Monday, November 19, 2012

Phillip Phillips - The World From The Side Of The Moon

American Idol Season 11 winner Phillip Phillips has finally released his much anticipated debut solo album, The World From The Side Of The Moon. The Leesburg, GA native has been gaining huge airplay for his debut single "Home", which he performed immediately after he won and has become a folk rock anthem this year that shows what a raw and natural talent this guy has and how immensely creative he is as well.

We start the disc off with "Man On The Moon", a steady and focused melodic rocker that shows off Phillip's gravelly and organic vocals that are something to behold and show off the bare bones, emotional intensity that this guy has and is unlike any other performer currently out there today. My favorite track off the disc is the inescapable "Home", an immensely beautiful and passionate ballad that evokes the new folk movement of Mumford & Sons with an explosive melodic charge that never lets up until the very end and is a sound to behold in full force here. "Hold On" is a breezy, refreshing tune that is a perfect tune to wake up to and take a ride through the country as you experience the wondrous musical soundscapes that are coming your way with down home acoustic guitar arrangements and Phillip's Southern inspired vocals that sound just as incredible as they were on American Idol. "Tell Me A Story" is a campfire inspired, sing along jam that brings everyone together to bond through the power of music and experience the magic unfold right before your very eyes and ears as Phillip makes you feel right at home on this comforting piece.

The second half kicks off with "Where We Came From", a relaxing and inviting slice of folk heaven with Phillip's vocals once again taking charge on this entertaining tune right here. "Drive Me" picks it up a couple of notches with a bombastic and upbeat tune that shows off Phillip's diversity as an artist and his ability to transcribe emotion for us in a way that others cannot. "Can't Go Wrong" strikes an immediate chord with its lush guitar arrangements and Phillip once again finding his place with a honest and straightforward tune brought forth here. The disc starts to draw to a close on "A Fool's Dance", an appropriate and earthy ballad that brings forth about a sense of closure and finality as the disc's waning minutes creep on ever so slowly. The disc ultimately concludes on "So Easy" a stripped down, no frills track that best encapsulates the overall sound of the album and the desired result of the album which has overall been achieved with a strong sense of identity and resourcefulness that makes it stand out from the other albums out on the scene today clamoring for attention. When I first saw Phillip on the audition round last year on Idol, I was enthralled with his organic stage presence and his down home Southern charm that really left an impression on me and stood out immensely from the other performers competing on the show. Phillip is a truly talented and gifted individual who has a knack for bringing people together through the power of music and give people something that they can't get anywhere else.

All and all, a well constructed and conceived effort here from Phillip Phillips, who has clearly shown that he deserved the American Idol crown and is a performer we'll be hearing more from in the years to come and is a true inspiration that proves that you can achieve anything if you set your mind to it.

                                                                                                                            Album Score: 4/5

Track Listing:
  1. Man on the Moon
  2. Home
  3. Gone, Gone, Gone
  4. Hold On
  5. Tell Me A Story
  6. Get Up Get Down
  7. Where We Came From
  8. Drive Me
  9. Wanted Is Love
  10. Can't Go Wrong
  11. A Fool's Dance
  12. So Easy   

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