This week, the Top 4 bands sing songs from Queen, as well as an original song. Contrary to the other weeks, instead of playing the two songs one after the other, they play the Queen songs first, then each band comes back to play their original.
The eliminated band was Dot Dot Dot. Since they were eliminated after the first half of the show, they didn't get an exit interview or anything. It made for a very anticlimactic reveal.
The Clark Brothers - “These Are The Days of Our Lives” and “Homestead”
Taking Dicko's advice to heart, The Clark Brothers added two members to their band this week - a drummer and a bassist. I'm not sure if it really was necessary, but it certainly made for a fuller sound. I just simply adore that band, and think they are just amazing. I love when they explode with the instruments, it always sell their performances to me. Every. Single. Time. Great, great, great version of the Queen song.
The Clark Bros original was really nice, too. I sort of agree with Dicko about the lyrics (it could have been a bit better), but it didn't make me enjoy the song any less. It's catchy - I had it in my head for a few days in a row. Again, explosion of instruments and vocals - FREAKING AWESOME!!!!
I disagree with Dicko about Ashley needing to embrace his inner rockstar - the fact that he and his brothers are humble and down to earth is one of the things that are very attractive about that band.
Light of Doom - “We Will Rock You” and “A Matter of Time”
Their Queen song was baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad. I kinda liked the beginning of it with the big huge drums played by everyone. But then they launched into a weird speed metal version that didn't do justice to the song. They virtually stripped away the song of it's melody. Bad, bad, bad.
Their original song was not much better. Their lack of experience really showed with this song. The lyrics were uninteresting, and while they all played their instruments rather well, the song doesn't have a melody for any of those instruments to shine. That was just noise. Bad noise. On the positive side, the singer's vocals really is improving.
Sixwire - “Fat Bottomed Girls” and “Go On”
Very happy that one of the bands decided to do that song. Even happier that Sixwire did it. The harmonies are killer, once again. Rocking version with a little country flavor that really worked for the song. I enjoyed the guitar solo at the end... Awesome!
Their original song was the strongest of the night. Great hook, beautiful melodies, killer harmonies. This song could be a hit. I m with Sheila - I wanna hear that song again, I wanna hear it in its entirety!
Denver and the Mile High Orchestra - “Sleeping on the Sidewalk” and “Big White House”
Argh.... DMHO just does. Not. WORK!!! Stop saying that! I quite enjoyed the song. Denver is pushing is vocals again, and he's sounding better and better all the time.
Good original song. It's true there is no real hook to it, but I'm not sure it really needs it. It worked well I thought. Finally Denver REALLY pushes his vocals, and he really shines. He looked so much more comfortable than on any other performance they've done so far.
Avril offers her fans a high quality acoustic set comprising 13 songs. You can view them all online at her MSN page. Here are those where Jim McGorman accompanies her on guitar and sing for her.
A little while ago, Blake and his band recorded a live show for the AOL Sessions. 13 clips of shibby goodness, including some Q&As, a behind the scene video and 5 performances of songs from Audio Day Dream.
Forgive the annoying commercials.
Enjoy!!!
"Q&A: How did your band come together?"
"Q&A: Is 'Audio Day Dream' ('A.D.D.') reflective of the album's eclectic musical styling?"
"Q&A: Do you feel like your ‘Idol’ success can be used to turn new people on to electronic music?"
"Q&A: What were you looking for in people you worked with on ‘Audio Day Dream?’"
"Q&A: Lyrically, what do you want people to take from the album when they hear it?"
"Q&A: What are your five must-have '80s tracks on a mixtape and why?"
"Q&A: Do you know what your touring plans are yet?"
That's really the strength of Lewis' original work. Perhaps more than any other contestant's post-Idol debut disc, Lewis comes with a fully realized musical identity and a real sense of how things work on record. (And yes, I'm counting Chris Daughtry, who still needs to shake off some of that Nickelback sludge.) What you saw on TV is what's often effectively showcased here.
Audio Day Dream leaves the beat-boxing Idol with room to grow, but it grooves like a genuine musical statement.
UGO: So you're gonna bring your own band along? Are these your buddies from home?
Blake: Yeah, all of 'em. We're all from Seattle. I've been playing with my drummer [Kevin Sawka] for something like 6 years. He's been my partner in crime. We've been producing drum and bass and breakbeat music together for a long time. Everyone else, Jeremy [Lightfoot] the bass player has been playing with Kevin for 15 years, they went to high school together. I've been playing with everyone for a long time, and everyone's just stoked I got them on the record as well. All the tracks we did were live, all the vocals, everything's live. As far as the stuff that we did, as far as the filler tracks, the stuff that flows the main tracks in and out.
UGO: You were the first to sing one of your original songs, "She Loves the Way," on the American Idol tour. How'd that go down?
Blake: It was the last date, I didn't ask, I just did it.
UGO: So do you keep in touch with any of the contestants or judges from AI at all?
Blake: Yeah, I keep in touch with C-Rich [Chris Richardson], he's my homie. He's working on an album, still trying to get on a record label and management. He's lucky he's friends with Danja. He's been working with Danja and Timbaland for years. A lot of people don't know about that.
UGO: Do you have any future musical plans, collaborations, any big producers lined up?
Blake: Yeah, definitely. I couldn't get a lot of the stuff I wanted to get done on this record because i got sick. A lot of hip-hop stuff. Black Thought was down to do a track. Doug E. Fresh and I have been talking for a while. I wanna do a cypher, completely live beatbox, me Doug E. Fresh, some of my favorite emcees, definitely live in the studio, like a hundred people, totally old school jam.
Exclusive Interview: Blake Lewis, of 'American Idol'
Blake Lewis was one of the biggest underdogs American Idol has ever seen. Seemingly coming out of nowhere, the kid from Bothell, Washington burst onto the scene thanks to creative arrangements of classic songs on American Idol and his prodigious beat boxing abilities. Blake eventually was the runner-up on American Idol, but that's just fine with him. Blake's debut album "ADD: Audio Day Dream" was released yesterday amid a solid amount of hype and positive reviews. Blake spoke with us recently about his experience on American Idol and his new album.
Below you will find both the written transcript and full mp3 audio of the interview.
What was your process for creating the album? Were a lot of songs brought to you? How many are completely original and how many are collaborations?
It's a very big collaborative record. All of the songs but one were written by me, and co-written. I worked with so many different producers, there's five different producers on this record, and I couldn't be more fortunate to work with these amazing, creative people that I've been inspired by and that are inspired by me. That's why they wanted to work with me, so a lot of people called out to my A&R guy to work with me. I did the same thing. I wanted to work with BT, cause I opened with him a long time ago in Seattle, and he actually called out to me because he saw a song that I had written that was up on YouTube with all my loop pedals and vocal effects and all vocal song that I do. We worked on that song, and we wrote another song together for this record that just turned out amazing. Then I might with Ryan Tedder of OneRepublic, and the day we met it was like wow, I didn't know we were best friends. It was crazy, because I found amazing friends through this whole entire project, and amazing musicians and collaborators that I'll forever work with.
