Phillip Phillips’ first record ‘The World from the Side of the Moon’ hits stores today
“American Idol” has a pretty good track record for churning out chart-topping artists. It’s hard to remember that superstars like Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood got their start on the reality talent show. Phillip Phillips may be the next winning artist to earn a long-spanning career.
The 22-year-old singer/songwriter’s debut album “The World from the Side of the Moon” hits stores today and is filled with heartfelt folk/pop tracks that sound more like Mumford & Sons than Clay Aiken.
While Phillips doesn’t have a soulful, gospel Ruben Studdard or Taylor Hicks voice, nor does he have an insanely wide vocal range a la Adam Lambert, Season 11’s champion croons laid-back melodies with organic energy suitable for any venue, from an intimate coffeehouse to a sold-out arena.
The singer’s debut single “Home” has racked up more than 2 million downloads, provided the soundtrack for NBC’s coverage of the women’s gymnastics competitions during the Summer Olympics and can be heard across the radio dial on both the Top 40 hits and light rock stations. But if the tracks on “The World from the Side of the Moon” are any indication, Phillips is more than just a one-hit wonder.
The album, produced by Interscope Records chairman and “Idol” mentor Jimmy Iovine, is a mix of radio pop and simple folk-rock tunes. With Phillips getting credit for writing or co-writing more than half of the tracks, the disc comes off as less commercial than the work of previous “Idol” winners.
“Man on the Moon” kicks off the album with an upbeat vibe, Jason Mraz-esque vocal riffing over a chilled-out, reggae-inspired chord progression.
“Home” follows and blends in nicely with the tracks in the collection. While Phillips had no involvement in writing the hit, he sings the lyrics as if he did, taking ownership of the piece and giving it soul.
“Tell Me a Story,” co-written with David Ryan Harris, is a hopeful ballad, but it doesn’t come across as cheesy. Fun-loving “Drive Me,” co-written with brother-in-law Ben Neil, features a horn section and chronicles a night on the town, looking for girls and going out for drinks. “Can’t Go Wrong,” co-written with the guys behind “Home,” has some country twang to it.
The album closes with “So Easy,” a simple love song written by Stephen Wrabel, Peter Amato and Pete Salis. The track is a sweet tune about how easy it is to fall in love, one of the more cliche songs on “The World from the Side of the Moon.”
While love is a common theme throughout the album, Phillips doesn’t get too schmaltzy. But he doesn’t dive in very deep, either. The tunes are shallow and pretty vague. The “Idol” winner could be singing about any girl, real or imagined, and heartbreak doesn’t really come up at all. Maybe production was rushed — the album was recorded in just three weeks after the conclusion of the summer “Idol” tour.
Despite the faults, Phillips delivers an upbeat, fun collection worth listening to more than once. Who knows? Maybe with a little more living and a little more time, the singer will produce some more powerful tracks for his sophomore effort.