American Idle

Allison Iraheta’s new album, Just Like You, is coming out in just a few weeks (December 1 to be exact) but if this single, “Don’t Waste The Pretty” is part (which it is, BTW) then we’re all in for some great music.

The buzz on Iraheta is that they’re comparing her to a female Daughtry. Considering Daughtry goes by one name and has arguably been the most successful crossover artist from any Idol season, that’s high praise.

I would even go one step further and say that Iraheta reminds one of Janis Joplin and Debbie Harry. Dang.

The other scary part about this performance that you can see below is that Iraheta is even trying, really. This is an acoustic performance, but if you can sing, you can SANG.

She can sang, folks. No doubt about that. The control is unreal, it’s audible, which isn’t always the case with these shows, and it’s at a radio station.

Without further adieu, Iraheta killing it at Hot 99.5 studios in Maryland, and coming soon to an arena near you.

Not a whole heckuva lot going on from the David Cook camp of late, but one interesting side note is that Cook played his entire album from beginning to end for a few fortunate concert goers in Hammond, Indiana last night.

It marked the first anniversary of his record. Way to go, Cook!

For the second song, called “Life On The Moon,” we actually get to see Cook and his band play the tune, amid the Cookeys freaking out and threatening to do things to Cook that are unspeakable, you know, the usual. LOL

After you’ve heard a few “Ow!” and “Yeah, baby, I can do it any way you want,” anything is fair game, right? The Cook fans are out of control, in a respectable way. Right? Right?!? All I’m hearing are crickets.

The nice thing about that is that Cook played several songs which don’t get a lot of airplay, including his single “Avalanche.”

It’s a tad dark for my taste (I mean, the lighting) but it’s the song we wanna hear, right? Here it is below:

Kris Allen continued his publicity tour for his new album on the Regis & Kathie Lee show this morning and had an interesting interview. See it below:

Allen talked about his new band mates. most of whom he met about a month ago. Allen also talked about going to the Empire State Building, and hitting the road for a tour starting in February.

Then he performed his new single “Live Like We’re Dying,” which you can see below as well. Not a talkative guy, kinda guarded, but he gave a few tidbits of information here and there, I suppose.

One of the things about Allen that people like, though, is his sincerity and his willingness to go against the grain, so to speak, which is what people thought Adam Lambert would do.

In fact, it’s been quite the opposite. Allen has been the guy staying away from A-list events and Lambert has been to all of them, bought the T-shirt, did the mega giltzy photo shoots and created all the controversy.

I do think Allen needs more face time with his audience, though, and perhaps that will come later on once the tour has started. As I recall, Daughtry started slow also.

The music, as you can see, is solid. You can also buy his new album here.

Adam Lambert has already generated his fair share of controversy this year, and he has decided to end 2009 with a bang!

First off, he has now released his old album, entitled “Take One,” which is a recording of his early work.

The track list includes the following songs:

1. First Light
2. Climb
3. December
4. Fields
5. Did you need it
6. More Than
7. Wonderful
8. Castleman
9. Hour Glass
10. Light Falls
11. Bonus Tracks-Remixes: Want, Spotlight, & On With the Show

Ah, there’s “Want” and “On With The Show.” Hmmm, weren’t these the recordings that had Idol producers in a tizzy? Why, yes they were! LOL

Funny they came out now, with his new album “For Your Entertainment” not doing as well as some had hoped. Putting out “Take One” may be a ploy to get more record sales for Lambert, who knows?

But wait, there’s more. Lambert also announced his new band mates, which usually means there’s a tour coming up. And the list is pretty formidable. First, he snagged Yellowcard’s drummer, not an easy task, as well as a female keyboardist named Lisa (she’s in the nattily clad duds there).

All I can say is look forward to some very interesting music coming to a place near you.

Buy “Take One” Here

Well, it’s official; Kellie Pickler has now performed as a redhead. Dunno if I like the look as much as her blonde hairdo, but everything takes some getting used to, right?

Here she is performing at the Country Music Hall of Fame last week, clad in a hat and a snug top.

Listen to it below:

Whoa, nelly, it’s acoustic! Actually, despite my overall objection to her new look, the song itself is good.

A little twangy, and overpowered by her background players, but good. Also somewhat goofy is an interview superimposed in parts over the performance, which is like listening to a wall of noise.

At any rate, Pickler has embraced her new look and she’ll probably be more sassy and sexy, than before. Guys can only hope.  But she likes to still be herself, apparently, enjoying laying down in bed. Heh.