I know you collaborate with your fellow Idol Chris Richardson a lot. How much involvement did he have in the album?
We wrote one song together called “What'cha Got 2 Lose,” and then we co-wrote another song with Sam and Frodo out of New York called “I'm Just Human,” which will be a bonus on iTunes. With “What'cha Got 2 Lose” I got co-production on that song as well with JR Rotem. It's just great, a rollercoaster ride. “What'cha Got 2 Lose” is kind of along the lines of “Break Anotha,” but definitely funkier. It's Prince meets James Brown meets The Zapp Band, rollercoaster into Michael Jackson “Thriller” in the breakdown with me scratching over it. It was definitely the ADD track of Audio Day Dream.
"American Idol" runner-up BLAKE LEWIS' debut album, Audio Day Dream, was just released this week, and "The Insider" is exclusively with the singer as he shoots the music video for his first single, "Break Anotha."
A new interview and performances with the beat-box bad boy also debut on AOL Music's Sessions page Friday, Dec. 7th. Blake says he was inspired by the one and only MICHAEL JACKSON for his new album.
"I've got drum and bass with some metal in there, you know," he says. "I tried to make my Michael Jackson Bad record, but with all of my influences, because that's like one of my favorite records of all time."
A TRUE MTV 'IDOL': As the runner-up to Jordin Sparks on the last season of American Idol, Blake Lewis showed promise as a shameless (some would say aimless) ham of all urban-music trades. From beatboxing and scat singing to plucky hit reinterpretations and alter-ego parading, his confident eclecticism endeared him to many, including the judges. The challenge after season six was to bottle up Mr. Lewis' dervish sonic wanderlust and present it as a visionary teen-pop manifesto.
A TRUE MTV 'IDOL': As the runner-up to Jordin Sparks on the last season of American Idol, Blake Lewis showed promise as a shameless (some would say aimless) ham of all urban-music trades. From beatboxing and scat singing to plucky hit reinterpretations and alter-ego parading, his confident eclecticism endeared him to many, including the judges. The challenge after season six was to bottle up Mr. Lewis' dervish sonic wanderlust and present it as a visionary teen-pop manifesto.
Sidewalks Entertainement Interview
Host Cindy Rhodes interviews singer Blake Lewis, a finalist on season six of American Idol. Blake talks about his album, Audio Day Dream.
The new album from "American Idol" runner-up Blake Lewis may be a bit uneven, but one surefire hit is "Here's My Hello," a slice of Maroon 5-ish pop that was engineered by Sean Gould, better known as the guitarist from Seaford-based Bandcamp.
Gould, who has been working with the production team of Sam Hollander and Dave Katz at Fresh Kills studio on several projects, including Metro Station and We the Kings, also lends his guitarwork to the track. The song helps bulk up Lewis' "Audio Day Dream" debut, which has a solid shot at debuting in the Top 5 next week and beating out the debut of this season's "American Idol" winner Jordin Sparks.
Great version, albeit shorten, of Break Anotha. Lots of shots of the pink air dude (Johnny Nails). :) Nice interview too... And a little bit of How Many Words at the end. :)
Blake Lewis' debut album, Audio Day Dream (ADD) has finally been released! And it does not disappoint. Many big names appear on this album. Ryan Tedder of One Republic has co-written 7 of the songs, while Lewis co-wrote them all but one. Other collaborators to appear on the album are Steph Jones, Evan Boggart, Chris Richardson, Sam Watters, Josh Hoge, Sam Hollander, Jonathan Rotem, BT, Mike Elizondo and so many others. Lewis even gets a mention for co-producing "What' Cha Got 2 Lose?
ADD has received many great reviews so far. As of right now, the album is at #2 on the Top Album chart on iTunes USA (#27 on iTunes Canada) and #1 on the Top Pop Album on iTunes USA (#5 on iTunes Canada). The song "How Many Words" seems to be the americans favorite (according to iTunes USA), while the bonus track "Human" is currently the most popular download on iTunes Canada.
I think it is safe to say that Blake's debut album is doing really well!!!
1-Silence is Golden (Intro)
I really like the idea of an intro, interludes and outro for an album. This one as an etheral vibe to it, that intrigues and leads into the next song really well.
Break Anotha
First single off the album, this groovy, a-little-bit-of-everything song warns us all about the dark side of those around us. Nice first introduction to show off what Blake can do. Good vocals, awesome beats that make you groove and move. Catchy chorus that one can't help but sing along to. Love this one for its rock/hip-hop/electro/ska vibes. The break down is amazing!
3-Gots to Get Her
Love the spanish influenced guitar and the horns at the beginning. Inspired by "Puttin'on the Ritz", this is another great get up and dance song. This little passage in the song says it all for me:
"Every little thing that she does is magic, All I really know is I've got to have it"
4-Know My Name (feat. Lupe Fiasco)
This song was leaked a while ago. It was an unfinished version, without Lupe's rap. Gotta say, the rap does add to the song. About Celebrity crushes, Lewis has been teased about this one since he mentioned it was about Nathalie Portman, his own celebrity crush. Vocals are amazing, with some Prince like falsettos thrown in. Fantastic.
5-How Many Words
One of Lewis favorite and most personal song, this one is the kind of song almost anyone can relate to. For those out there longing for Lewis' velvety vocals, this song's for you. One of my very favorite off this album.
"I', letting you go, You're letting me down, Been caught in your reign and I almost drowned"
6-Surrender
The lyrics are great. The beats are awesome, sexy, pulls you in. I love the layering of vocals and back vocals. This one has a real One Republic flavor.
7-Hate 2 Love Her
Lots of piano on this, it reminds me of One Republic because of it. The bridge is totally rad, with the piano building up. Blake's vocals are again fantastic. The A.D.H.D. interlude is probably my favorite of them all.
8-Without You
To me, this is the weakest track on the album and it is still a great song. Blake's crooning vocals are silky and sexy. I adore how he sings it softly throughout the song, only to build it up in the bridge with the piano. The ending with the layered vocals is really, really nice. Over all, a bit cheesy around the edges, but still a beautiful melody to sway from side to side to.
9-Here's My Hello
The chorus of this one is KILLER. Wow. There's a bit of a robotic/electronic feel at the very beginning and then in the bridge. Love it. The lower vocals in the bridge are so sexy.........
