At first I thought that David Archuleta would be just another American Idol reject who was trying to make a music career out of his five minutes of fame on a U.S talent show; but after hearing his debut album, I’m left completely baffled over how this boy didn’t win!
David has a voice that many fully grown men would kill for, and to hear it coming from a 17 year old boy is just phenomenal! Each song on this self-titled album seems to be sung right from the deepest chasms of the beautiful boy’s heart.
Although the album has already been released in the US, David hasn’t really received that much press over here in the UK as we’re all still preoccupied by Leona Lewis and Alexandra Burke, however, after listening to the album, I am completely certain that this guy is going far.
Opening with the heart-wrenching single Crush; David immediately grabs my attention as this - his lead single from the album - is quite possibly one of the most beautiful songs I have heard this year, and it’s poignant lyrics really strike a chord with me.
Next in line is Touch My Hand which see’s David take on a slightly more R n B sound and showing that he can really adapt his voice to any type of beat; I know we shouldn’t focus on his age, but it’s quite remarkable that a boy of 17 can produce music which can affect me in such an amazing way.
His ethereal vocals on the chorus make my heart skip a beat, and I’m wondering who the lucky girl David is singing about could be… I mean, I did interview him a few weeks ago, so maybe he felt a connection there… ha-ha, wishful thinking I guess!
Keeping with the hip-hop sounds of the previous song, Barriers has such a heavy bass-line that it could put the subwoofer’s of many a boy racer’s car to shame, until the chorus kicks in that is of course, which see’s David return to his pretty, melodic old self once again.
These theme is carried on in A Little Too Not Over You which sounds remarkably like a new film out at the moment, but nevertheless, it’s great to see David exploring his musical abilities on this record, with each track harbouring something a little bit different to the one before it, whilst still allowing his breath-taking vocals to shine through with vigour.
The stand-out track for me has to be You Can; an inspirational song which I can only assume is inspired by his time on American Idol, which have clearly benefited him, despite him not taking home the winners crown. David’s voice is given centre stage on this song, as the musical accompaniment is kept to a bare minimum; really letting the soulful sounds and feelings to find their way into your eagerly awaiting ears.
Another song that I can see myself putting on full-blast and dancing around my bedroom with hairbrush in hand is the empowering Desperate; which uses synths and grinding bass beats to create the perfect anthem for getting over an ex, getting ready for a night out on the tiles or even just celebrating finding a new piece of arm candy.
I have also fallen completely head over heels in love with Your Eyes Don’t Lie which oozes a suave attitude throughout the three minutes it blasts out on the office CD player. The whistling in the background and the hypnotic beat and the ‘step down’ style vocals on the chorus get my shoulders snapping and my head bobbing. As much as I love my heavy metal music, I think that David Archuleta is my new ‘guilty pleasure.’
Closing the album is a risky song that I think you’re going to either love or hate, not because David sings it badly (which he doesn’t) but because it is one of those ‘untouchable’ songs that you have to be pretty brave to cover. In his defence though, David’s version of Robbie William’s Anthem Angels does try to make the song his own, rather than just a carbon copy of the original.
With Robbie’s version being on of my favourite songs of all time, I find it quite hard to enjoy this cover; despite it being a lovely listen, I think if Britain didn’t see Angels as one of it’s most popular songs of all time (as it is widely associated with the death of Princess Diana) I would have a lot more respect for David’s American Idol version.
Rating: 5/5 - One of the best albums I’ve heard in 2009
Skip To: Your Eyes Don’t Lie - It will get your hips, shoulders and booty shaking like there’s no tomorrow!
Read our interview with David Here
Read the review of lead single Crush here
FemaleFirst - Ruth Harrison
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