Danny Gokey is known for being a devout Christian, and that’s what makes him so appealing to many.

He performed at the Dream Center today in Los Angeles, which is a worship center that is also home to Sophia’s Heart Foundation, began after his late wife Sophia passed away.

You know, after listening to this song a few more times, it’s beginning to grow on me, and others as well.

 I may have been a bit premature judging it after a few listens. I’m human after all, LOL. Anyway, Gokey’s song sounds a bit like a young Bruce Springsteen, and I know that the industry sees Gokey as a balladeer.

Whether or not country music will be his calling card is unknown, but I do think he’s on to something. Hopefully, things go better for him than other balladeers.

Listen to his song below:

Allison Iraheta may have finished in third place on season eight of American Idol, but it’s possible she may have the most commercial success.

With her new album Just Like You, it looks like Iraheta, er, Idol, has put together a solid lineup of songs that are commercial enough for continued success in the industry.

Whether you like it or not–and from the sounds of things, you’d rather steal her music–Allison has commercial appeal. Take a gander at her track list and you’ll see why: 

1. Friday I’ll Be Over You
2. Robot Love
3. Just Like You
4. Don’t Waste the Pretty
5. Scars
6. Pieces
7. D is for Dangerous
8. Holiday
9. Still Breathing
10. Trouble Is
11. One One Else
12. Beat Me Up
13. You Don’t Know Me

I think No. 13 sums up Allison, and this album, succinctly. She almost comes off to me like a Daughtry type, and so it’s no irony that Daughtry actually co-wrote a bonus track for her (”I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing”).

She may just have the kind of success he did, because she got out of the gates fast, just like him.

Pre-order Allison’s new album here:

Carrie Underwood strutted her stuff at the Country Music Awards, and although she didn’t win Female Vocalist of the Year (she lost it to her best pal Taylor Swift) there probably weren’t any hard feelings, since Underwood has won it all before.

Anyway, Underwood definitely benefited from less publicity than Swift, since Kanye wasn’t all up in her grill at any point in time. Is there a possibility that Kanye’s little stunt had something to do with voting Swift as top female vocalist? Maybe.

At any rate, Underwood showed she still knows how to put on a raucous show with her hit song “Cowboy Casanova” last night.

In a performance that bordered on raunchy, Underwood shed some of her conservative skin (well, actually, she shed alot of skin, but that’s for another day) and did her thing.

Meanwhile, Kellie Pickler surprised everyone at the awards, coming out as a redhead. You know what? I liked the look! Tres sexy, Miss Pickler, even though she’s still a goofball. Here it is below:

It’s not the usual path that most Idols take, but for Allen, it might be the way he’s connecting to his fans.

Instead of trying to play to larger audiences, the Idol 8 winner is hoping his concerts at smaller venues, usually with acoustic setups, will pay off in the end.

I have news for him, though. This has been tried before, and it failed. Taylor Hicks won Idol and instead of going with a commercial feel, he went to the clubs he played once before.

Before Hicks knew it, he not only didn’t have a career, he had to go to Broadway to carve out any kind of occupation to speak of.

And that’s what is awaiting Allen and other Idol 8 contestants, if they don’t heed the warnings and get better representation.

Here’s Allen playing a more intimate setting, the “Live At The Vineyard” concert in Napa Valley, California. Don’t say we didn’t warn ya, Kris. Anyway, here’s his signature song, “Heartless,” as well as “Gangster’s Paradise.” Could it be his choice of song, as the judges say?

Support my blog! Buy Allen’s new album below:

Well, it’s about time we heard from Anoop Desai, and now we have, as a matter of fact, as Anoop performed in his hometown of Chapel Hill, N.C. for his homeboys and homegirls.

The nice thing, about his new song, “L.U.V.R.,” is that it’s produced by someone other than an Idol clone who seemingly would put out the same stuff already heard from Adam, Kris, and Allison.

This song, however, is actually better than the stuff I’ve heard from the Top 3. Is that possible? Yeah, if a singer has a competent staff with which to work with.

While it’s too early to speculate if Anoop Dogg is going with this approach, it is great to hear that he hasn’t given up his roots of R & B enitrely, although I’d put money on Idol trying to make his music more poppy in the long run.

Nevertheless, listen with glee to this offering below:

It’s catchy, but if it gets on his first album it could seriously have some staying power on the radio.