"Here's my Hello, Don't say goodbye, Do you want me, Just stay here with me tonight"
Oh and the Dirty Funk interlude? LOVE!!!!!!!!!!
10-What'Cha Got 2 Lose?
One of two track co-written with Chris Richardson. The 30 second snippet on iTunes does NOT make this song justice. Absolutely adore the robotic vocals throughout. The bridge reminds me a bit of Michael Jackson. Very funky and fun. This song benefits from several listen.
11-She's Making Me lose It
Blake is channeling his inner Prince on this fun song. Oh does he ever! Once again the chorus is very catchy and the beats are funky and addictive. The instrumental bridge, with the vocal build-up right after are simply brilliant.
"I can't help myself, When she... She causes me to lose control"
12-Bshorty grabs Mic!
Beatboxing lovers, this one's for you!!!! Recorded live, this one is pure Bshorty magic.
13-End of the World
Another one of my very favorite. Big on vocals, this song shows Blake's range really nicely. The lyrics are beautiful and heartfelt, yet simple. The ethereal vibe, almost Imogen Heap-ish, of this song gives it a bit of a sad note, almost melancholic.
"I'm too weak to be strong, I can't be the only one, Holding on 'til the day you find me, Meet me at the end of the world, I'm waiting, Meet me at the end of the world, Please save me, This could be the place where we start, The rest of our lives"
14-1000 Miles
The guitar throughout is reminiscent of ... I can't pinpoint it, but to me, the guitar is very distinctive. Classic 80's pop feel to this great song, including the robotic bridge. Love, love, love the lyrics.
"But did my words find you then?"
15-I Got U
Very nice ballad. Blake's vocals are so good on this, wow. I love the electro feel of this one. Very catchy lyrics leading up to the chorus. Love the synth.
"But it don't matter, As long as I got U"
16-I Choose Noise (Outro)
Absolutely adore Blake's ethereal vocals on this. The Kaoss pad additions are great!
17-Human (iTunes Bonus Track)
This is currently my very favorite. Co-written with Chris Richardson, the robotic intro grabs you right away. The vocals are stellar on this, letting Blake's voice shine bright. The lyrics are amazing, the bridge is pure genius - falsettos, robotic vocals, beatboxing - brilliant. The chorus is so damn catchy, I knew it all after only two listen (and that's a big accomplishment in my mind). The fact that this song didn't make the album just blows my mind and makes me wonder how many other gems currently sit in Blake Lewis' music journal.
"I'm just Human, Want to do things to ya, Sugar tell me where and when to start, I'm just human, And I don't want to loose it, Got to find a way into your heart, Before it's too late"
Meet Blake Lewis' Band!!!
From left to right: Johnny Nails, TJ Berry (from The Panda Conspiracy), Kent Halvorsen, Kevin Sawka, Blake Lewis, Chris Poage (from The Panda Conspiracy), Jeremy Lightfoot.
He beatboxed his way to second place on last season’s American Idol, and now Seattle native Blake Lewis is hitting the mainstream music scene with his debut disc, Audio Day Dream, in stores today.
Lewis gave Usmagazine.com a call to chat about his new record, his producer-pal (and Britney Spears ex) J.R. Rotem and what he really thinks of Spears' new album.
Usmagazine.com: You worked with Clive Davis on your debut. In the past, people like Kelly Clarkson have found it difficult to find a creative happy medium when working with him. How was your working relationship? Blake Lewis: Clive has an executive producer credit, but he didn’t actually produce a lot of stuff. He gave me a lot of freedom and I’m very thankful for it. I’ve had a concept for this album for four years - and he loved all my ideas. I’m inspired by 80’s music and a lot of my melodies come from it.
Us: Jordin Sparks just released her first album, but sales were poor. Do sales worry you? BL: I honestly never think about that stuff. I did the same thing with American Idol - I never watched it before and I didn’t watch myself on it. I just make music. I create to create.
Us: Given the music landscape right now, how are you marketing your album? BL: I’m doing the same thing I’ve always done. I’m always an advocate for networking and MySpace – I spend about an hour a night answering fans. And I’m going to release "She Loves the Way" as a video and audio [track] on iTunes, separate from the record.
Us: The song "Know My Name" is a homage to Natalie Portman. What is it about her that you love? BL: Natalie’s rad. She’s smart, sexy, and she pokes fun at herself. She seems like she cares about humanity, which is good.
Us: What details can you share about the tattoo you're getting from Kim Saigh as part of your appearance on the TLC series L.A. Ink? BL: Kim just came up with an amazing, beautiful tattoo. They contacted me, which was great. My design is Salvadore Dali’s "Persistence of Memory" meets Alice in Wonderland with a lot of symbolism. Mainly, music is timeless.
Us: J.R. Rotem assisted in the production of your record. Did he offer any good Britney gossip during your recording sessions? BL: Oh, totally! [J.R. and Britney are] both loco! But the song I did with him, "What’cha Got 2 Lose?" was one of my favorites on the album for sure.
Us: Have you purchased the new Britney album? BL: Hell no! I’ve heard a couple good songs, but it’s always ‘not that bad’ when you have, like, $5 million to make an album. [Laughs]
"American Idol" Blake Lewis and American composer Irving Berlin (who wrote "White Christmas," "There's No Business Like Show Business" and "God Bless America") usually aren't mentioned in the same sentence.
But Lewis' highly anticipated debut album, "Audio Day Dream," which Arista Records releases Tuesday on its 19 Recordings label, features the high-flying, guitar- and horn-driven "Gots To Get Her," a song inspired by the Irving Berlin classic "Puttin' on the Ritz."
Lewis, the 26-year-old Redmond native who was a finalist on the sixth season of "American Idol," got permission from Berlin's publishing company to write his own lyrics and add verses. Lewis, the talented beatboxer also known as Bshorty, describes the song as "a roller coaster ride through some Latin-style, old-school jazz."
"I'm the first person in history to change the lyrics to 'Puttin' on the Ritz' and make it my own song," Lewis said in a recent interview from Hollywood, where he was doing interviews and preparing for the release of "Audio Day Dream."
The album's debut single, "Break Anotha," was recorded at Seattle's London Bridge Studio. He's in good company: Soundgarden, Alice in Chains and Pearl Jam also have recorded albums there. Other songs were recorded in New York and Los Angeles. In a novel marketing twist, a stream of "Break Anotha" was released directly to fans by phone via the new social networking service SayNow on the same day it was released to radio.
