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American Idol seventh season runner-up David Archuleta was the same age as Jordin Sparks, the season six winner, but he always seemed much, much older -- a creature from a different era, a time where Up with People peacefully merged with the sound and sensibility of the pre-Nirvana '90s. Modernity seemed foreign to Archuleta, a hang-up that would be an Achilles heel on any music show outside of American Idol, which lives in a permanent oldies fantasia where it's still rebellious to sing the Allman Brothers some 35 years after their breakthrough. Rebellion is anathema to Archuleta. Maybe it's instinctual, maybe it's learned behavior imprinted from being a showbiz kid, but Archuleta is so gosh-darn eager to please that he's at once ingratiating and irritating. There's no doubt that the kid is sweet, something that shone through on the show, but he's always verging on being a simpering sap, all pressed shirts and boutonnieres. Archuleta sidesteps saccharine pitfalls through much of his eponymous debut -- delivered six months after AmIdol season seven drew to a close -- but he never shakes his reputation as being a safe date, a grandmother's pick for a blind date. This may make Archuleta the oldest teen star ever -- certainly compared to the youthful Jonas Brothers, he seems stiff and arthritic -- but it's also true that he's comfortable acting far beyond his years. Whenever he faces something modern, as on the wretched modulated hip-hop call-and-response "Barriers," he shuts down and stumbles. His awkwardness is so apparent that the producers wisely keep him away from anything rhythmic through most of David Archuleta, with only the overly busy rhythm tracks distinguishing this as a 2008 release. This makes the album the squarest record in the Idol universe since Clay Aiken's debut but that at least had the benefit of overpowering hooks, where David Archuleta has quietly whispered melodies that never catch hold, no matter how well Archuleta sings. And he does sing well -- maybe not with a sense of storytelling, but as a highly coached performer who can hit the marks with accuracy but not much feeling. So, it delivers exactly what Archuleta promised on the show: something sweet and safe, utterly old-fashioned and forgettable.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
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David Hodges, Piano - David Hodges, Background Vocal - David Hodges, Keyboards - David Hodges, Programmer - David Hodges, Producer - David Hodges, Lyricist - David Hodges, Composer - Emanuel Kiriakou, Drum Programmer - Emanuel Kiriakou, Engineer - Emanuel Kiriakou, Keyboards - Emanuel Kiriakou, Guitar - Emanuel Kiriakou, Producer - Emanuel Kiriakou, Lyricist - Emanuel Kiriakou, Composer - Zukhan Bey, Drum Programmer - Spike Stent, Mixing Engineer - Jess Cates, Composer - Jess Cates, Lyricist - Matty Green, 2nd Engineer - Pat Thrall, Engineer - David Archuleta, Performer
(P) 2008 19 Recordings Ltd, under exclusive license to RCA/JIVE Label Group, a unit of Sony Music Entertainment
Steve Kipner, Producer - Steve Kipner, Composer - Spike Stent, Mixing Engineer - Matty Green, 2nd Engineer - Steve McEwan, Composer - Steve McEwan, Producer - David Archuleta, Performer - Wayne Wilkins, Composer - Wayne Wilkins, Producer
(P) 2008 19 Recordings Ltd, under exclusive license to RCA/JIVE Label Group, a unit of Sony Music Entertainment
Spike Stent, Mixing Engineer - Steve McEwan, Composer - Steve McEwan, Lyricist - Steve McEwan, Producer - Wayne Wilkins, Composer - Wayne Wilkins, Drums - Wayne Wilkins, Lyricist - Wayne Wilkins, Keyboards - Wayne Wilkins, Producer - Andros Rodriguez, Engineer - Matty Green, 2nd Engineer - Stephen Kipner, Composer - Stephen Kipner, Lyricist - Stephen Kipner, Producer - David Archuleta, Performer - Alex Leader, 2nd Engineer - Frank Romano, Acoustic Baritone Guitar - Charlie Kramsky, 2nd Engineer
(P) 2008 19 Recordings Ltd, under exclusive license to RCA/JIVE Label Group, a unit of Sony Music Entertainment
