Audio Day Dream - Blake Lewis

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Thought-provoking
Quality and consistency of tracks	A couple of weak links
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Outstanding
Value for Money	Excellent

Advantages:	Refreshing sound from Idol, Unique style, surprisingly good album !
Disadvantages:	There's a bloody rent - a - rapper in one of the tracks !

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Introduction:
Blake Lewis? You would be forgiven for thinking, Who? Unless of course you were an avid viewer of last season's American Idol, in which you would know that Blake Lewis came second, losing out to Jordin Sparks. Lewis was one of the favourites throughout the whole competition. He brought a freshness to Idol and brought new talents to the table, namely his ability to 'beatbox' (for those that don't know, this is when you make the sound effects of a drum kit with your mouth into a microphone) in a such an incredible way, that made Justin Timberlake look like he just beatboxes with a fisher price singalong, when he has a go at it.

His voice has a quality that reminds me of a throw back to the 80s, almost Depeche Mode-esque, with a dash of The Cure…like something you would expect to hear in films such as 'The Breakfast Club'. It felt original to have such a 'talent' in the competition, let alone to get as far as the final. However, inevitably the young, attractive and bubbly girl pipped him to the post, with her very good, but very unoriginal and predictable style.

I never thought I would get to hear is album. I don't know why, but I can't see this guy making it in the UK, let alone in the USA, as his music just doesn't feel commercial enough to warrant chart success. Whilst in America, I was in my friends car really enjoying whatever he had in his CD player. I only heard 2 songs, but decided I liked it, and was surprised to find out it was none other than the cheeky chappy, Blake Lewis. So, next day I headed out to Target (the amazing store that sells EVERYTHING) and bought his album that had been released in December, for a humble $12. Bargain.

So far the album has sold 278,000 copies in America, getting to number 10 in the US billboard charts. Not bad. Interestingly enough, although he came 2nd in Idol, In May 2007, he still released his version of BonJovi's 'You give Love a Bad Name', that included an impressive beatbox remix. It reached number 4 on the iTunes chart, and number 18 in the American charts. Unfortunately, and perhaps wisely, this track doesn't feature on the album.

His album is called Audio Day Dream (ADD), and in interviews has spoken about his Attention Deficit Disorder (also ADD) - so perhaps that's another way he uses his music to express himself. His ADD is like a day dream, accept he hears it, instead of seeing it. He has audio day dreams, constantly distracting him. Yet his distraction is channeled into art - his music.

The Album:
Sooo, how does it sound? As with all my reviews, I go through each song, track by track. If you're one of those people who don't like reviews in this format, then just read the first few and skip through to my conclusion (simple).

1) Silence Is Golden…(Intro) 0:32
>>Sound: This is a rather atmospheric introduction to the album, not what I was expecting at all. There aren't many vocals, but a strange and otherworldy noise, that I can only describe as a wail coming from Lewis that leads into the first song.
>>About: Unless 'ooooooyyyyeeeeeeeeeeeeeee uuuhhhhhh oooooeeeeeee' translate as something in an unknown language to me…this is just an 'instrumental' intro.

2) Break Anotha 3:09 (Official first release in November 2007. Not charting very well, shame.)
"He'll try to prove that his love is for you" (ooo he could be Mystic Meg)
>>Sound: That's more like it. This could almost be the intro to an early Janet Jackson song. The lyrical rhythm sounds hiphop in style , but with a stronger melodic approach. There are also echoes of a Missy Elliott song 'no not MeeeEEEE', and elements of a Black Eyed Pea track towards the end, adding in twists of trumpet blasts. This is a strong opening number and a very accomplished track to give a flavour of what to expect from this album. I must say, so far, I am impressed.
>>About: This song is like a piece of advice for his lady friend. There is a guy who fancies her but Lewis doesn't think he's being genuine and just wants to sleep with her. Lewis is concerned that this guy will 'break another' heart, belonging to his friend.
8/10

3) Gots to Get Her 3:09
"Every little thing she does is magic" (ooo do I hear a tribute to Sting too?)
>>Sound: A new sound again, opening with something reminiscent of an Enrique Inglias song, with a Spanish guitar opening. The CD credits this song as being inspired by "Putting on the Ritz", when I read this, I thought 'O lordy, no, help us!' but it's actually not bad. It's only in the start of the verses that are sung to the well known melody… and it works. This song's general sound is so far away from it's cited inspiration, that it just sounds like a sweet sample and not at all as crass as I had feared.
>>About: Very simply, this song is about a girl who Lewis fancies, and he wants her and he's 'got to get her'. He makes her sound like an object really, doesn't he?
7/10

4) Know My Name 3:58
"Are you my cure for addiction? Are you love's definition?" (I don't know, Blakey)
>>Sound: I think this is my least favourite track. Those that know my CD reviews, will know by now that I don't like songs that feature rappers (nothing against rappers, it just aggrivates me when they piggyback into other songs)…and this song does just that, with the help of Lupe Fiasco, 'who?' you may ask, my response to which is, 'exactly!'. This song sounds like a filler and reminds me of something Justin Timberlake would create, rather than having the unique Lewis sound that I've grown to like.
>>About: Similarly, this song is about someone he fancies. But this time it's a celebrity (one would assume). He knows her, but she doesn't know him, so he wants her to know he exists, to 'know his name'.
5/10

There is another secret 'beatboxing' interlude…sounds very strange, but non-offensively harsh on the old lug holes.

