Clay Aiken - On My Way Here

Much has been said about this album even before it came out. Some reviewers have accused Clay of choosing songs with cliché lyrics, others have suggested the new release won’t appeal to a younger audience, and a number of web sites find it amusing to focus on the "battle" between him and Josh Groban as their albums released on the same day.

Well, they’re both young and male, but the likeness ends there.

Musically the album, entitled On My Way Here, lies very far away from Josh Groban in the pop landscape – there are the lush ballads but also tracks with soul flavour or country feel to them. As stated by Clay himself; there’s something for everyone. I suppose the classic ballad is the type of song he’s been frequently associated with and is in a way expected to sing, which can work to his disadvantage, so it’s a smart move to do something a little different this time.

"Everything I don’t need" immediately comes to mind in that regard. The groovy rhythm and soul-inspired vocals, which Clay delivers with unexpected confidence, makes it an instant favourite. "Sacrificial love" also stands out, although it may seem like the ‘predictable’ type of ballad earlier mentioned. The sound is simple and stripped of unnecessary effects and allows Clay’s voice to carry the song on its own. On "As long as we’re here" he touches upon yet another genre, the country pop style associated with people like LeeAnn Rimes. It should be said that it still sounds very much like a pop song, and so it won’t scare away listeners who dislike the country genre. I think it has a great hit potential - the chorus refuses to leave my head after one listening.

These songs, plus of course the self-penned "Lover all alone" and the originally Christian song "The real me" are to me 5 good reasons to buy the album. However, there are some of the rest of the songs that seem to be missing the x-factor. They are good songs, and like the rest of the album cleverly produced, but give a kind of indefinable, nondescript impression after the first listen. It may be they just need more time to grow on you.

Overall, the album presents some of the Clay Aiken we already know and includes a lot of surprises from a Clay Aiken we have yet to know – and it will be a lot of fun to get to know that person in the future.