TAYLOR HICKS
“Taylor Hicks”
(Arista/19 Recordings)

Like any underdog assuming elected office, Taylor Hicks finds himself on complicated footing with the release of his major-label debut. Mr. Hicks won “American Idol” this year at the hands (or text-messaging fingers) of a clear constituency: the Soul Patrol, a largely female fan army drawn to his throwback style, his gangly moves and, most of all, his uncorked exuberance. “Taylor Hicks” presents a much more calculated package. A potpourri of power pop and blue-eyed soul produced by Matt Serletic, the album feels like a product of some dutiful triangulation.

Naturally Mr. Hicks acknowledges influences like Ray Charles and Marvin Gaye (and implicitly Michael McDonald). But his stated predilection for old-school soul doesn’t find an outlet, except maybe on “Soul Thing,” one of two likeably lightweight originals repurposed from his last, self-released album. By contrast too much of the new stuff is competent and faceless; it might have been called radio-friendly in another time.

But Mr. Hicks wields his best asset skillfully, even — or perhaps, especially — when he’s straining against broad, balladic anthems like “Just to Feel That Way.” And his decision to perform a tune called “Gonna Move” by Paul Pena carries the sly implication that Mr. Hicks knows he can do better.

“Came to a school in the big city,” he sings in one verse of that song. “Looked around at the lights and I thought they were pretty.” That sounds like the journey of a certain “Idol” winner from Birmingham, Ala. (And no, it’s not Ruben Studdard.) In the next few lines Mr. Hicks realizes that “their rules wouldn’t let me sing my song,” and strikes out on his own. Is it a coded metaphor? Will Mr. Hicks really cast off his “Idol” affiliation in search of himself? The Soul Patrol will be watching, and waiting, to find out.