Like many, I was the more worried about Taylor Hicks's CD than any other Idol CD. Why? Because Taylor has a sound that's different than what you hear on mainstream radio. Would they make him fit in like they did with Bo Bice? Fortunately, the answer is no. While fairly commercial, Taylor's CD definitely allows his blue-eyed soul personality to shine. The opener, "The Runaround," might be a song that Simon would pan - but I think it's a good song that will get you dancing in no time. Taylor's voice gives it its needed thrust. The next song, "Dream Myself Awake," is more of a pop/rock effort, but the verses allow Taylor to be expressive, and the song comes out pretty well. This song might get him some new fans. "Gonna Move" and "Wherever I Lay My Hat" are mid-tempo old-style R&B types that match Taylor perfectly. "Give Me Tonight" sounds forced and is a dud, but "Just To Feel This Way" is a gorgeous ballad that rivals another fave of mine - Bryan Adams's "The Right Place." "Places I've Been" is a Diane Warren ballad that's somewhat flat, but "Soul Thing" picks things up again. "Soul Thing" is like a signature song for Taylor. The CD ends with the before-mentioned "The Right Place," which allows Taylor to show his range. Should convince even some doubters. So, to sum up, this is one of the best Idol CDs - and I hope it does well, as Taylor has carved his own niche.

This is my first review. I have bought over 2000 cd's and I should be reviewing them. My wife told me about this artist. I do not watch american idol, but she does. I bought this cd and we love it. We have a jam every 2 weeks and this cd was played at one of our last jams and it went very well. Mr. Hicks wrote a couple of these songs and he proved himself a very gifted songwriter. Check this cd out. I have been in music all of my life and when I tell you that you will love this cd, Well just see for yourself. Kenny..

I think Taylor Hicks has opened the eyes of people everywhere to a music that has been forgotten by a lot of people. His music is real, and full of soul. This CD is the same. I wasn't sure what to expect from Taylor after winning American Idol. His style wasn't a style I was used to listening to. I was afraid I'd get the CD and hate it. No way. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it. I popped this CD into my car CD player, and tried to dance all the way down the road! (Hard to do while driving, but hey, I tried...) There are some songs that made me want to dance, songs that made me want to cry, and songs that made me want to.....well....I'll save that for the boyfriend. But if you haven't gotten the message yet, give this CD a chance...it is a GREAT CD by someone that is a GREAT artist.

Most of the songs on this CD are about falling in and out of love, and that is okay with me. I just hope Taylor will include more of his personal experiences in his music in the future though. Having said that, I think this is a very good debut. The drum beat and the trumpet playing sound really good on this first track The Runaround. It is a very fun track to start off the CD. Soul Thing is another fun uplifting track here. The Right Place is another highlight here. This track shows Taylor's romantic soulful side. The piano playing on this track is beautiful. Dream Myself Awake is another nice track. The electric guitar playing gives this song a nice pop rock edge. Give Me Tonight is a groovy sounding track. This is a good song to play at parties and dance to. Places I've Been is a very touching song about how a special individual can change another person's life. This is a very enjoyable debut CD by Taylor Hicks.

I must confess, dear readers, that I am not enamored with the American Idol phenomenon. I used to work in the music business (managed a mid-level rock band, I'd rather not mention names) and I just never thought Idol was more than amateur hour.

Taylor Hicks intrigued me, however, because he couldn't fit the American Idol paradigm less if he tried. He stands out - for all the right reasons. His voice has a gruff, lived-in quality that perfectly suits the material he obviously loves. He possess an intense, focused stage presence - when he sings a song, he truly means it. Friends of mine sold me on Mr. Hicks via early recordings he released independently prior to his victorious run on Idol. Anyone who has doubts about his artistic validity needs to check out his stirring performance of "Georgia On My Mind" (the closing track on his first independent release, "In Your Time"). Throughout it's 7-minute-plus duration, Mr. Hicks displays a truly impressive array of emotion and power. His 2005 CD, "Under the Radar," is even better - seven original songs that demonstrate a lot of songwriting maturity from 1997's "In Your Time."

It should be noted that his major label debut, "Taylor Hicks," is not really in line with those earlier recordings. I'm sure most of the differences can be chalked up to making him "more commercial." There is a glossy, over-produced sheen to this album that is (thankfully) not present on "In Your Time" and "Under the Radar." As a musician, Mr. Hicks is a capable rhythm guitarist and a fine harmonica player - though you wouldn't know it from this album. His musicianship is limited to a couple of cameo appearances from his harmonica. As for Mr. Hicks the songwriter, he is restricted to a pair of rerecordings carried over from "Under the Radar."

In fact, it is on these holdovers that the weaknessess of this album become apparent - especially so if we look at a third rerecording, "Hell of a Day" which is a bonus track on some editions. Without exception, the original versions on "Under the Radar" are much more authentically soulful than the busier arrangements found on "Taylor Hicks." Don't get me wrong - these songs ("Soul Thing" and "The Deal" are the others) - are strong enough to survive the reworkings. But honestly, the producers of the new album didn't do him many favors.

Since Mr. Hicks was unceremoniously dumped from his label, there seems to be a surge of people rushing to say he had no talent to begin with. This album was underpromoted by Idol standards - there was no official single released to radio stations until months after it's release. Where were the supporting music videos that have been a standard part of music marketing for decades? They don't exist. Clearly, they didn't know quite what to do with Taylor Hicks and ended up doing as little as possible. Despite all this, the album was certified Platinum and spawned a pair of modest Adult Contemporary hit songs.

I like this album because Taylor Hicks manages to shine through it all - even though he was saddled with a fair amount of poor material. The opening track "The Runaround" is an energetic pop/soul number that is one of the best tracks here. The closing track "The Right Place", written by Bryan Adams for the late Ray Charles (who passed on before being able to record it), showcases Taylor's voice perfectly. Of course, I mentioned the Hicks originals earliers, "Soul Thing" and "The Deal" - both of which would have made ideal single choices (particularly the upbeat "Soul Thing").

"The Maze" would've made a good single choice - it is contemporary sounding, with a sort-of Maroon 5 vibe. Not necessarily the best type of song for Taylor, but not a bad way to bridge Taylor's 'old school' approach with something more current. The Rob Thomas-written "Dream Myself Awake" is a decent pop song. Most of the rest is a mixed bag. I've heard pre-Idol live versions of Taylor performing Paul Pena's "Gonna Move" that are far better than the smooth studio version found here - but that doesn't render it useless, covering this type of material suits Hicks well. Actually, I caught one of his shows from his tour last year. In every single case, the songs he performed from this album fared significantly better in concert.

Taylor Hicks was an unusual winner for American Idol. I hope he can overcome the stigma he is currently saddled with (first Idol winner dropped from label after only one album). He is far too talented to fade into obscurity.