Lewis worked with nearly a dozen producers and co-writers, among them David Hodges, Mike Elizondo, S*A*M* and Sluggo, Sean Hurley, BT, J.R. Rotem, Sam Watters and OneRepublic's Ryan "Alias" Tedder. Guest artists include Lupe Fiasco (featured on "Know My Name") and fellow "Idol" finalist Chris Richardson. Presiding over the recording project was industry mogul Clive Davis, chairman and chief executive officer of BMG Label Group.
"Audio Day Dream" (ADD) offers a whirlwind of styles: hip-hop, rock, pop, funk, soul and R&B, with an abundance of special effects. Lewis compares the amalgam of retro styles to a 1980s mix tape. He came up with the album's dramatic cover design of his face and profile, as well as a mini-poster inside that shows him surfing through a surreal, mountainous landscape.
Attention deficit disorder is an intentional motif in the album. "People thought I had ADD growing up," Lewis remembers.
He grew up in Bothell and Kenmore. Long before he became a star on "American Idol," he was playing at such Fremont clubs as ToST and Nectar Lounge. The record label isn't paying for a Seattle release party, so Lewis will try to put together his own show in the next week or two at one of his favorite clubs.
In the meantime, Lewis will join the lineup for the KISS 106.1 FM Jingle Bell Bash Tuesday at the Tacoma Dome (he also co-hosts a pre-concert show with Marcus D airing at 2 p.m.). Jingle Bell Bash features the Jonas Brothers, Timbaland (with special guests Keri Hilson, OneRepublic and Sebastian), Sean Kingston, Colbie Caillat and Ehpikh.
Over the phone, the personable, well-mannered beatboxer who calls Seattle home was passionate about his music and career -- and about the local music scene that supported him before "American Idol."
P-I: "Audio Day Dream" seems to be loaded with potential hits, from ballads to hip-hop songs. Are your expectations high?
Lewis: "I got to make the album I've always wanted. That's huge. I set high goals for myself. I don't tell anyone what they are. I'll tell them once I've reached them. I've done that my whole entire life. I put myself out in the universe, I put myself out there in a positive way."
After "Break Anotha," how will you decide which songs to release as singles?
"I definitely want singles that best represent me. I'm not going to say which one, but there's a song that I didn't necessarily want on the record. But I know the label people love it, and you have to deal with the corporate stuff at a major label."
Fellow "American Idol" Kelly Clarkson ran into trouble last summer when she refused label head Davis' offer of $10 million to delete five tracks and replace them with songs he would handpick. Did Davis ask for any changes on your album?
"On one song, he said, 'You should change this bridge because it doesn't sound like you.' He was right on a lot of things. And we compromised on a couple of things, but that's about it. He really didn't touch the record. He was just so into it. Which is huge because my whole dream was to be signed by Clive Davis, so I wasn't going to mess that up."
You recorded at studios in Seattle, New York and L.A. How many altogether?
"Oh, gosh, I couldn't tell you. For this album alone, I probably recorded in 20 different studios."
Why so many?
"I didn't want to do this album with just one producer. I'm so influenced by different people. And I wanted to get the best people. I worked with BT (a revered "trance" composer who has worked with the likes of Britney Spears, Tori Amos and David Bowie) on two tracks. He's one of my main inspirations ever. And the fact he came to me, to work with me, without knowing that I was even on 'American Idol' is amazing. He knew me as Bshorty. He got my number from a mutual friend."
"Gots To Get Her," inspired by the Irving Berlin song, gives new life to a tune that fans in their teens and 20s may not be familiar with.
"It's a fun track. I was very honored that the Berlin family let me do it. People have recorded the song so many times, but no one has changed the words. We don't get the publishing rights, but we got to have this piece of music on this record, which was huge to us. We put our egos aside."
Have you noticed increased interest in beatboxing since "American Idol"?
"I think so, with my fans at least. I see 5-year-olds with their moms and dads coming up to show me what they can do. It's awesome because they know what it is now. I think in the next 10 years you're going to see an increase in younger people who are killer beatboxers. I just hope they take the time to research it and check out these amazing people who inspired me. There are these amazing guys and girls in Europe, where it's such a respected art form. There are like 18-year-olds who could school me in beatboxing."
What's your perspective on "American Idol" now that it's behind you?
" 'American Idol' was great. I was scared in the beginning because I had never seen it before, and I was afraid it would take my artistic integrity out of the mix. But it did the opposite. I was forced to do other people's music, but I didn't mind because I just made it my own, arranged it myself and I had a lot of fun with it. I didn't take it seriously because I'm not a competitive person. I'm down to create. It launched my career out into the universe. What I want to do now is create music that I'm passionate about."
CD REVIEW
BLAKE LEWIS -- AUDIO DAY DREAM (19 Recordings/ Arista Records)
Bshorty's got a bombshell.
In one of the most anticipated album debuts of the season, the 26-year-old Bothell beatboxer who became a finalist on the sixth season of "American Idol" has pulled together a who's who of co-writers and producers. Executive producer was BMG label chief Clive Davis, who apparently didn't mess with the explosive blend of styles and special effects.
Aside from the debut single, the electro-funk tune "Break Anotha" (recorded at Seattle's London Bridge Studio), the album features several romantic power ballads sure to please the Coldplay crowd, as well as a bundle of frenzied tunes blending R&B, hip-hop, funk, soul, pop and rock. Fiasco, Lewis' own idol, is featured on the engaging hip-hop song "Know My Name." "Talk box" provides vocal effects (a la Roger Troutman of Zapp Band fame) on a powerful collaboration with Richardson, "What'cha Got 2 Lose?" And "Gots To Get Her" is a fascinating take on Irving Berlin's "Puttin' on the Ritz," with original lyrics and additional verses that add relevance for young listeners.
"Audio Day Dream" suffers from excessive use of special effects and electronic gimmicks, but the promising album is likely to produce several hits, taking Bshorty's career to new heights.
Is it possible? Has "American Idol" finally spawned a singer whose debut CD you could almost call hip?
Blake Lewis, this year's first runner-up (also known as "that guy who does the annoying human beat-box trick"), has actually come up with an album, "Audio Day Dream," that works perfectly as pop, but which also has a sense of - gasp! - edge.
To pull this off, Lewis found an ideal ally. Much of the CD is produced and co-written by Ryan (Alias) Tedder, he of the hot band Onerepublic. In the last few months, Tedder's group has exploded with a single ("Apologize") that hit No. 1 on Billboard's Pop 100 Song Chart. The band's debut CD, "Dreaming Out Loud," came out last week, with the cachet of a release on Timbaland's imprint.
Together, Tedder and Lewis (with help from others) came up with a strikingly tight, clever and complex sound for this CD. It's dense with cunning little sound effects: synthetic whooshes, bleats and blips, buttressing Lewis' beat-box hiccups and burps. Tedder whipped them all into a rich kaleidoscope of sound, cramming the songs with hooks in every cranny.
