First single and leadoff track "I Want to Live" sets the tone for American Idol castoff Josh Gracin's self-titled debut fairly and honestly, as befits the shucks-y'all persona of this country-steeped Marine. Shuffle throug... more »h, and the same rich, even-keeled yearning, pleading, and--when he's feeling plucky--persuading crop up song to song. It's soothing. It's get-what-you-paid-for satisfying. And it sails along like a sunny afternoon spent zipping along a southern highway. But it's also a little too simple, leaving the sense that Gracin, or somebody at his label, isn't quite ready to scuff up his cowboy boots by kicking it full twang ahead on a single track. Still, give him a pass this time for playing it safe: next go-round, with any luck, he will have scrapped his Garth Brooks influences (they come through loud and clear here on several tracks) and found a boot-stomper better suited to letting his honeyed--and humble--pipes dip, swerve, and soar. --Tammy La Gorce« less
First single and leadoff track "I Want to Live" sets the tone for American Idol castoff Josh Gracin's self-titled debut fairly and honestly, as befits the shucks-y'all persona of this country-steeped Marine. Shuffle through, and the same rich, even-keeled yearning, pleading, and--when he's feeling plucky--persuading crop up song to song. It's soothing. It's get-what-you-paid-for satisfying. And it sails along like a sunny afternoon spent zipping along a southern highway. But it's also a little too simple, leaving the sense that Gracin, or somebody at his label, isn't quite ready to scuff up his cowboy boots by kicking it full twang ahead on a single track. Still, give him a pass this time for playing it safe: next go-round, with any luck, he will have scrapped his Garth Brooks influences (they come through loud and clear here on several tracks) and found a boot-stomper better suited to letting his honeyed--and humble--pipes dip, swerve, and soar. --Tammy La Gorce
He was meant to sing country music!! Great debut!!
Mr. Stanley M. Schmidt | Rockford, IL | 06/15/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I'm not really a country music fan, but I'm a fan of this guy! When I first heard him sing on American Idol, I thought he needed to be on Nashville Star, but he still made it to the Top 5. He has such a genuine country voice! Voices like this only come along once in a while. From the first note, you know he was meant to sing country. I think that's what I like best - that he's singing what he should be, and that comes through in this very good, very veteran sounding debut.My favorite song is "I Want To Live". As soon as I heard it, I knew I would be buying the CD. "Turn It Up" is my next favorite...an upbeat song that should make it to the Top 10. "No One To Share The Blame" is a ballad with nice chord changes and background vocal support. The rest of the album is very good and boils down to FIVE STARS for me.If you are a fan of Josh's or just a country fan, this CD is for you! It's very consistent and nails the genre squarely.PS: I have to comment on the Amazon.com editorial review done by Tammy La Gorce (you can see this review right under the song selections). Honey, you need to write so people can read and understand reviews. Also, what credentials do you have to intimate that a Garth Brooks-like album is bad?? You say "Still give him a pass..". A pass?? This album deserves more credit than that and I'd doubt you have background to issue a pass/fail grade. Thank you."
WAY TO GO JOSH!
