American Idol – Page 9

Music Review >> Daughtry – ‘Break The Spell’

Daughtry is back with their latest studio album, Break The Spell. The album was released on November 21, which happens to be five years to the day that they released their self-titled record, back in 2006.

The band (Chris Daughtry, Josh Steely, Brian Craddock, and Josh Paul) made a conscience decision to go into studio without preconceived notions about what was going to result from the writing sessions.

“We said, ‘Let’s just write and see what happens,'” lead singer Chris Daughtry said in the band’s press release. “We came up with some pretty interesting tunes that sound nothing like anything we’ve done before. Even though some of them didn’t make the album, the process stretched us and took us to new places. It was an absolutely inspirational experience.”

Working with producer Howard Benson, who also produced the band’s first two albums, Daughtry co-wrote the entire album with his fellow band mates, as well as collaborating with Marti Frederiksen, Busbee, and Brett James. It was Benson who encouraged the band to think outside of the box with their new tunes.

“Howard called me and said he had some ideas for what we needed to do to differentiate this album. He said, ‘I really think we need to push ourselves,'” Daughtry shared in the band’s bio.

And push themselves, they did. Break The Spell is harder rock music mixed in with Daughtry’s classic sound that the core fan base has grown accustomed to over the years.

The in-your-face track “Renegade” leads off the album with high energy guitar riffs and Chris Daughtry’s intense vocals. This is a side to the band that I felt was starting to show itself on their last album, 2009’s Leave This Town, but now has fully come to fruition. Roaring on, the guitar-laden “Outta My Head” is bold step in a rockin’ direction. The gritty rocker contains one of the catchiest choruses on the album and is sure to get the audience moving at live shows.

Continue reading Music Review >> Daughtry – ‘Break The Spell’

VIDEO: James Durbin Performing Live at Santana Row

Earlier today Windup Records recording artist and American Idol season 10 alum, James Durbin, made an appearance at Santana Row in San Jose, CA.

After doing a meet-n-greet with fans, James performed a stripped down set of songs from his debut album, Memories of a Beautiful Disaster for the crowd.

Set list: “Stand Up,” “Right Behind You,” “Love Me Bad,” “Screaming,” and “Love in Ruins.”

Check out video of James’ performance below!

“Stand Up”

Two more videos after the cut! Continue reading VIDEO: James Durbin Performing Live at Santana Row

VIDEO: Syesha Mercado Covers Adele’s “Someone Like You”

I literally just got home from work and logged onto Twitter to find that the very talented Syesha Mercado (Idol season 7, Dreamgirls) had posted a cover of Adele’s “Someone Like You.” Check out her fantastic performance below!

The girl has got some pipes! Very few can do justice to an Adele song and she just did it seamlessly. Absolutely fabulous vocal performance, Syesha!

For more info on Syesha Mercado:

Facebook // Twitter // Website

FLASHBACK: November 18, 2008 – David Cook’s Debut Album is Released

Alright Cook fans, do you remember where you were on November 18, 2008?

I do; I was on my computer at midnight downloading David Cook’s self-titled major label debut off of Amazon.com. And I’m going to assume that I wasn’t the only one.

The next morning before heading out to buy physical copies of the record, I sat down and wrote a blog post, which you can find HERE.

Last month during an interview I conducted for Blogcritics, I asked David about how his debut record resonates with him now – three years later. Check out what he said below!

I say this, and it’s not to discredit that record or anything like that, but it really feels like every other record that I’ve done up to this point. I go back and I listen to it, and it seems like a very accurate, very honest, I guess, self-portrait at that time. You know, I hear a lot of energy, a lot of spastic energy on that record.

I think coming off of Idol, finally after 10 years of toiling in clubs, and bars, and coffee houses, and stuff like that, I’m finally at this spot. There’s a great vibe to that record. I’m really proud of what that record did. I’m glad I got to make it. With this record, the new one, I think there was just a bit more of a concise focus. I think I was able to put blinders on a little bit with this new record and focus on a singular idea.

