Customer Reviews

Elliott Yamin

5 star:		(216)
4 star:		(59)
3 star:		(29)
2 star:		(15)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Well, we've had to wait quite a while for Elliott's CD but I have to say he has done a fine job. His voice sounds great and several of the songs deserve to be hits. My personal favorites are You Are the One, Trainwreck, I'm the Man, Wait for You, Take My Breath Away, and A Song for You. I heard the whole CD on AOL music and I received my Amazon order today, right on schedule.

Someone else posted that they thought all the songs sounded the same. I don't agree. Elliott sings his heart out on each track and makes each song his own.

I do think the lyrics are sometimes too simple but that does not take away from the quality of the album.

And the album gets even better after the first listen.

Now I just hope those who didn't watch American Idol will buy the CD, too. They are in for a huge treat.

BTW, there are bonus tracks at other places to buy the album and Elliott does a fantastic version of Whiter Shade of Pale.

FINALLY! Elliott Yamin's album has been so highly anticipated by his most avid (Etrainers) fans that he could have recorded the alphabet song quickly and we would still have been over the moon about it. His third place finish on Idol was so disheartening that only an album of great quality would wipe out the memory of that night. Thank goodness he delivers a soulful album that both satisfies his artistic juices and his fans' desire for his new music. Ten months later, with a lot of hard work and a "Hollywood" look, I think Elliott proves he is the artist who will be around for years to come. Here are my reviews for each track:

1. Movin' On - Elliott co-writes this song and right off the bat he shows off his great vocal chops and of course, his funky-ness, a great choice as a first track

2. Wait For You - this song has the biggest potential to be the album's most massive hit, great radio-friendly melody, the lyrics are so relatable - very We Belong Together-ish, but what's the most impressive was his phrasing throughout, it seems effortless especially when he performs it live, I can listen to this song 24/7

3. Find A Way - a hopeful song that Elliott also co-wrote, I like the reference to war because it shows that he is not just a cookie-cutter pop wannabe singer who is unaware of our world today care

4. One Word - this is not my favorite track because I just do not think it stands out

5. You Are The One - love the piano here, I think this is the type of songs he should make his bread and butter, the white boy may love to play and sing the funky music but his voice just totally lends itself to great romantic songs, I think this song is good for the Adult Contemporary crowd

6. I'm The Man - this is "so" my song and I'm glad he has song of this title, another great one that can do well at the AC charts

7. Train Wreck - Of all the tracks Elliott co-wrote, I think this is his best, his delivery here was so smooth and his voice captured the perfect blend of the pain and hesitation

8. Free - another hopeful track, probably my least favorite track but in time it will likely grow on me

9. Alright - this funky track is in the vein of Timberlake's latest effort and Elliott does fine job of making it his own, I am pleasantly surprised that he included a party-type tune here

10. Take My Breath Away - I think this is his crowning jewel on this album, the groove is of utter perfection, the simplicity of the lyrics is brilliant and his voice is truly exquisite here, Elliott would be wise to work with this songwriter again and the Grammy voters would be wise to consider this song for the big awards

11. A Song For You - I'm glad this song was picked over Moody's because this was a song he totally owned on Idol and I think Leon Russell and Donny Hathaway would be proud of Elliott's effort here, I would love this even more if it was recorded live

I just love it when I purchase an album that has no weak (press forward) tracks. His songwriting is only bound to get better and I think the big name producers will be seeking him out now. My one minor complaint about this album is the length, just less than 42 minutes for an album with 11 tracks is quite short. However, Mr. Yamin made sure he made up for it with a slew of bonus tracks available and accessible everywhere.

This is an album sure to please his devoted voters from Idol but it will certainly win him some new fans.

'American Idol' presently holds a strange position in contemporary American culture. Watched religiously each season by millions of Americans from every walk of life, the program continues to be disparaged as the ultimate in lowbrow entertainment by many prominent media figures. Note, for example, how MSNBC's Keith Olbermann and Joe Scarborough regularly ridicule and mock the American Idol phenomenon, while CNN's Larry King and Fox's Bill O'Reilly treat it with varying degrees of curiosity and respect (whatever their primary motives may be).