Shannon, Recording Engineer - Emanuel Kiriakou, Acoustic Baritone Guitar - Emanuel Kiriakou, Lyricist - Emanuel Kiriakou, Bass - Emanuel Kiriakou, Keyboards - Emanuel Kiriakou, Producer - Emanuel Kiriakou, Piano - Emanuel Kiriakou, Composer - Emanuel Kiriakou, Electric Guitar - Emanuel Kiriakou, Recording Engineer - Emanuel Kiriakou, Background Vocal - James Fauntleroy, Lyricist - James Fauntleroy, Background Vocal - James Fauntleroy, Composer - Zukhan Bey, Composer - Zukhan Bey, Lyricist - Zukhan Bey, Programmer - Spike Stent, Mixing Engineer - Matty Green, 2nd Engineer - David Archuleta, Performer
(P) 2008 19 Recordings Ltd, under exclusive license to RCA/JIVE Label Group, a unit of Sony Music Entertainment
Randy Cooke, Drums - Matthew Gerrard, Programmer - Matthew Gerrard, Composer - Matthew Gerrard, Keyboards - Matthew Gerrard, Engineer - Matthew Gerrard, Producer - Mike Krompass, Producer - Mike Krompass, Composer - Mike Krompass, Engineer - Robbie Nevil, Programmer - Robbie Nevil, Producer - Robbie Nevil, Composer - Robbie Nevil, Keyboards - Storm Lee, Background Vocal - Dapo Torimiro, Keyboards - David Archuleta, Composer - David Archuleta, Performer - Brian Paderalsky, Mixing Engineer
(P) 2008 19 Recordings Ltd, under exclusive license to RCA/JIVE Label Group, a unit of Sony Music Entertainment
Steve Hammons, Engineer - Tim James, Composer - Tim James, Lyricist - Tim James, Producer - Brian MacLeod, Drums - Ross Hogarth, Engineer - Antonina Armato, Composer - Antonina Armato, Lyricist - Antonina Armato, Producer - Tim Pierce, Guitar - David Archuleta, Performer - Sean Hurley, Bass - Nigel Lundemo, Engineer - Adam Comstock, 2nd Engineer - Devrim Karaoglu, Co-Producer - Paul Palmer, Mixing Engineer
(P) 2008 19 Recordings Ltd, under exclusive license to RCA/JIVE Label Group, a unit of Sony Music Entertainment
Dirty Swift, Producer - Bruce Waynne, Producer - James Fauntleroy, Lyricist - James Fauntleroy, Composer - Steven Russell, Lyricist - Steven Russell, Composer - Dapo Torimiro, Lyricist - Dapo Torimiro, Composer - Waynne Nugent, Composer - Waynne Nugent, Lyricist - David Archuleta, Performer - Risto Konttinen, Composer - Risto Konttinen, Lyricist
(P) 2008 19 Recordings Ltd, under exclusive license to RCA/JIVE Label Group, a unit of Sony Music Entertainment
Spike Stent, Mixing Engineer - Marcus Englof, Keyboards - Jake Simpson, Background Vocal - Andreas Carlsson, Composer - Andreas Carlsson, Lyricist - Andreas Carlsson, Producer - Jon Vella, Guitar - Jon Vella, Engineer - Desmond Child, Producer - Desmond Child, Lyricist - Desmond Child, Composer - David Archuleta, Performer - Konstantin Rethwisch, Lyricist - Konstantin Rethwisch, Composer - Alexander Rethwisch, Lyricist - Alexander Rethwisch, Composer - Tommy Denander, Guitar - Tommy Denander, Engineer
(P) 2008 19 Recordings Ltd. under exclusive license to RCA/JIVE Label Group, a unit of Sony Music Entertainment
Shannon, Engineer - Emanuel Kiriakou, Lyricist - Emanuel Kiriakou, Engineer - Emanuel Kiriakou, Keyboards - Emanuel Kiriakou, Guitar - Emanuel Kiriakou, Performer - Emanuel Kiriakou, Producer - Emanuel Kiriakou, Piano - Emanuel Kiriakou, Acoustic Bass - Kara DioGuardi, Composer - Kara DioGuardi, Lyricist - Kara DioGuardi, Background Vocal - Conor Gilligan, 2nd Engineer - Jeff Bova, Strings - David Archuleta, Performer - Pat Thrall, Mixing Engineer
(P) 2008 19 Recordings Ltd, under exclusive license to RCA/JIVE Label Group, a unit of Sony Music Entertainment
JC Chasez, Composer - JC Chasez, Producer - JC Chasez, Lyricist - JC Chasez, Piano - JC Chasez, Background Vocal - Spike Stent, Mixing Engineer - Matty Green, 2nd Engineer - Marc Vangool, Guitar - David Archuleta, Composer - David Archuleta, Performer - David Archuleta, Lyricist - Dorian Crozier, Engineer - Dorian Crozier, Drums - Chris Furdurich, Engineer - Jimmy Harry, Composer - Jimmy Harry, Guitar - Jimmy Harry, Producer - Jimmy Harry, Bass - Jimmy Harry, Engineer - Jimmy Harry, Keyboards - Jimmy Harry, Lyricist
(P) 2008 19 Recordings Ltd, under exclusive license to RCA/JIVE Label Group, a unit of Sony Music Entertainment