5) How Many Words 3:34 (To be the second release from this album.)
"I'm letting you go, our love's black and blue" (that doesn't sound too healthy)
>>Sound: This song is an example of what I would expect to hear from Lewis. Vocally, it sounds straight from the 80s, with hints of Haircut100, blended with a dash of Spandau Ballet and a pinch of Nik Kershaw. I really like this song, it doesn't feel dated however, there are licks and splashes of his small use of beatbox on the lyric 'I-I-I am through' to bring this one kicking and screaming into today's charts. It could have been easy for the producers to say beatbox through the whole thing, but the way it's used sparingly and rather subtley, I think, makes for a very well crafted song.
>>About: This is a song about a break up. Lewis has been trying to split up with his girlfriend, but she's not getting the message. He's singing 'how many words' does it take to say we're through.
10/10

6) Surrender 3:43
"Your heart was novocaine, caught up to numb the pain" (nice)
>>Sound: Again, this song opens like I have put on my 'I Love the 80s' CD (I do love 80s by the way, lordy knows why). The chorus has a considerably, greater pop feel, making it virtually sing(or a least hum)-along-able. There is a steady drum beat, keeping this song within tight constraints, that let's you know what you're getting with this song, no random musical gymnastics, Just a nice, straight forward, sound track.
>>About: Here is a track about a mutual love at first sight. Lewis sings that he's never felt like this after seeing someone for the first time and it would appear that she hasn't either. So, he suggests that they should just give in and 'surrender' to the love and see what happens.
7/10

7) Hate 2 Love Her 4:14
"We're heading for perfect disaster" (subtle reference to Kelly Clarkson's 'Beautiful Disaster'? How self-reflective, Idol quoting Idol, anyway…)
>>Sound: This song could have been penned by Maroon5, and having said that, the vocals even start off sounding like them too, emphasising Lewis' varied vocal capabilities. I think this song is very radio friendly, showing Lewis in a great light, musically. If you like Maroon5's latest stuff, I think you'll like this catchy little number.
>>About: Lewis is in a relationship and it appears he's stuck. It appears she's demanding but Lewis claims there's only so much he can give. He wants to end things, but he can't bring himself to do it. He keeps putting it off, he loves her, but he hates her, so he 'hates to love her'.
8/10

Another beatboxing interlude, showcasing his superb talent here. Makes JT look like a sound effect on an old Amstrad computer (sorry I keep banging on about Justin Timberlake, but Lewis is so much better).

8) Without You 4:23
"Close my eyes, see your face, and nothing seems to ease the pain" (so sad)
>>Sound: I think this is my favourite song from the album. It's a beautifully crafted pop ballad. The verses have a mature sound, that compliment the more pop-esque chorus harmoniously. The end of the song uses layers of vocals that not only reflect the desperate and melancholy nature of it's lyric, but also creates some sounds that are very lovely to listen to. Vocally, again, Lewis is very strong, showcasing what he can do and demonstrate why he was robbed of the American Idol title. Oh well, look who's laughing now.
>>About: This is another song about a break up, but this time instigated by the girlfriend. She needs space and whilst he understands and slightly feels the same, he feels odd, like he's lost a limb…he can't get used to life 'without her'.
10/10

9) Here's My Hello 4:16
"Do you want me, just stay here with me tonight" (he's a demanding boy, int he?)
>>Sound: This song is much more 'mainstream', with a pop/hiphop beat and general feel. Whilst, I like this one, it doesn't stand out particularly for me, as one of the treasures on this album. Having said that, it is certainly more than a 'filler'. The chorus is certainly better than the verse and I do find myself humming it, which surely is testament to a stand alone song out of the realms of 'what-else-can-we-chuck-on-the-album'.
>>About: In this song, Lewis is making the first move in the relationship. 'Here's my hello' is like a metaphor for this, except he doesn't want to hear goodbye.
7/10

Oooo another beatbox interlude, but it doesn't sound like your average beatbox, it sounds like an actual high-spec and sophisticated machine - it's clever stuff!

10) What'cha Got 2 Lose 4:06
"Break these chains and walk away with me" (very demanding boy)
>>Sound: With a title written like that, I would expect it edge more towards a hiphop sound. And well yes it does have that flavour, but it also reminds me more of something by boyband '5ive' with an aftertaste of 'O-town's (from MTV's 'Making the Band') first song. Although vocally, this song is probably the most experimental, aided by the use a vocoda, it doesn't earn the song any more points from me. This is perhaps the one to skip whilst listening to the album, or at least fast forward to the second half of the song to hear Lewis beatboxing like a pro.
>>About: In this song, Lewis is talking about a girl he fancies who is already in a relationship. She thinks she can do better, and better is to be with him. He doesn't want to get in the way of someone else's relationship, apparently that's not his style, but something has come over him and he wants to be with her. He proposes all this to her offering the line 'what'cha got to lose'.
7/10

Yet another interlude, but sounding more like the first intro and more, dare I say, Kate Bush-ish - scary!

