Remember Kris Allen? He’s the guy who won American Idol this
year. No, not Adam Lambert. Allen’s the one who sounds like he listens
to the Fray and Matchbox Twenty for fun. And on his self-titled debut,
he stays within his comfort zone, delivering 13 soft-rocking songs that
offer platitudes like “Live Like We’re Dying.” Allen knows his audience
and he plays to them here, mixing the record with a blend of
heart-tugging ballads and inspirational Mom Rock. He’s a bit more
contemporary than most Idol alum (where have you been lately,
Taylor Hicks?), but that won’t make these glossy, wimpy songs last into
the next decade. So enjoy them now. We’re only a couple months away
from the next season of American Idol. — Michael
Gallucci
This article appears in Nov 25 – Dec 1, 2009.
