American Idol Magazine's Superb ATDW Review

American Idol Magazine published a wonderful review of ATDW in their latest issue, with runner-up from season 5, Katharine McPhee on the cover. The issue (Volume 3, Issue 1) is now available on newsstands nationwide.

I picture two different groups of songwriters lining up outside Clive Davis' office, begging for a chance to be covered by Clay Aiken: those who have written new sterling ballads that deserve masterful delivery, and those who wrote classic pieces in another time that Clay can carry up the charts again in 2006.

These two groups feed right into Clay's third album, A Thousand Different Ways. This 14-track collection of memorable love songs from the past 30 years receives the classic Aiken touch of tender rearrangements, lilting melodies, and a voice from heaven that continues to grow and dazzle. Which is a good thing: For this effort Clay leapt off the cliff to cover songs by icons (Celine Dion, Elton John, Jon Bon Jovi, and Dolly Parton) and a host of former chart-toppers by familiar names among the over-35 crowd (Foreigner, Bryan Adams, Paul Young, Harry Nilsson, Richard Marx and Mister Mister).

Numerous songs stand out on this CD. Clay's rearrangement of "Everything I Do, (I Do It for You)" caught my ear because instead of trying to emulate Adams' raspy voice, he deepened the feeling with a wonderful Celtic sound. His rendition of Dion's "Because You Love Me" serves the song very well, while he gives us plenty of range in terms of both sensitivity to material and vocals with "Everytime You Go Away", "When I See You Smile", and "I Want to Know What Love Is". These songs might have started out in your parents' collections, but Clay just made them your songs. Buy them now.


- Mitch Velez

There were a few other mentions in the magazine too. Here's a summary courtesy the CB's JesBen:

• "They had one page showing "other" career paths some of the idols have taken - from being on Broadway, being in a reality show, etc. Under the heading of "Authors," was Clay - along with Diana and Fantasia."
• "They had a survey and one of the questions was, "Who is your favorite runner-up?" - listing the five runners-up."
• "They asked who should be the next idol to be on the cover of the magazine."
  

Technorati tags: Clay Aiken, A Thousand Different Ways, ATDW, All Is Well, Merry Christmas With Love, Invisible