight," and to a lesser extent in "Gonna Move" and "Soul Thing," the latter written by Hicks for his independent, pre-Idol release Under the Radar. These are the high points in the album, the times when Hicks is letting loose, showing his personality, and delivering a polished yet gritty vocal performance.
Article comments
1 - debbie
going to see him tonight at the HOB - myrtle beach and can not wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2 - kathy
I LOVE LOVE LOVE Taylor Hicks. The show this year is really missing something and that something is Taylor Hicks. It is a year later and he still has my heart melting for him. The magic of Taylor Hicks has never stopped. I can't wait to see him in Los Angeles.
3 - Michelle
Hey Jeff, That was a very good, very objective review. Thank you.. nice to see that even though you aren't the man's fan you can see why some folks are! I actually think you gave the cd a better review than I did, and i AM a fan of his..
I'm with you on "Places I've Been" and "wherever I lay My hat" but I actually really like "Just to feel that way." The recorded version of "Gonna Move" is okay, but I much prefer the live versions I've heard (all pre the current CD). The "Run Around" got on my nerves about the 4th time I saw him perform it (he was hitting the TV Talk show circuit big time singing that song back in Dec-Jan).. "The Maze" which I didn't like at first has grown on me.. Out of the three songs he wrote, all originally on "Under the Radar," I liked the remake of "Soul Thing" the best. "Hell of a Day" needed to be redone, however, I've heard him to an amazing version of it live and wish he'd have recorded it similar to the live versions (if you're seeing a pattern here, you're right.. he's more of a live performer than a recording artist at this point, but he is a quick study and I am sure we'll see a much better recorded performance on the next cd). "The Deal" in my opinion, should have been left as it was. I miss the guitar intro and Brian Less' Piano solo in the middle of the song. (Brian less is the Piano/Organ Player in the former Taylor Hick's Band, now called Little Memphis Blues Orchestra, and the Piano/Organ player in Taylor's touring band.. to say he's an amazing musician would be an understatment -- Seriously, check out the band's myspace/Littlememphisbluesorchesta -- I think you'd like them)
"Give Me tonight" and "heaven knows" are both very good songs too, albeit overproduced, as is the entire CD, in my opinion.
Anyway, I just wanted to thank you for being objective, I know you weren't all that big a fan of the man's but you listened and wrote a good review regardles..
Wow.. Sorry.. just realized how long this thing is.. I better get back to work..
4 - Mervin Malone Jr.
Taylor Hicks winning the American Idol crown is a mixed bag. On the one hand, it proves that Simon Cowell doesn't always get what he want " on the other, it reaffirms the very hard fact that 'Idol viewers don't always vote for the most talented contestants. Hicks won because of some endearing (ambiguous) stage presence " not to mention silly stage antics. He's just a prematurely gray kid playing around " not a serious musician.
5 - Jeff Martin
Thanks, Michelle. After some of the more sensible Hicks fans started talking about him on my McPhee review, I decided it was worth giving him a listen.
6 - JC Mosquito
So, then Mick Jagger isn't a serious musican - just someone's grampa playing around?
I'm no fan of the Idol shows or what they represent, but I saw Hicks on Dr. Phil as I was passing through the living room yesterday, and frankly, I'd sooner listen to him than most of everything else that's out there. He performed well and I think he took a chance - the songs he sang was at the top of his range - a lesser performer (or maybe a smarter) would have dropperd everything a few keys to make it easier, but he pushed himself through the song, so he's OK by me for now. But like most idols, the public will eventually grow weary of him and his music and move on to the next one.
7 - Lubiana
I liked the article but I disagree that "Wherever I Lay My Hat", "Places I've Been" and "Just To Feel That Way" are the weakpoints. They are actually 3 of my faves on the CD. Oh well. I saw 3 concerts, one in Tampa, one in Coral Springs and one in Orlando, FL and Taylor was just amazing at each performance! I am and will always be a lifelong Taylor Hicks fan. :)
8 - connie in Alabama
thanks for the thoughful review. Even though you are not a fan, you seem to understand why some of us are.
Taylor Hicks definitely brings back memories for me!
9 - Tandalaya
Jeff:
Thanks for listening to Taylor and at least 'getting' what he's trying to do. He's very apparently a nice person. This coming from people who know him best and write about him - including past and current band members who work with him closest, as well as the 'Idols' from Season 5 who still speak fondly of him. They say, and judging from his frequent appearances and interviews, he is thoughtful, mannerly and not apparently 'full of himself' like some artists. You should see him share the concert stage with the other artists from the concert band. Totally gracious. And best of all (to me), he's told everyone over and over that his music is first, and popularity and wealth would be nice, but they are not his first priority. How refreshing is that - to hear a nice guy is coming out well and only wants to play to please?
For the nay-sayers who comment negatively: Don't judge him only from AI - go to one of his current tour concerts. I think you'll come out with a totally different opinion and point of view about Taylor. Believe me, despite some of the previously written articles about middle-aged women being the only ones who attend these concerts - you'll find audiences consist of young and not so young - women, men, teen, and children - and the male audience members are not being forced to attend (as is often written). You may also want to go a step farther in your TH-commentaries, Jeff, by getting a first hand look at one of his awesome concert performances.
Anyway, thanks again for passing on some 'good stuff' about Taylor this time. Of the songs on his current CD, I love to hear 'The Right Place' and his two personally penned songs best - both on the CD and 'live'.
10 - Pamela
"Taylor Hicks is here to entertain you. He's here to make you feel like you're at a late-summer barbecue, laughing and singing along to his songs..."
