Blake Lewis wants us all to get ADD, his semi-clever abbreviation for his debut album Audio Day Dream. After reviewing Jordin’s album, I was expecting more of the same post-Idol crap. What I found though was a surprisingly consistent and listenable album that is actually much better than the typical contestant fare. That’s not to say the album doesn’t have its problems (we’ll get to those in a bit), but overall, Blake may be the first finalist in the history of the show to actually produce an album that actually flows like a real album.

During his time on Idol, Blake made no apologies for being an 80’s kid. He beatboxed, he synthesized, and he put on his best Cure impression week after week. It seemed that his strengths were his live performance abilities, as his vocal talents are lacking, but he put on a hell of show with varying results. So I approached the album with trepidation, wondering if the one-man show could translate to record. Fortunately, it usually does. Blake’s beatboxing is woven in and out of tracks in a pretty decent fashion. And his interludes between tracks, while sometimes annoying, are varied enough that they’re palatable.

Well, Jordin Sparks' self-titled album has finally been released after months of lackluster single Tattoo struggling at radio. After some well timed payola, the song has finally caught on a bit, just in time for the big album push. Not surprisingly, the album is on track to only sell between 100,000 and 200,000 copies in its first week. What is surprising is that the album actually isn't complete crap. Inconsistent? Yes. But that's what happens when you bring in a slew of big name producers and don't make any connection between any of the songs.

Welcome back class to our never-ending journey where we suffer through the painful sub-mediocrity which is the American Idol produced albums.

Grading The Idols’ Albums - Elliot Yamin

Howdy Class,
Welcome back to our Thursday article that I like to call “Testing My Pain Threshold.” Today we go strolling into the woods with everybody’s favorite Hobbit, Elliott Yamin and his eponymous debut album. Elliott came in third place last year and has a large fan base who enjoy his jazz-inflected vocal stylings. I am not a fan, but I will try not to hold that against him (and trust me, there are greater crimes on this album than not being liked by Chan).

We’re trying a new experiment this week. Because it’s not enough to punish myself, my brother and my best friend listening to these albums I decided to rope in a couple more friends and my mom so that I could fully unleash the Wrath of AI Mediocrity upon them.

Grading the Idols Albums - Daughtry

Howdy Class,

Welcome back to another action-packed edition of Grading the Idols' Albums. Today we're getting serious with Chris Daughtry. Or rather, the band Daughtry's eponymous album.

As usual I'm joined by Dean Kyle and Master Freech.

GRADING THE IDOLS’ ALBUMS

Welcome back to my brand-new masochism experiment, Grading the Idols’ Albums. This week I’m here with Dean Kyle, but sadly Master Freech left the country to avoid doing another CD review. (Just kidding, he’s on vacation in Florida.)

Professor Chan: Today’s album is Clay Aiken’s debut CD “Measure of a Man.”

Open Toes, off Katharine McPhee's newest album, Bumblebee Hooker of Melisma, is a masterpiece. Not since Fantasia's Baby Mama has an Idol's post-show song captured the depths of VFTW so beautifully. We can only hope and pray it becomes her second single.