And now Cook fans, I turn to you. Being that it’s been three years exactly; how does David’s self-titled debut record resonate with you now? And which song off the record has remained your favorite? (My fave is “A Daily AntheM.”)

Hit me up in the comments!

MUSIC VIDEO: Haley Reinhart & Casey Abrams – “Baby, It’s Cold Outside”

I guess it’s time to embrace the Christmas spirit here at Wait…WHAT?…and what better way to do so than with a brand new music video from two American Idol season 10 favorites, Haley Reinhart and Casey Abrams! The pair teamed up for a duet of the holiday classic, “Baby, It’s Cold Outside.”

Check out their cute as a button music video below!

Vodpod videos no longer available.

MUSIC VIDEO: Tim Halperin – “The Last Song – Acoustic Sessions”

Over the weekend, Tim Halperin revealed that he would be releasing four new music videos to coincide with the tracks on his Acoustic Sessions EP.

Tim talked with me a few months back about how he went about choosing which songs to highlight on this particular EP.

“We had a cellist for the acoustic sessions, so we thought about the songs that might go well with a cello. Definitely “Where I’m Going,” “Memories on the Ground,” and “The Last Song,” of course were the ones that would be best for that. The ones on the EP are more of the slower tracks that are going to be on the full-length CD. A lot of the ones that you haven’t heard yet are songs that are more pop, even more OneRepublic style, that kind of stuff. I think it turned out really cool.”

The music video for “The Last Song” is the first of the four videos to be unveiled. The track was produced by Jordan Critz. The video was shot and edited by Chris Wiegand.

Check out the new acoustic live performance music video for “The Last Song” below!

Tim Halperin’s Acoustic Sessions EP is available now on iTunes and Amazon.com!

For more information on Tim Halperin, check out his official website.

VIDEO: Scotty McCreery Performs on RAM Country

Check out Scotty McCreery performing songs from his debut album, Clear As Day, as well as a new interview on RAM Country – part of Yahoo! Music.

“I Love You This Big”

Vodpod videos no longer available.

“The Trouble With Girls”

Vodpod videos no longer available.

Continue reading VIDEO: Scotty McCreery Performs on RAM Country

MUSIC VIDEO: David Cook – “Fade Into Me”

David Cook released the music video for his current single, “Fade Into Me” earlier this morning. The song is the singer’s second single off his latest album, This Loud Morning.

Last month I had the opportunity to talk with David in an interview for Blogcritics about his current tour, and he shared with me a little about this latest video, which was directed by Chris Sims.

“The content of the video, I wanted to showcase how we are live. I feel like it’s really easy sometimes to throw a tie on, and comb your hair, and put together this really sweet storyline; and I think “Fade Into Me” could have definitely taken that angle and it would have worked. I wanted this video to be kind of a no frills, no pretense kind of look at us on the road. It’s a lot of live footage, really just for lack of a better way to phrase it, it’s more of a day in the life kind of thing.”

Check out the video for “Fade Into Me” below!

Stream Tim Halperin’s Debut Album, Rise and Fall

I know sometimes when it comes to new artists people can be hesitant about buying an entire album before hearing it, myself included. However, when awesome artists, like Tim Halperin, stream their new album for all to listen to, I think it’s more than worth it to check it out!

Take a listen to Tim’s debut album, Rise and Fall, below!

Aaaand if you’re diggin’ what you hear on Rise and Fall, I encourage you to head over to iTunes and pick up a digital copy!

If you happen to want my two cents on Tim’s album, check out my review!

For more information on Tim Halperin: Website/Facebook/Twitter/Tumblr

MUSIC VIDEO: Daughtry – “Crawling Back To You”

The music video for Daughtry’s latest hit, “Crawling Back To You” debuted on VEVO earlier this morning! The song is one of two lead singles (“Renegade” being the other) from the band’s upcoming third album, Break The Spell, which is set to be released on November 21!

Check out the video for “Crawling Back To You” below!

What do y’all think? I really like this song!

Check out the making of the video after the cut! Continue reading MUSIC VIDEO: Daughtry – “Crawling Back To You”