IdolHeadEd.com - Allison sets a new idol standard with “Just Like You”

IdolHeadEd writes
I got a jump start on Allison’s CD with the 30 second clips. I was afraid, like movie previews, that the best stuff was in the clips. I’m glad I was wrong.

I was really looking forward to Kelly’s, Clay, Diana, and especially Kat McPhee’s first CD. I liked many other contestants quite well but was not as jazzed about their CD. I will have to say I was slightly disappointed, not much but slightly with Kelly’s, Clay’s, and Diana’s even though I gave them all glowing reviews. I was very disappointed in my favorite Idol of all time Kat. Maybe because I was more excited about hers than any Idol before and it turned out to be nothing like what, not only me, but everyone else was expecting. CD sales don’t lie. (Her newest CD, out in January, will make up for it big time). I mention these past Idols and their debut CDs to throw some perspective on the review you are about to read. Do ya foller me?

Youngsters rarely, if ever, do well once they are off Idol in CD sales. Look at the group I speak of. I loved them all; Carmen (3,100), Jasmine (14,000), John Stevens (21,000), Paris (22,300), Diana (167,000) David Archuleta (824,000). The lone, kind of, exception to date is Jordin (1,026,000, debut, 128,000 Sophomore CD). I say kind of because only Taylor Hicks has under sold Jordin as a winner. (That dubious record might be smashed this season with Kris from the looks of things.) Even though Jordin gets massive airplay and is one hell of a concert to go to, her CD sales for a far superior CD “Battlefield” to her debut CD, are miserable at only 128,000. Would anyone else have done better that season than Jordin? I doubt it. As is Blake, Melinda, Phil, and Chris Sligh all put out CDs and didn’t get in Jordin’s neighborhood if you added the sales of all 4.
Allison with her debut CD “Just Like You” is about to put both those scars to rest. For sure the first scar is gone. This CD is my favorite from any Idol period. Not even Carrie’s “Some Hearts”, Kelly’s “Breakaway” or even (I always get grief for this but here goes. Still love that CD so make fun of me if you want. ) Kristy Lee Cook’s “Why Wait”. “Just Like You” is more than I had hoped for and is, sorry Kris and Adam fans, better than the winner and runner-up.

As far as sales go I can’t really get feel for that. I know what they should be but unless you won or are Chris Daughtry, that can’t be safely bet on. She does have that 4^th place finish thing going for her. But I will make this prediction. In the long run Allison will outsell her cohorts from season 8. Of this I have no doubt. Those who didn’t like her on the show will change their minds and those who don’t even know she was on the show will become “off Idol” fans. This is where Chris won the day season 5.

He is the Idolhead’s look at “Just Like You”.

“Friday I’ll be Over You”
Allison’s current single and currently at the 10,000 sales mark, is more Pop than we anticipated. Personally I like it a lot. It is a very hard driving in your face song. Very good melody to match the rhythm. Allison blows this away. I don’t think anyone else could give this as much punch as Allison. That said, it is the worst track on the entire CD and it gets a grade of A-.

“Robot Love”
This Pop tune is very reminiscent of the 80’s. The intro drums get you ready for some musical action. Anothre very driving song with a great melody and a mid song change up that allows Allison’s monster vocals to shine. Many who sing a song like this rely heavily on voice synthesizing but Allison does not have to. In fact her voice is what makes this work as well as it does. One line in there reminds me of a Chili’s restaurant ad when she says “Give me my Baby back…” I keep expecting to hear “..Baby back ribs…” I love this tune and it could be a single. Grade A

“Just Like You”
Starting off with electric piano it showcases the gruffness in her voice but then she moves into a beautiful melodic part of the song “They say Karma comes around…” then belts into the bridge. In the first 40 seconds of this tune we hear three different parts of Allison’s vocals. Incredible! She handles the range on this song with ease. Did I tell you she is only 17? Another great tune that I could easily see as a single. Grade A+

“Don’t Waste the Pretty”
Most likely the next single off this CD. I can see this one sitting at number 1 for a while. I was fortunate enough to meet Allison during the tour this year. And if anyone has a right to sing “Don’t waste the Pretty” it’s Allison. She is beautiful in person. TV does her no justice. Anyway, I saw an interview with Allison where she said initially she rejected this song. They went back and tweaked it and now she says it’s her favorite song on the CD. I would have to say it is mine as well….that is one of my 6 favorites but I do like this one very, very well. It has a great mid tempo beat with a great story and awesome melody. And of course Allison knocks this one out of the park…..again. Grade A++

“Scars”
Acoustic start shows off Allison’s naked vocals. And they look good naked. Many think this sound like Pink but to me it is her most Joplin sound…….. except much better. The melody or lyrics or message take a backseat to the star of this tune; Allison’s voice. She handles this with such emotion and maturity. It reminds of a comment Kara made to Allison last season that she handled adult content and gave a years beyond her age rendition when she sang “I can’t Make You Love Me”. She conquered this even more decisively. Did I mention she’s 17? Grade A

“Pieces”
A more pop type song here. Allison’s voice is concise and clear when leading us into the body of the song. Another great beat and melody. This is just enough Pop for a single. Her ability to handle the instant range moves is mind boggling. Reading across the boards this seems to be a favorite of the young bopper set. That could be a good thing for radio play. Grade A

