Taylor Hicks
Taylor Hicks
(Arista)
8 out of 10

While it’s easy to mock this prematurely gray winner of the Season 5 American Idol crown, the debut from Taylor Hicks is a surprisingly enjoyable collection. Having cut his teeth listening to and playing rhythm and blues, Hicks possesses a sturdy, blue-eyed-soul singing style that’s a cut below Michael McDonald. A self-professed Ray Charles fan, the AI champ’s adoration comes across via instrumental snippets of Charles’ “What’d I Say” and Marvin Gaye’s “Ain’t That Peculiar” woven in amid the punchy horn charts and handclaps of “Heaven Knows.” Equally effective is “The Right Place,” originally penned for Brother Ray by Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance, which Hicks effortlessly transforms into a gospel-flavored slow burner. Most impressive is how well Hicks’ self-penned “Soul Thing” and “The Deal” hold up alongside contributions by seasoned pros like Rob Thomas and Diane Warren. Credit Hicks’ solid debut to the artist sticking with self-determined stylistic choices rather than ones foisted on him by image makers.