Any entertainer who can do that is very talented indeed. I listen to music and go to concerts to feel good and take a break from a difficult world. There's nothing wrong with music being fun - if it was a serious study we'd all be opera fans and Jimmy Buffett would never sell out a concert.
11 - Jeff Martin
Thank you for quoting that, Pamela. I'm particularly fond of that lede.
Tandalaya, connie, et. al., you're quite welcome. Thank you to those of you who intelligently stated your thoughts on what Taylor was all about in the midst of a lot of mudslinging on the McPhee article comments. It made me actually want to check him out, and I'm glad I did.
12 - sebby
Thanks, Jeff for writing a piece that was a fun read!
So many critics who write about Taylor don't listen to his music with an open mind, and it's very frustrating as a fan, to read articles written by people who have an obvious agenda.
Honestly, I love this cd, and never get tired of listening to it. As much as I love Taylor's voice, it wasn't until I saw him perform live, that I realized just how much of a talent he really is.
If you get a chance, go to a show. Then, write a review and let us know if you've been completely "taylorized!"
13 - Sandi
Thank you for the unbiased article. It was well worth reading, I Love Taylors CD and listen to it all the time, some songs I like better than others but as a whole, it's a good CD. I am happy that Taylor is doing what he loves to do, that makes everything else worthwhile
14 - B. Anders
Jeff, I wish there were more people like you writing reviews. I appreciate so much that you took the time to really listen to Taylors CD before you reviewed it. It was a very iinteresting, well written piece. Now I hope you get the opportunity to see him in concert, just for your own pleasure. Thank you so much for writing a thoughtful review.
15 - Kath
I love this CD! When I plugged it in my car after I bought it, I could not believe the opening song "The Runaround"! Wow!
I think Taylor has gotten ripped off by a lot of reviewers who didn't like him personally or his style. The CD really is good and is very diverse.
I wish I could see him in concert, but he's not coming to my area. The closest is in San Francisco and that's 2 1/2 hours away and on a weeknight. BUMMER!!!! I would love to see him solo.
Taylor deserved to win AI over Katharine McPhee. Katharine couldn't hold a candle to Taylor. The cuts I've heard off her CD have been digitally remixed. You can tell they had to help her vocals out because honestly, she's just not that good of a singer. She was always going offkey last year but Simon loved her and praised her even when she didn't deserve it.
I think Taylor's CD will get a much needed boost once his concert tour is in full swing. He's a unique talent and I hope he does well.
I'm proud to be part of the "Soul Patrol"!
16 - Kat
This is a really lovely review, Jeff. I am not a HUGE fan of this CD--there are songs I love, but there are also songs I skip. I hope Taylor's next release is something a little more intimate, allowing him to show off his gifted vocals, but this is a fun CD, too. Not surprisingly, after seeing him in concert, I think a lot of the songs translate better live than they do on the disc, but that's only to be expected. Whether he sells 5 million more CDs or 5 more, I think he's great.
17 - Jennifer
Jeff, for this fair and thoughtful review. I find it encouraging that a majority of reviewers feel his original songs are among the best on the album.
18 - Michelle
Jeff, I know it can be a bit.. Umm.. overwhelming?... I think that's the word I'm looking for, when making a statement and then being bombarded with a bunch of "you don't know what you're talking about.." posts that choose to flame the person making the statement for.. well.. making a statement.. I'm really happy you listened to the CD.. and even happier that you enjoyed it as much as you did. Like another poster on here, I urge you to go see the man in concert. His CD, is good, but his live performance is really him at his best.
To the poster who claims Taylor is not a real musician, I beg to differ. I only voted for him after hearing his original, pre-idol, works.. and truthfully, he is way more a musician than many of the so called "recording artists" currently at the top of the charts. His Idol performances showed his showman side.. And make no mistake, he is an entertaining entertainer... but he is a musician first. He's not a dancer, I'll grant you that.. although he does dance better than most of the guys I dated, and way better than the one I married.. but I digress.. I go to his shows to see him play his music.. and no song is ever truly done the same way twice.. I find that refreshing considering how well choreographed most concerts are these days. I like music that makes you FEEL.. I like show where I dance more than the performer up on the stage.. I REALLY like a concert where I know that the artist on the stage is actually singing.. not simply adding sporadic live vocals to a pre-recorded back up tape..
I am all for listening to others opinions, so long as they are educated ones. Jeff, had you listened to the CD and NOT liked him, I know you would have actually stated why, as opposed to some who simply don't like Taylor because, well, he beat out their favorites last season. At that point I would have simply listened to your view point and understood that not everyone's tastes are the same. I would have respected your right to an opinion because you'd have made it based on your own personal tastes.
That said, I am very happy that you do indeed like his CD. Now go see him live.. I warn you, you may very well become a fan.
:)
19 - Janice
Thanks for a positive note. Taylor is very much a musical artist. In listening to pre through post idol music of his as well as seeing him in concert there is no other conclusion to be drawn.
20 - Connie Phillips
Congrats! This article has been forwarded to the Advance.net websites.
21 - Lorri
I LOVE Taylor Hicks music and have never played a cd as much as his current one. His music is my favorite and will always be. I bought his other 2 cd's (autographed)at the show along with a hoodie and t-shirt. "Places I've Been" is wonderful - I tear up everytime I hear it and think of my husband. It should be the next wedding song. I saw him at House of Blues in Myrtle Beach March 2 and wasn't disappointed with his performance or his band at all. It was a great show and my husband and I will gladly see him again.