“D is for Dangerous”
One of my favorites on this CD. I love everything about it. Great breaks, melody changes, lyric, and that kick ass range of Allison. Another single if they have any brains. Going from a soft spoken lyric to a driving beat and range jump Allison handles it like nothing. How awesome is this girl? Grade A++

“Holiday”
This song was recorded by Rock Star: Supernova contestant Dilana Smith. You can hear and see the video of her here . While Dilana does well, she’s no match for Allison. This is the rockingest tune on the CD. Another one of my favorites. This tune is driving from the get go. The clarity of Allison’s voice is amazing. This is a case of we know what we are here to listen to. The background vocals can’t come close to muffling the magnificence of her vocals. Something most singers can’t seem to accomplish. Really hard to believe how brilliant she is. Hear Allison sing it here . Serious single. Grade A++

“Still Breathing”
This tune could have been on Carrie’s CD. It seems almost like Country Rock song. But then again Allison can sing anything and sing it great. This song hits some really high range vocal territory. In fact I think it may go higher than any other tune on this CD. No prob for Allie. Grade A-

“Trouble Is”
Allison says this was her hardest track to record. Well I couldn’t tell. She smoked it like a piece of skinny Salmon. This is as close to a ballad as we are going to hear on this CD. But is it good. No….it’s Great. This one is a bit Kelly-esque. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. Another really rangy song and it’s cake for Allison. I see this as a single too. This tune could get Allison some non Idol recognition. This is not only a good thing but a necessary thing. Grade A+

“No One Else”
Pink and Kara wrote this one and Pink donated the vocal for the demo Allison listened to. Beginning as a Rock ballad, it displays Allison’s beautiful tone. It then ventures into the stratosphere of her vocal range. Probably the least melodic of all the tunes but still a great piece. Grade A-

“Beat Me Up”
Contrary to some beliefs this is not a song about a boyfriend who beats his girlfriend. It’s about a boyfriend who is emotionally and mentally unkind. But no matter, it is an up-beat right down your throat great tune. Allison doesn’t hold back. She actually harmonizes with herself here. Grade A-

“You Don’t Know Me”
Allison co-wrote this gem. And again this rangy piece is zero problem for her. Allison starts out subdued but peppy here. This one stretches Allison’s range. From soft to loud from low to high with perfection. If this is an indication of her writing skills we and Allison have a bright future. Great song and a sure single. I love it. Grade A+

“El Viernes Te Olivdo Yo” (Spanish version Friday I’ll be Over You)
This Spanish version of FIBOY is, for some inexplicable reason, better than the English version. How whacked out is that. Same music, different language, better result. I do hope they release this on top 40. Grade A+

“Don’t Wanna Be Wrong”
Probably my favorite tune on this CD. And if you didn’t pre-order this CD you didn’t get this. A guy named Daughtry wrote it and it’s an awesome tune. Maybe some 4^th place magic will rub off. I don’t know why he didn’t save this for himself. I can certainly hear him in this song. It makes me wonder how cool it would be to have Chris and her do a duet. Allison bring this song to its full potential. I know Chris has to be proud. And like the song title I “Don’t Wanna Be Wrong” about my predictions for Allison and her CD. Grade A++

This CD is brilliant from top to bottom. Not one skip track to be found. Allison’s presence and vocals are unmatched. She sounds like a 20 year music industry vet. It is very rare to produce a CD of this quality. I would not doubt that there is a Grammy or two in this CD and this unbelievable 17 year old. Without exception every track on this CD could be a single. But here are my singles predictions. “Don’t Waste the Pretty”, “D is for Dangerous”, “Just Like You”, “Trouble Is”, “Pieces”, “You Don’t Know Me”, “Don’t Wanna Be Wrong”. And you know what would be the coolest? I know that “El Viernes Te Olivdo Yo”will be released as a single on Spanish radio and will be a smash there, but what would be awesome is for it to be released on top 40 as well. As I mentioned I like it much better than the English version. I think the rest of America will to. I am quite sure no one has ever had two versions of the same song on the radio at the same time and this could happen.

Every time I listen to this CD I just shake my head in awe. “Just Like You” is for me the best Idol CD ever put out. I hope she finds the sales success she so richly deserves with this effort. The only negative I have is that this CD is so great; she will find it difficult, if not impossible to top it on her next. I said the same thing in my review of Carrie’s first CD. Unfortunately that turned out to be true.

Allison is so vocally brilliant unlike Jordin’s radio plays not translating into sales, I believe Allison’s will. I firmly believe even though she is compared to Pink and Kelly, she will surpass them both. I also think 19E knows what they have in Allison and are willing to go the extra mile to make her be the success she deserves. Hey, it’s already working for me. She has come a long way since that awkward 16 year old that Ryan interviewed in the semis don’t ya think? Here’s to multi platinum and long term superstar Allison. And did I mention she is only 17?

You can buy Allison’s CD by clicking the Allison ad to the left. I highly suggest you do or your computer will explode in 5 seconds.

Overall Grade for “Just Like You” A++

Is it Season 9 Yet?

Idolhead Ed