Don't worry. There's plenty of melody to balance it out. Genre-wise, the guys drew on funk, synth-pop and hip-hop, with the most blatant role models being Maroon 5. Some songs - the single "Break Anotha" or "Hate 2 Love Her," specifically - could as easily be Maroon, only they're better than anything that woeful band ever released, and they're unblemished by the pinched whine of Maroon's Adam Levine.
There's also far more '80s synth-pop in this album's mix, with many of the electronic instruments seeming to date directly from the period. "Surrender" has the dark synths of old Depeche Mode, but with a modern teen-pop sheen.
"How Many Words" could have been an Erasure ballad, a reference enhanced by Lewis' vocal resemblance to that group's Andy Bell.
In this context, Lewis' hip-hop effects no longer sound like a gimmick, as they did on "Idol." They're well integrated into the jumpy, snapping mix. Lewis even pulls off a credible impersonation of Prince's falsetto in "She's Making Me Lose It."
The singer has made sure to retain the clean-scrubbed character demanded by "Idol." You could still take this voice home to mother.
At the same time, Lewis has hit on the most distinctive sound ever to come from an "Idol" star. As a result, not only has he bested the new CD by the singer who beat him out this year (Jordin Sparks), he also came up with the best album by any "Idol" alum yet.
The acronym came first. That’s a helpful bit of background when it comes to “Audio Day Dream,” the amiably scattershot debut by Blake Lewis, this year’s runner-up on “American Idol.” Apparently A.D.D. — attention deficit disorder, that is — provides a useful model for an artist as effervescent as Mr. Lewis. So if the album feels disjointed, even jumbled, that’s only natural; check the diagnosis.
In the first few tracks Mr. Lewis bops along from flagship pop to lightweight hip-hop to a retro brand of new wave, manipulating his limber voice as needed. Results range from the appealing (“Break Anotha,” a busy lead single) to the appalling (“Gots to Get Her”), but on balance this code of eclecticism serves him well. It’s as if the process that brought him to prominence — covering the Bee Gees one week, Bon Jovi the next — had stayed with him long after results were in.
Or maybe it’s that the artist formerly known as the beat-boxing upstart BShorty (in his hometown, Seattle, anyway), simply thrives on the stimulus. Even as he enlists an impressive array of producers — including Ryan Alias Tedder, Mike Elizondo, J. R. Rotem, Sam Watters and BT — Mr. Lewis advances a loose but unified style. As unabashedly enamored of 1980s synth-pop as 1990s skate punk, he isn’t afraid to sigh or croon. And judging by his songwriting credits on all but one of the album’s tracks, he has a capable ear for melody, or at least for hooks that don’t overreach.
The good news, then, is that Mr. Lewis has delivered a post-“Idol” statement likely to advance his personality, with all its jittery contradictions. There’s a guest rapper (Lupe Fiasco), there are some beat-boxing displays (mercifully not many), there are power ballads and dance jams, breakup songs and come-ons. A little something for everyone, in other words, though it probably won’t hold anyone’s focus all the way through.
Blake Lewis' debut is like the hair on his well-coiffed head - shiny, stylish and meticulously assembled.
"Audio Day Dream" (RCA), despite its name, is painstakingly planned, as thoroughly thought out as a skyscraper and, generally, just as sturdy. Its foundation is the blue-eyed soul that propelled Lewis to the runner-up position on the last "American Idol" - equal parts Maroon 5 pop and Robin Thickesque R&B, with some of Justin Timberlake's more boy-bandish moments thrown in.
At his best, like with the infectious "My Hello," Lewis is pure pop star, especially when his voice drops to his lower register. He also does well with the first single "Break Anotha" and the playful "Know My Name," which features Lupe Fiasco.
Unfortunately, those songs only point out how there's not enough playfulness on the rest of "Audio Day Dream." Lewis' free-form beatboxing appears on only a handful of songs and the skit featuring his alter ego B Shorty falls flat, as do a bunch of the more generic love songs, mainly co-written with One Republic's Ryan Tedder.
He sounds too tightly wound, like he's more driven by a fear of failure than a quest for musical greatness. It's an understandable problem considering the pressure of delivering the album on time, but a little more daring and a lot more dreaming could have made "Audio Day Dream" so much better.
AUDIO DAY DREAM. Blake Lewis gets a bit lost in the big pop machine. In stores Tuesday. Grade: B-.
Blake Lewis, 26-year-old "American Idol" runner-up and Bothell native, made his name by being unique.
"Remixing" songs midperformance on live TV, Lewis wove a cappella hip-hop sound effects (it's called beatboxing, grandpa/ma) into "Idol"-sanctioned jukebox pop.
An original vocal weapon, Lewis' beat-box also seemed the tip of a deep musical iceberg, a wealth of experience and expertise only revealed in glimpses.
Unfortunately, on his debut recording, "Audio Day Dream" ("ADD"), we're still not getting the rest of the iceberg. The album, which comes out Tuesday, is 16 tracks (55 minutes) of energetic, bubblegum pop.
Lewis' love of hip-hop, drum and bass and trance music appears on "ADD" like faint syrup in a giant Italian soda.
Take lead single "Break Anotha" for example. Two-thirds of the way in, the drummer (Seattle club mainstay Kevin Sawka) kicks into a skittish, booming beat, at once a half- and double-time breakdown. Lewis rides the momentum with stretched-out singing like a character in a "Matrix" fight scene.
The track — like most on "ADD" — is produced by Ryan Tedder, singer for recent MTV sensation OneRepublic. Everything Tedder touches on "ADD" turns to upbeat, no-brow disco, squarely in the center of a Venn diagram that includes Maroon 5, Justin Timberlake and latter-day Cher.
When Tedder falls back, things don't get radically different. Mike Elizondo produces "1000 Miles," a song that combines "Every Breath You Take" with "Time After Time," but the super-sincere ballad is impossible to take seriously. Lewis' voice isn't terribly strong, and when things veer into lyrical cheesiness (which they often do on "ADD"), the song collapses under its own weight.
"ADD's" most serious misstep is the Tedder-produced "Gots To Get Her," a synthetic carnival stomp to the tune of "Puttin' On The Ritz." As would-be camp, it's barely listenable, but "Gots To Get Her" comes across with baffling earnestness.
Elsewhere, former 'NSYNC member Chris Kirkpatrick (the one with braids) shows up as a background singer, and his presence alone speaks volumes about where Lewis stands artistically.
On "American Idol," Blake Lewis was different from everybody else. He sucker-punched cookie-cutters with a hybrid style. And no question his fondness for intriguing rhythm breakdowns and beatboxing makes for captivating live performances. But "Audio Day Dream" doesn't differentiate him from the herd of MTV mall-pop.
