As time continued to pass with no word of a record deal for Elliott Yamin, I became frustrated. I could not believe that one of the best vocalists to ever grace the American Idol stage would not have that incredible voice heard. I worried needlessly. Elliott opted for a publishing deal, a distribution deal, and an independent label. When I made this announcement on behalf of Elliott’s team, that article was appended to the front page of USA Today’s Idol Chatter. Ken Barnes, one of several experts on American Idol, included the caveat “That’s a big step up from just releasing it yourself, but it doesn’t compare with the clout BMG can give Chris, Taylor, Kellie or Katharine.”

American Idol's Elliott Yamin: The Shirley Kennedy Album Review

While Ken’s statement is partially true, I find it interesting that Elliott’s CD is for sale in all of the major outlets. How is this so, you ask? Simple—Elliott’s partner is RED Distribution, who likely also distributed Chris, Taylor, Kellie, and Katharine’s CDs. The difference—and where Elliott’s team will have to work hardest—is getting airplay for his music. However, getting airplay for this CD should be simple; just let them hear it, and it will sell itself.

Let me begin by saying that rather than making the album self-titled, Elliott should have named it “Goosebumps,” because that’s exactly what I get when I listen to some of these songs. That’s a good thing. Elliott’s manager, Jeff Rabhan, reveals his intelligence and upholds his reputation in this business by overseeing this project. Bonus tracks are available with the purchase of the CD, and depending on your place of purchase, those tracks are different, encouraging diehard fans to buy the CD more than once. Trust me: If you go to i-Tunes and listen to “Whiter Shade Of Pale” and “In Love With You Forever,” you will be purchasing more than one copy of this CD just to get the bonus tracks.

The bonus tracks included in a Wal-mart purchase are an acoustic version of “Train Wreck” and a full band version of “A Song For You.” The list of bonus tracks is too long to include here, but in addition to i-Tunes and Wal-mart, bonus tracks are available with purchases at Urge, Rhapsody, Target, the home page of American Idol, and Yahoo (which offers one “freebie”). Whichever route you take to purchase Elliott’s debut CD, you will be rewarded with the addition of two more fabulous vocal performances by Elliott Yamin.

The CD starts out with a song that Elliott and I discussed during his interview last year, “Movin’ On.” I didn’t know the name of the tune back then, but Elliott did a great job of describing the song. A fun, upbeat number, Elliott tells his girl that if she can’t get with the program, he’s moving on. It’s a great song with a catchy beat, and Elliott’s vocals are on point with the general feel of the song. I have read other reviews that describe this cut as “jazzy,” but I get more of a dance track feel from the song.

“Wait For You” is the flipside of “Movin’ On.” Instead of dumping his girl, Elliott pines away for her. You can actually hear the pain and longing in his voice as he sings the song (and see it on his face if you watch the video). Elliott possesses a unique talent for applying emotion to the lyric, and the result is a moving tribute to unrequited love and the pain of heartbreak.

“Find A Way” is what I would describe as a “feel good” song. The theme is very upbeat, and the words and music carry a gospel flavor. The song begins with heavy drum tracks, which Elliott also shared that he wanted on his debut album. The message in this song is strong and uplifting, and we can all relate to the lyrics. I also love the way he scats and ad-libs at the end of this song. This is one vocally talented young man.

“One Word” is another beautiful love song. Elliott tells us how with one word, he can describe everything about his lady love. Amazing. The word works, and so does the song. Elliott’s smoky vocals are accompanied by some very good music as well on this one. More of a mid-tempo number, the use of Elliott’s voice fading in and out in the background adds another layer to the song.

“You Are The One” describes a love we all wish we had, and honestly, when I first heard it, I was nearly moved to tears. The song is that beautiful. Elliott’s vocals are impeccable, and he has learned to better control and use his mind-blowing vibrato to his advantage. Elliott begins this song in his softer voice and builds on that until his vocals totally dominate this song.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from “I’m The Man,” but this song is one of the better tracks on the CD. The music seems a bit more subdued, and Elliott’s vocals control the direction the song takes. When you have vocal abilities like Elliott, this is a smart way to structure a song. Another mid-tempo number, “I’m The Man” will have you swaying to the beat. The vocal modulations are appropriate to the song and add flavor. As an aside, the short guitar solo is dynamite.

If I have a favorite on this CD—and that’s hard to say for sure—Derek Bramble’s “Train Wreck” is it (though my favorite is the bonus acoustic version). The song opens with a part of the chorus and some great harmonizing. In this cut, we hear the famous Elliott Yamin growl and his falsetto, though that’s not really the appropriate word for Elliott’s high notes. This song is my favorite because it transports me with its old soul sound. “Train Wreck” is, indeed, one of the best tracks on the CD.

“Free” begins with a piano solo, something else Elliott shared that he would like to use on his debut CD. This is a great mid-tempo song. Again, we’re uplifted by the message, and you will find yourself bopping and rocking along to the beat. It comes across to me as an anthem of sorts, and it’s just beautifully delivered by Elliott’s ability to reveal his emotions in song. Depending on a listener’s interpretation, this song also reveals a gospel feeling.

One of the questions I asked Elliott last year is whether he would like to hear his music played in clubs. He said that he would like that, though he didn’t want all of the tracks to sound that way. The club track on this CD is “Alright.” Play this in any club, and empty spots on the dance floor will be hard to find. The beats and melodies are reminiscent of other dance tracks I’ve heard, but the vocals make the song stand out above the crowd.

“Take My Breath Away” is another nice ballad. Elliott incorporates a few runs in this song but not so many that they take away from the lyrics and feel of the song. Once again, Elliott shows all the different flavors and levels of his voice. When Elliott hits his raspy high note, that one note makes me think of Wilson Pickett and other masters of soul music. It’s pretty incredible. Another great guitar solo accompanies Elliott.

We’re all familiar with “A Song For You” from Elliott’s performance on Idol. He does not disappoint with this version. Elliott is accompanied by piano, which allows his voice to really shine on this track. Only a voice that needs little musical accompaniment or studio enhancement can pull off a song like this. Elliott treats us with his familiar runs and vibrato, creating a great rendition of a very well-known song.

As for the bonus tracks, “Whiter Shade Of Pale” and “Believe” get my vote as the best. I do love the acoustic version of “Train Wreck,” but “Whiter Shade Of Pale” is a classic rock song, revealing that this young man can literally sing anything. What I love most about Elliott’s CD is that he managed to maintain some artistic control and make exactly the CD that he described to me last year. He mixed it up with ballads, mid-tempo numbers, and the club track we discussed. More music execs should allow artists to maintain creative control. No one knows them and their abilities better than they do.

Debuting at #3 on the Billboard 200, #1 on the independent chart for two weeks in a row, and the highest selling independent debut in SoundScan history, “Elliott Yamin” is quite enjoyable. Elliott sings his heart out. Even though he blends genres on this CD, something few artists can successfully accomplish, the mix works. Good songwriting, great arrangements, and killer vocals can do that. Elliott is sitting on a bona fide hit.

I said in one of my articles that Elliott would do us all proud; I must be psychic because that’s exactly what he has done with his self-titled debut. This debut should solidify Elliott’s place in the music industry, and we will be enjoying a place in his “master class” for years to come. The CD is a collection of beautiful ballads, radio friendly tunes, and dance grooves that are sure to delight listeners of various genres of music. Pardon the cliché, but this kid is going places.

Shirley has a Bachelor’s of Arts in Political Science with an emphasis on Creative Writing and a Master’s in Public Policy. She is currently working as a freelance writer and freelance publicist for several bands and musicians.