Mr. Stanley M. Schmidt | 06/21/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Don't waste your time reading this review. Just move your mouse over to the Buy It Now button and click. Josh has such a GREAT country voice. This is what he was meant to be singing. He's simply amazing, and this album show that. He has a smooth country voice, and the writers of these songs showed that off and had great lyrics.1. I Want To Live - An amazing song! Talks about how he wants to do something with his life and not just throw it away. He voice is so mellow and smooth in this song. 9/102. Wheels - Talks about missing a girl. More of a ballad, but yet it isn't. It's a little quick to be a ballad, but good all the same. 8/103. Nothin' To Lose - What a great song! He sings about how a girl has him 'under her spell'. Fun lyrics, great beat. This is my personal favotire track, but it might not be for everyone. 10/104. Brass Bed - Now this is more of a ballad. Sweet song about a girl and him who (I suppose) are having rough times in their life, and he's asking her to stay with him. Might have some hidden meaning. 8/105. Peace of Mind - I can't really remember this track all that well. To me, that says, not a great song, not a awful song, just there.6. Endless Hopeless Hoping - Fun song about wanting a girl. Quicker and fun. 9/107. No One To Share The Blame - This is a sad song about how he cheated on a girl and lost her, and now he has no one to share the blame for that. Sweet and sad. 9/108. I Would Look Good With You - Twangy, true country, and fun. I liked it a lot, 9/109. Turn It Up - Great, great song! It's about him and a girl, and his girl just wants to jam and dance to the radio. This is one of the songs that should be released as a single.Wonderful! 10/1010. The Long One - It's about a long night, wishing for something. I liked it, but it wasn't my favorite song. But it really couldn't be, if you look at the rest of the songs. 7/1011. The Other Little Soldier - Such a sad song! It's about this little boy, who's dad leaves to fight the war and dies. Excellent! This one should be the next single, unless it's Turn It Up. 10/10Now take your mouse and hit the Buy It Now button. Should have taken my advice from the beginning, huh??? LOL!"
Great start!!!!
Music Lover | California, USA | 06/16/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Now that Josh Gracin is free to record a debut in the genre in which he was meant to sing (Country), he soars!!!! I am not going to go into detail on each track.....just know that there are ballads and uptempo songs.....with deep lyrics and fun lyrics.....a great start to a promising career! Keep it up Josh!"
Why didn't he sing like this on the show?
C. T Williams | Oregon, United States | 08/03/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I'll be honest with you, I absolutely hated Josh Gracin on the American Idol show. He was like a joke to me, one week he'd be singing country with a country accent and the next he'd be singing something completely different with a voice you'd commonly find in boy bands such as Backstreet Boys and NSYNC.
However, since I collect albums by ex-American Idol contestants, I picked this up and WOW, I am shocked. This is amazing. Country is where Josh Gracin belongs because he is extremely talented in this genre. All of the songs on this CD - from "I Want To Live" (his first amazing single) to "The Other Little Soldier," all of these songs are brilliant. I'm not a big country fan but this is definitely golden.
I had my doubts before, but this album proves that Josh Gracin is a great singer. I just wished he would have showcased his talent a little bit more on the show. So here we have it - an average CD by a brilliant singer (Ruben Studdard), a good CD by a great singer (Clay Aiken), a brilliant CD by a brilliant singer (Kimberley Locke), and a fantastic CD by a great country singer (Josh Gracin). So who will come out next from American Idol 2 to release an album? From the looks of things, Trenyce, who was definitely underrated on American Idol (based on singing ability, Kimberley Locke and Trenyce should have been final two, with Ruben Studdard, Clay Aiken, Josh Gracin, and Vanessa Olivarez in the top six along with Kim and Trenyce). According to Trenyce's official website, she is in Hollywood right now working on recording her album. Fantasia and Diana of season three have albums coming out (I've listened to Fantasia and Diana's singles and Fantasia is far better though) and so do Ryan Starr and Christina Christian from season one. I'm also sure that Jennifer Hudson and La Toya London will receive recording contracts, they deserve them.
More importantly right now, buy Josh Gracin's album. You won't regret it!"
Great Debut Album!
C. T Williams | 06/23/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Josh Gracin's debut album clearly showcases the talent that ultimately led to a fourth place finish on American Idol 2. However, while the general sound and style is the same, the album indicates a stronger vocal quality-the result of months of training. A heavy country-pop presence is seen right from the start, in the album's first track and single, "I Want to Live". Both the chorus of "I Want to Live" and the following track "Wheels" include catchy choruses that you'll be singing along to in no time. The third track of "Nothin' To Lose" is perhaps the best off the album. Not as slow as the previous two songs, the song's fast tempo could easily turn it into a popular dance song.Another standout from the album is the closing track, "The Other Little Soldier". Much slower than the opening tracks, this particular song is more of a ballad in style and lyrical form. Overall, the album consists of a solid country-pop compilation, with a consistent mixture of quality tracks."