We might as well say that Blake Lewis conquered the audience in the sixth season of the popular show “American Idol” by other means than his singing talent. Beatboxing and originality were his strengths and his voice came on second or third place when it came to recognizing his skills.
The issue now is that his first album, “Audio Day Dream” focuses most on his voice. It would be unfair to say that it is lacking originality, as the blend of styles is certainly a one of a kind combination, mixing hip-hop, rock, pop and soul with electronic influences.
The debut single of the album that is to be released on Tuesday, “Break Anotha” had a special launch, as it had a special location for recording. The premiere song was released directly to fans by phone, through the social networking service SayNow. The recording venue, that sheltered the birth of albums of Alice in Chains and Pearl Jam was Seattle's London Bridge Studio.
Another outstanding song on “Audio Day Dream” is “Gots To Get Her,” that benefited from direct inspiration from the Irving Berlin classic “Puttin' on the Ritz”. The 26-year old American Idol star, that finished the second in the show after Jordin Sparks, was permitted by Berlin’s publishing company to alter the song, writing new lyrics. “I'm the first person in history to change the lyrics to 'Puttin' on the Ritz' and make it my own song,” Lewis highlighted.
“ADD” also gathers outstanding guests, like Lupe Fiasco or Lewis’ American Idol colleague Chris Richardson, and its tracks are under the signature of famous producers like David Hodges, OneRepublic's Ryan "Alias" Tedder, S*A*M* and Sluggo, BT or J.R. Rotem. How will the public receive the work of the star that was recently named the most popular artist on AOL, we’ll see soon.
Blake Lewis, ''Audio Day Dream'' (Arista Records) Much of bubbly Blake Lewis' screen time on ''American Idol'' was spent struggling to fit the roundedness of his motley mix-tape aesthetic into square songs from mature artists.
With the harsh reality of that reality TV competition behind him, this ''Idol'' second place finisher is now liberated to enchant with his own ''Audio Day Dream.'' And he does. Mostly.
The radio-friendly fantasy begins with some hip-hop stained songs that, at least musically, are as curiously pleasing as the blond boy wonder's streaky dye job. The album's lyrics, which seem like they're all directed at one woman (or several women, perhaps), are primitive yet passable for inoffensive pop.
Thanks to super-producers like Jonathan ''J.R.'' Rotem and Ryan ''Alias'' Tedder, everything on ''Audio Day Dream'' is completely original. That's right. You won't find Lewis' bizarre rendition of The Supremes' ''You Keep Me Hangin' On'' here, although he does successfully shoehorn baseline inspiration from Irving Berlin's ''Puttin' on the Ritz'' into the mega-charged ''Gots to Get Her.''
Lewis makes the best use of his skills - signature scatting on the break-up letter ''How Many Words,'' infectious falsetto on the synthy ''Surrender'' and a penchant for oscillating arrangements on ''What'cha Got 2 Lose,'' co-written by Rotem and Lewis' ''Idol'' B.F.F. Chris Richardson.
Surprisingly, the beatboxing that made Lewis stand out from the ''Idol'' crowd is simply splashed throughout the 14 songs and is only predominantly featured on one track, the unremarkable ''Bshorty Grabs Mic!'' Such a lack of spit might leave some Bshorty fans craving ma-ma-ma-ma-more.
Three snoozy ballads (''1000 Miles,'' ''End of the World'' and ''I Got U'') plague the second half of ''Audio Day Dream,'' a wake-up call that the vocally limited Lewis is no vocally gifted Justin Timberlake. Maybe the Blakester should've pulled a Britney, Madonna or Gwen and just conjured a full-fledged dance record instead? Weak down tempo songs aside, ''Audio Day Dream'' is the most exhilarating effort from an ''Idol'' runner-up yet.
BLAKE IN THE POCKET: Here's a theory. If Blake Lewis could have concocted a beat-box rhythmed version of the cornball ballad "This Is My Now" that was his final test on "American Idol," his constituency would have never left him. And Lewis would have wound up the winner last season, instead of Jordin Sparks. You better believe the guy's not making the same mistake on his solo debut "Audio Daydream" (Arista, B). Snappy hip-hop beats and sampling thrills flavor every track - even on big ballads like "Without You" that could have done without. High points: the "Puttin'-On-the- Ritz"-inspired "Gots To Get Her," Billy Joel-ish vamp "Hate 2 Love Her" and his stuff struttin' "B Shorty Grabs Mic!"
Ever since I was pleasantly surprised by the first two tracks off American Idol runner-up Blake Lewis' debut album, I've been curious to check out the full album to see if it lives up to the insane energy of "Break Anotha." The album, Audio Day Dream, hits stores today, but if you can't wait to buy it — or just want to take a listen before committing to a purchase — the full album is streaming right now on AOL.
So far, the album is definitely meeting — if not exceeding — my expectations, despite its atrocious cover art (seriously, Blake, what were you thinking?). Like the two tracks that leaked early, especially "Know My Name," the album is a bit of a mess, with tons of loops and beats and tempos and musical styles packed into each track. But being boring would have been a much greater sin; the album shows the eclectic side of Blake that managed to peek out around the edges of his Idol performances. The verses of "Gots to Get Her" remind me of a hip-hoppy "Puttin' on the Ritz," and "Surrender" owes a lot to '80s power ballads — and that's just the start of the myriad influences here. Some of it's a little cheesy for my taste, but I can also hear a ton of songs that could (and probably should) be big hits.
One of my typical problems with Idol first albums is that they're too safe. This is anything but, and that makes me excited for what Blake could do long-term. Check out the album, then let me know: Are you on board with Lewis' Day Dream?
On the day of his album release, Blake was performing at the Seattle Jingle Bell Bash. Along with him were The Jonas Brothers, Timbaland with One Republic, Colbie Caillat, Sean Kingston and Ehpikh
KISS FM has a video of the soundcheck for Break Anotha. Go view it HERE!
Blake Lewis, Jonas Brothers stay up late in Tacoma http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/entertainment/2004054035_jingle06.html
Exerpt:
Bothell native Blake Lewis was added to the lineup last week as a guest headliner. The performance at Jingle Bell Bash was one of his first in the Northwest since his ascension to pop stardom as a finalist on American Idol last spring. The show doubled as the album-release party for his first full length recording, "Audio Day Dream," which came out on the same day.
Unfortunately by the time Lewis got to the stage, immediately after Jonas Brothers, the crowd had thinned noticeably and much of the anticipatory energy had drained. Lewis still made the most of his appearance, playing a set of songs from his new album. He danced around the stage, sang and beatboxed, while his band played funk jams behind him. He elicited his biggest roar from the crowd when he demonstrated his full voice modulation talents for an extended period of time, beatboxing while adding in turntable sounds and other effects.
