Taylor Does the Soul Patrol Proud!

From the very beginning, Taylor Hicks was not your traditional “American Idol.” The gray hair, the funky dancing—none of it looked like the “American Idol.”

So it only makes sense that Taylor’s CD would not sound like a traditional “Idol” winner’s album—and that’s a good thing.

The first track, the single “Runaround” sounds like nothing on the radio today with its brassy horns and rhythm changes. Things get a little more traditional with the Rob Thomas-penned “Dream Myself Awake,” but then it’s back to the soul again with “Heaven Knows,” “Gonna Move” and the Marvin Gaye-penned “Wherever I Lay My Hat.”

But then the CD takes a rather strange turn with the cheesy “Give Me Tonight” (Someone will have to tell me if that’s a remake, because it sounds familiar.). Taylor brings it right back, though, with the stirring ballad, “Just to Feel That Way.” “The Maze,” “Places I’ve Been,” “Soul Thing” and “The Deal” are not nearly as different as the first tracks but they still ooze the old soul vibe. The CD closes with the gospel-tinged “The Right Place,” which was written for Ray Charles before his death. You can almost hear Ray coming out through Taylor’s voice as he sings over the choir.

I really didn’t think that I would like this CD, but somehow I found myself enjoying it anyway. And I’m sure it will be incredible live. Kudos to Clive Davis, Simon Fuller, or whoever let Taylor make the right CD for him. Maybe the “Idol” machine is finally figuring things out.

If you’re a fan of Motown, Ray Charles or just Taylor himself, you’re going to love this one.

You can listen for yourself at: http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/hicks__taylor/1382445/album.jhtml?popThis=playIt.