Archuleta: Bright future? (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
Was America wrong about David Archuleta?
How did David Archuleta finish as runner-up on season seven of American Idol? asked August Brown in the Los Angeles Times online. His just-released debut album “is larded with awkward modernist R&B, Christian semaphore ballads,” and “warm-milk mewling.” The “best teen pop” often explores “dangerous ideas, yet Archuleta counts Tamyra Gray and Kelly Clarkson as influences in his liner notes—kids deserve more salacious pandering than that.”
“Most teen Disney heroes have got nothing on David Archuleta,” said Kerri Mason in Billboard online. The 17-year-old was “one of the most exciting American Idol contenders” ever, and he has “one of those once-in-a-decade pop voices—a silky tenor with a natural melancholy that makes him a heartbreaker by default.”
“Li’l David Archuleta isn’t a singer,” said Greg Barber in The Washington Post online, “he’s a scientist.” And his debut album is “a concoction specially formulated to increase blood flow to the hearts of girls aged 10 to 15.” This is “exactly the kind of Top 40 candy that many radio stations crave—catchy, slick, and with a built-in audience of millions clad in Juno hoodies.”
Archuleta’s first major-label effort is “hardly worth getting in a lather over,” said Preston Jones in the Star-Telegram online. Now that the America Idol “furor” has “mostly subsided,” it’s plain to see that Archuleta is “little more than human Silly Putty.” He “helped write only two of the 12 songs” on this album, and he likely won’t “have anything approaching a conventional career.”
Comment on this article
Recent comments | 37 total
If Preston Jones had any reporters skills he would have researched and known that David was working on a deadline and has in fact written several songs that will be bonus tracks. I see that Preston is just journalistic Silly Putty though so I think I'll skip anything he writes from now on.
I think he should have won American Idol.
Preston Jones needs to take the pulse of actual fans and realize Miley Cyrus aint got nothin on this kid. Mr Jones, think again!
Love his cd! Great variety of pop styles on there. From pop to pop/r&b to pop/rock. With a few ballads thrown in the mix. Starts off with his hit single 'Crush' to the catchy 'Touch My Hand' Theres also the slinky and catchy 'Your Eyes Dont Lie' that has a great beat to it. Then we have 'Desperate' thats more pop/rock and builds up and explodes with his rich smokey voice. The two ballads 'You Can' which would make anyone melt and 'To Be With You', a gorgeous song offer up a nice change of pace and some wonderful vocals. Definately worth checking out the bonus tracks from itunes and walmart, some of which he co-wrote and fully wrote('Falling' written when he was 14). 'Works For Me' the walmart exclusive co-written by David is a great acoustic laid-back feel good song with some uptempo to it. I think he's got a great career ahead of him and can't wait to see what else he does in the future. I'd recommend checking out his cd. There is definately something for everyone on this cd, great variety.
the same trash said some critics with crush, and see crush now? it's almost platinum..Archie cd is out this world. buy it...
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