Blake Lewis interviewed by Ron Corning and Jody Applegate on Good Day New York on 12/4/07.
Blake Lewis Good Day New York 12/4/07
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BLAKE LEWIS 'BREAKS' http://www.nypost.com/seven/12022007/entertainment/music/blake_lewis_breaks_745432.htm
December 2, 2007 -- Blake Lewis may have finished behind "American Idol" champ Jordin Sparks back in May, but he was recently named the most popular artist on AOL on the strength of his first single, "Break Anotha." His album, "Audio Day Dream," which hits stores Tuesday, has the feel of an '80s mixtape, combining hip-hop and electronic influences. The Redmond, Wash., native has come a long way since his high-school beatboxing days.
- Joseph Barracato
When did you first start singing?
When I was real young. In eighth grade I went on tour with a professional youth choir in Europe. Just picture me in a robe singing "Alleluia" in Wales. But it was an unbelievable experience.
Then later you were in an a cappella group.
For four years - we were called Kickshaw. It was with a bunch of guys I met in high school. They needed a beatboxer and I just got into that. I loved making all kinds of noise, scratching and sound effects, and I still do. I have a deep-rooted love for hip-hop.
What made you try out for "Idol"?
My friend called me at 10 p.m. the night before and asked me to go with him. It turned out to be a blessing ... and absolutely amazing experience.
Nice job snapping up Lupe Fiasco for a guest slot on the CD.
I wanted to have a talented, conscious rapper and boy did I get one. I'm very fortunate to have worked with him. He's amazing.
The last time we saw Blake Lewis, he was wiping the floor with Doug E Fresh in a beat-box battle on the American Idol season finale. Well, he's back, and if early spins of his new record, Audio Day Dream, offer any indication, Lewis is poised to outdistance last year's champion, Jordin Sparks.
The album won't be released until December 4, but the first single, "Break Anotha," is available as a free stream now. Hear it here.
In an exclusive interview for Amazon.com, Lewis talked about the song. "The concept for 'Break Anotha' is actually about the bad side of me," Lewis explains. "Me telling this girl to stay away from me. I'll break your heart, you know? Not that I'm trying to be a player, but I'm a hopeless romantic, so I wrote a whole album about the one thing that I love in life: women."
Fans can look forward to some interactive offerings from the Blake Lewis camp in the future. "I totally want to do a remix competition, release some files, have tons of producers re-mix the album and have some MCs on it," Lewis says, "but we've got to see how this album goes first."
Meanwhile, you won't hear Doug E Fresh on the album. "He actually came to the studio one night, and we should have just done something there," Lewis sighs. "I don't know why we didn't stop everything. It was dumb. We were talking about what we needed to do instead of doing it." However, hip-hop heads can look forward to a track with Lupe Fiasco, who lends a verse to "Know My Name."
One curse Lewis didn't escape was the trend of regrettable album covers adorning the debuts of American Idol runners-up.
Nevertheless, if there's one thing the stellar success of this Northwest beat-boxer and all-around entertainer demonstrates, it's that you can't judge a pop star by his cover.
WHO: Blake Lewis [ft. Lupe Fiasco] WHAT: "Know My Name" WHY: The cover of American Idol runner-up Blake Lewis's debut album, Audio Day Dream, is shocking for all the wrong reasons: it's garish, over-the-top and looks like a rejected iPod poster. The music found on the album is shocking for all the right reasons: it's funky, filled with '80s-pop hooks and sounds like a knowing mash-up of Prince and Maroon 5 (with some questionable beat boxing mixed in just because, you know, that's his thing). Here, Lewis pines for an unreachable starlet over subtle eighth-note synth stabs: "I want you to know my name/ Girl, I just ain't got no shame." Considering his supermodel MO and overall stud vibe, Adam Levine wouldn't be able to pull this song off believably; but we have no doubt Blake's dream girl has no idea who he is. The song plays like a particularly flighty imagination trip — like he wrote it while staring at Scarlett Johansson on the other side of the velvet rope. Lupe Fiasco — another unabashed nerd — is a perfect fit here, and he sounds like he's having more fun on this track than on his own recent singles. The rapper's come-ons are clever ("I boss like a last level") and characteristically intricate ("So keep your eyes on me/ Your 'yes's' on 10 and your 'why's' on 3/ Your 'no's' on zero and your fear on the same/ Check your new tattoo you wanna know my name." Does Blake get the girl? Let's put it this way — did you see that album cover?! WHERE: Listen to the track here. fourstars.jpg
One can't help but proceed with caution when an album is named after Attention Deficit Disorder, especially when the artist caught his break by beatboxing on a reality TV show where he used to sing the praises of 311. But skeptics can relax: "American Idol" season six runner-up Blake Lewis' debut, "ADD: Audio Day Dream," is indeed a little all over the map, but, surprisingly, it works. Unlike other run-of-the-mill debuts from former "Idol" contests, "ADD" is packed with electro-funk jams, hip-hop beats and soaring ballads that explode with Lewis' personality and uniqueness. Taking cues from Justin Timberlake ("Break Anotha"), Erasure ("End of the World"), Prince ("She's Makin' Me Lose It") and the Police ("1,000 Miles"), Lewis gives fans plenty to get excited about here, even those with short attention spans. —Jill Menze
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Music Review: Blake Lewis does his thing
http://music.yahoo.com/read/news/52330813
Blake Lewis, "Audio Day Dream" (Arista Records)
Much of bubbly Blake Lewis' screen time on "American Idol" was spent struggling to fit the roundedness of his motley mix-tape aesthetic into square songs from mature artists. With the harsh reality of that reality TV competition behind him, this "Idol" second place finisher is now liberated to enchant with his own "Audio Day Dream."
And he does. Mostly.
The radio-friendly fantasy begins with some hip-hop stained songs that, at least musically, are as curiously pleasing as the blond boy wonder's streaky dye job. The album's lyrics, which seem like they're all directed at one woman (or several women, perhaps), are primitive yet passable for inoffensive pop.
Thanks to super-producers like Jonathan "J.R." Rotem and Ryan "Alias" Tedder, everything on "Audio Day Dream" is completely original. That's right. You won't find Lewis' bizarre rendition of The Supremes' "You Keep Me Hangin' On" here, although he does successfully shoehorn baseline inspiration from Irving Berlin's "Puttin' on the Ritz" into the mega-charged "Gots to Get Her."
Lewis makes the best use of his skills — signature scatting on the break-up letter "How Many Words," infectious falsetto on the synthy "Surrender" and a penchant for oscillating arrangements on "What'cha Got 2 Lose," co-written by Rotem and Lewis' "Idol" B.F.F. Chris Richardson.