Steve Hammons, Engineer - Tim James, Composer - Tim James, Lyricist - Tim James, Producer - Brian MacLeod, Drums - Ross Hogarth, Engineer - Antonina Armato, Composer - Antonina Armato, Lyricist - Antonina Armato, Producer - Tim Pierce, Guitar - Sean Hurley, Bass - David Archuleta, Performer - Nigel Lundemo, Engineer - Adam Comstock, 2nd Engineer - Devrim Karaoglu, Composer - Devrim Karaoglu, Co-Producer - Devrim Karaoglu, Lyricist - Paul Palmer, Mixing Engineer
(P) 2008 19 Recordings Ltd, under exclusive license to RCA/JIVE Label Group, a unit of Sony Music Entertainment
Natalie Leggett, Violin - Sarah Thornblade, Violin - Justin Medal-Johnen, Acoustic Bass - Searmi Park, Violin - Dimitre Leivici, Violin - Julie Gigante, Violin - Marlow Fisher, Viola - Thomas Diener, Viola - Eric Ivan Rosse, Mixing Engineer - Eric Ivan Rosse, Engineer - Eric Ivan Rosse, Recording Engineer - Eric Ivan Rosse, Guitar - Eric Ivan Rosse, Producer - Aaron Sterling, Drums - David Archuleta, Piano - David Archuleta, Performer - Robbie Williams, Lyricist - Robbie Williams, Composer - Steve Erdodi, Acoustic Cello - Margaret Wooten, Violin - Brett Banducci, Viola - Anthony Chambers, Composer - Anthony Chambers, Lyricist - Bruce Watson, Drums - Bruce Watson, Acoustic Bass - Jeanne Skrocki, Violin
(P) 2008 19 Recordings Ltd, under exclusive license to RCA/JIVE Label Group, a unit of Sony Music Entertainment
Album review
American Idol seventh season runner-up David Archuleta was the same age as Jordin Sparks, the season six winner, but he always seemed much, much older -- a creature from a different era, a time where Up with People peacefully merged with the sound and sensibility of the pre-Nirvana '90s. Modernity seemed foreign to Archuleta, a hang-up that would be an Achilles heel on any music show outside of American Idol, which lives in a permanent oldies fantasia where it's still rebellious to sing the Allman Brothers some 35 years after their breakthrough. Rebellion is anathema to Archuleta. Maybe it's instinctual, maybe it's learned behavior imprinted from being a showbiz kid, but Archuleta is so gosh-darn eager to please that he's at once ingratiating and irritating. There's no doubt that the kid is sweet, something that shone through on the show, but he's always verging on being a simpering sap, all pressed shirts and boutonnieres. Archuleta sidesteps saccharine pitfalls through much of his eponymous debut -- delivered six months after AmIdol season seven drew to a close -- but he never shakes his reputation as being a safe date, a grandmother's pick for a blind date. This may make Archuleta the oldest teen star ever -- certainly compared to the youthful Jonas Brothers, he seems stiff and arthritic -- but it's also true that he's comfortable acting far beyond his years. Whenever he faces something modern, as on the wretched modulated hip-hop call-and-response "Barriers," he shuts down and stumbles. His awkwardness is so apparent that the producers wisely keep him away from anything rhythmic through most of David Archuleta, with only the overly busy rhythm tracks distinguishing this as a 2008 release. This makes the album the squarest record in the Idol universe since Clay Aiken's debut but that at least had the benefit of overpowering hooks, where David Archuleta has quietly whispered melodies that never catch hold, no matter how well Archuleta sings. And he does sing well -- maybe not with a sense of storytelling, but as a highly coached performer who can hit the marks with accuracy but not much feeling. So, it delivers exactly what Archuleta promised on the show: something sweet and safe, utterly old-fashioned and forgettable.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 12 track(s)
- Total length: 00:44:28
- Main artists: David Archuleta
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Jive
- Genre: Pop/Rock
(P) 2008 19 Recordings Ltd. under exclusive license to RCA/JIVE Label Group, a unit of Sony Music Entertainment
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