11) She's Makin' Me Lose It 3:56
"It's my weakness, I can't pretend, you got me goin' crazy" (looks like his demands have paid off)
>>Sound: I had to check my iTunes was playing the right music when this one started. It sounds like Prince. If that's not a compliment, I don't know what is. Again, this showcases Lewis with more vocal capability than he is credited for. Conversely, this also has a pure pop feel about it, along the lines of a classic Backstreet Boys or N*SYNC track. There is also a rather cool sounding electro synth middle8 section, with strong vocals and melody. Very catchy.
>>About: This is a song about being in love. He's got the girl of his dreams and everything she does in the relationship is 'making him lose it'…which is a good thing, we take it
9/10

12) BShorty Grabs Mic! 1:09
"It's called Beatbox" (incase we were wondering)
>>Sound: This is like a proper interlude, but given it's own track listing on the album, as it is purely Lewis beatboxing, under his pseudonym of 'BShorty'. This is who he was known as on stage, before American Idol. Again, his skill here is jawdropping - he really makes THOSE sounds? Well, yes he does. Bravo Blake!
>>About: This is about nothing really…he tells us that his name is B'Shorty (DJ name, one assumes) and he can beatbox…jobs a good'un!
9/10

13) End of the World 3:34
"This could be the place where we start the rest of our lives" (seems like a long way to go, if you ask me)
>>Sound: I don't know about you, but I always find debut albums to end quite poorly, but this album has to be the exception. Another beautiful, yet up tempo, ballad. Again, much poppier than some of the other tracks. His voice has a resonate quality that echoes qualities from vocal performances of 'The Cure' or 'Dire Straits'. A very high quality tune here.
>>About: This is a song about a relationship that has ended. However, Lewis still has feelings and wants to be with her, she's the only one for him and he'll do anything to get her back and how sorry he is about whatever has happened. He invites her to 'meet him at the end of the world' where he'll wait for her.
10/10

14) 1000 Miles 4:18
"You always listen to words left hurting" (well, who wouldn't?)
>>Sound: No, this isn't a cover or tribute to the mighty Proclaimers. It has a rift that reminds me of Gwen Stefani's 'Cool'. The chorus is so catchy, the line 'can you hear me now' will haunt you for the rest of the day, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. I must say, this is another top tune, again echo-ing qualities of the best music from the 80s, when melodies were evident and not hidden under layers of drum , bass and pointless noise.
>>About: This songs seems to be the second part of the previous song. If it is, she didn't take him back. He is still thinking about her and misses her. He wonders if she feels the same things and thinks about him, even though they're '1000 miles' apart. Yet, he wants her and will shout it loud enough, if she could hear.
9/10

15) I Got U 3:37
"We fit like a puzzle" (I don't think 'glove' would have rhymed properly)
>>Sound: Let's end on an uptempo ballad, lovely. This song does certainly more contemporary when compared to others on the album, it could probably be placed on a boybands album for that reason. It is a good song, but certainly not the best on the album.
>>About: This song is like a conclusion to all the love mishaps that has happened to Lewis throughout the album. He's found someone he loves and he hopes he loves him back just as much. Everything in this world is tough (yadda yadda yadda) but as long as he has her in his life, it will all be fine. Ahhhhh.
7/10

16) …I Choose Noise (Outro) 1:06
"Some say silence is golden, well, I choose noise" (fairynuff)
>>Sound: The overall sound is haunting and atmospheric, it's like the intro except that you can actually understand what he is sounding, although he does sound like he has been eaten by a robot!
>>About: As a fullstop to the album, I can't help wonder if this isn't just about his love of music - he's always listening to it, or beatboxing. But it's also an analogy for his ADD, everything is constantly hectic in his mind, never enough stillness to sit and reflect. The noise is like the buzz, the music in his mind, as is associated with ADD.

Album rating: 8/10 (113/140 to be exact)

Conclusion:
Whilst this album isn't lyrically that strong, in terms of what each song is about, the album sounds like he has been around for ages and very accomplished for a debut album. To be fair, some of his lyrics are quite poet, if not slightly cheesey. Although, it turns out I've rated this album 8/10, I've given it 5 stars as I was highly impressed with this. I think it's a shame that it possibly won't reach as many people, had he won American Idol. With a bit of luck, he'll be able to follow this up with an even better 2nd album that will give him the reputation, I feel he deserves, as a credible artist.

If you're open to new music by unfamiliar artists, I definately recommend you give this a go. So for all you Idol haters, stuff this in your pipe and smoke it.

If anyone wants to see Blake singing and putting his twist on BonJovi's 'You Give Love A Bad Name', and I highly recommend that you do, go here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4IGm9E4W9g

Thanks for reading ☺

© MarcoG 2008