Surprisingly, the beatboxing that made Lewis stand out from the "Idol" crowd is simply splashed throughout the 14 songs and is only predominantly featured on one track, the unremarkable "Bshorty Grabs Mic!" Such a lack of spit might leave some Bshorty fans craving ma-ma-ma-ma-more.
Three snoozy ballads ("1000 Miles," "End of the World" and "I Got U") plague the second half of "Audio Day Dream," a wake-up call that the vocally limited Lewis is no vocally gifted Justin Timberlake. Maybe the Blakester should've pulled a Britney, Madonna or Gwen and just conjured a full-fledged dance record instead?
Weak downtempo songs aside, "Audio Day Dream" is the most exhilarating effort from an "Idol" runner-up yet.
CHECK OUT THIS TRACK: Besides the joyfully aloof first single "Break Anotha," Lewis uses his best assets — that Robert Smith-silkiness and Freddie Mercury-showmanship — on "Hate 2 Love Her," a catchy tune sure to appease the tweens, grandmas and everyone in-between who simultaneously squealed while voting for him on "Idol."
Blake Lewis // Audio Day Dream » Audio Day Dream (Arista), or A.D.D., is the name of American Idol’s runner-up Blake Lewis’ new album out right now, it includes the first single “Break Anotha” and a track featuring Lupe Fiasco entitled “Know My Name.” I was going crazy becos this album would NOT leak for anything, instead it appeared in full first within the “Free Full CD Listening Parties” section on AOL.com on December 3, the day before the album release! Those crafty bastards… Anyway, I digress (somewhat), but wasn’t disappointed with the overall delivery of Lewis second time around listening. It was some solid production and well put together arrangements for A.D.D. I was highly impressed. The album is like some retro 80’s, futuristic, sci-fi, dance-pop and r&b all fused together — I love it!
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Our Exclusive Interview with Blake Lewis
http://www.americanidol.com/news/view/?pid=1104
If you thought Blake Lewis looked like he was out there having a good time last season, fairly oblivious to his achievements…you'd actually be correct. In our exclusive interview with Blake, he revealed that he liked to do his own thing, and rarely even considered the voting. In fact, one night he was bowling with friends, they were all on their cell phones. When he asked them what they were doing, they said that they were all voting for him!
That doesn't mean that he wasn't pleased with his ultimate success, however. As he likes to call it, "Idol" was the "best experience I'll never have again." He went on to say that it was great that he had the opportunity to get out there and be himself in front of millions of viewers. The exposure he got was invaluable. And he's certainly been taking full advantage of that since appearing on the show.
Blake has only had about five to ten days off in the past year. Even while touring with his fellow Idols when the season ended, he used his days off to work on his upcoming album. He either flew to Los Angeles or someone flew to where he was on the tour. He has no regrets, however, calling the entire experience "a blast." Don't expect him to succumb to the Hollywood scene, though. He said that no matter how well the album does, he plans on staying in Seattle, calling it a "more chill" place to live.
In putting together his upcoming debut album, Blake also made sure he was able to put his creative touches on each song. In fact, he co-wrote 12 of the 13 tracks. However, this wasn't a new thing for Blake, who's done quite a bit of songwriting in his career already. He even did some songwriting while on the tour bus for the American Idols Live! Tour. In fact, buddy, fellow Idol, and songwriter Chris Richardson helped him to pen the track "What'cha Got 2 Lose?" Blake says, though, that the songwriting on the album was slightly different, in that he had a whole team of creative individuals helping him get what he wanted to say out there in a way that will appeal to his fans. His fans are extremely important to Blake, which is why he does such extensive outreach via the internet. The "Say More" campaign and all the work on his MySpace page is under Blake's control.
Blake has been known to call "How Many Words" one of his favorite tracks on the album, as it "came from a good place" and is "very relatable." However, after working so hard on the entire CD, he did say that pretty much every song has become his favorite. According to Blake, his signature beatboxing is "sporadically placed throughout the songs." You might not recognize all of it as beatboxing, though. Blake was sure to make a good deal of it sound like an instrument or another part of the sampling that he does throughout his songs. He recently shot the video for "Break Anotha," which he says is a high energy video that features a series of vignettes and is narrated by Blake.
Surprisingly enough, Blake says that he doesn't feel he took a lot of risks while appearing on "Idol." He said he was just "trying to have fun." He went on to say that if he was really going to go out on a limb, he would have beatboxed an entire song, which he knew he couldn't do because of it being a singing competition. However, you can expect to hear an entire track of beatboxing on Audio Day Dream…in fact, it is the first track on the album.
Look for Audio Day Dream to hit stores TOMORROW, December 4th! In the meantime, Blake suggests that everyone go out and support their local art. Wanna get a sneak peek of the video? Check out the album trailer now! Also, make sure to take a look back at the "many styles of Blake" in his transformation gallery!
These guys get better every week. Good song choice for them, it really worked. The back vocals worked well this week. Weird comment to the keyboardist...
Denver and the Mile High Orchestra - Baby Jane
It bugs me to no end that he calls himself and the band DMHO. It just does. Not. WORK! They were really good again this week. Denver just doesn't have vocals powerful enough to really take on the leader's role tho. I do think he has been pushing his vocals a lot the last 3 shows... But he is still not quite there...
Sixwire - Hot Legs
Those guys are such pros.... This was perfect for them. Awesome performance, although the singer's voice seemed a bit drown out by the band at times. Love the guitars on this, and while I liked the bass solo, it WAS in a weird spot. Steve's back vocals were again really nice.
Clark BrothersYou’re in My Heart
Ashley's vocals were a bit shaky at first, but then he shook it off, and it was beautiful. I loved the mandoline on this, and how Ashley was doing the rhythm with the guitar. And the background vocals really worked with the lead. It didn't bring me to tears like Sheila, but it made me misty eyed - it was passionate, as always, gorgeous and totally unique. I always listen to them with a sort of religious attention.
Light of Doom - Infatuation
Vocals were so much better this week. I thought it was the guitar that ruined it for them this week - way too much of it, way too loud and way too many fancy things done with it.
So Tres Bien goes home. I would have rather see them stick around one or two more weeks... But at this point, the bands who leave the competition are really good... So it's par for the course!
The Voice 30 CUT WEEK Recap and Live Blog (Videos)
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The Voice 30 CUT WEEK debuts tonight (Nov 2). The coaches pick the Top 12,
while fans vote for one more contestant to make a Top 13.
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Mom Has Stacked Dinner Party Roster
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GOLDEN, CO—Their eyes widening in amazement as the 43-year-old rattled off
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