Among the faux-sophisticates of New York City, many of whom claim to reject both regular television viewing as well, in some cases, as television ownership, watching `American Idol' is also proof of an individual's blatant lack of cultural development and taste. Enthusiastically discussing the program in public, whether in a cafe, while riding the subway, or around the proverbial office water cooler, is, for the 'hip,' a cardinal sin of the first magnitude (nevertheless, Yamin's recent appearance at Time Square's Virgin Megastore drew telling record crowds).

But as no-nonsense cultural critic Camille Paglia underscored more than a decade ago, television IS American life, and has never been more so than in 2007, when access to cable and satellite television practically ubiquitous in this country, despite increasing competition from the internet.

More to the point, there is a lively record of public competition throughout history; it's fairly safe to say that public competition was one of the first forms of entertainment among ancient, even primitive, man. Thus, in essence, American Idol is only the latest incarnation of a literally age-old tradition, and one that assists in bringing a divergent range of people together to share a pleasurable and occasionally educational experience.

Genuinely sophisticated persons probably agree with writer and novelist Rebecca West, who, some eighty years ago, said, "What a boring place the world would be if there were only room for first-rate art." Such individuals might be conversant in the works of Euripides, Dante, Chaucer, Cervantes, Shakespeare, Milton, and Blake, and may know an Ionic column from a Doric, but probably also enthusiastically enjoy watching reruns or DVD collections of 'Rawhide,' '77 Sunset Strip,' 'Green Acres,' 'Keeping Up Appearances,' and/or 'Entourage.' Thankfully, when it comes to music, people everywhere aren't limited to listening to Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, Satie, and Richard Strauss.

Even when considering previous seasons of American Idol, Elliott Yamin was arguably the show's ultimate underdog. Comparatively short of stature, initially of awkward physical appearance, 90% deaf in one ear, a diabetes sufferer, and of Jewish/minority heritage, in addition to his beautiful voice, Yamin had one quality that set him apart from most of the other contestants: like previous winner Fantasia Barrino, Yamin had genuine soul. He sang, and in singing, cast a shadow across the stage and screen that directly touched the hearts of millions of American viewers. Ace Young, Bucky Covington, and Katherine McPhee might have been better looking, but Elliott was more lovable--and talented.

Who will ever forget Elliot's semi-triumphant return to his home town of Richmond, Virginia, advancing down a thoroughfare in an open convertible as the throngs of the Richmond population cheered him on, the tears streaming down his face--and down the face of his mother?

A year after the end of season five, Yamin has released his first album, an event many feared might never come to pass. Highly listenable throughout, 'Elliot Yamin' is, first and foremost, real music, the kind of genuinely moving, grooving, touching, and comforting music rarely produced since in this country since the mid-Seventies.

Though many of the lyrics err on the side of the generic, most of the songs are catchy in the best kind of way, and Yamin's vocals, which are disciplined without any sacrifice of energy or spontaneity, soar far beyond anything heard during his tenure on American Idol.

This is an album that deserves to go right to the top of the charts, be played on radio stations everywhere, and reach as large and diverse an audience as possible. The appeal of its pop-jazz-soul fusion may be universal.

Four songs are particularly riveting: 'You Are The One,' 'I'm The Man,' 'Trainwreck,' and especially 'Free,' which is the kind of joyous, driving, and potentially liberating youth anthem the world hasn't heard in thirty years. When Elliott emotes on these tracks, the listener believes him--and believes in him--utterly.

I really like the first song "Movin On". Elliott has a phenominal voice. Would have liked to have heard some songs similiar to the ones he sang on American Idol.

HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THE RELEASE OF A CD FOR THE FANTASTIC MR. YAMIN. THAT VOICE - WOW. GOOD LISTENING - BUT WISH HE'D SUNG A FEW MORE UP TEMPO COMMERCIAL SOUL TYPE SONGS TO BALANCE THE CD. HAVING SAID THAT - LOVE THE VOICE. HE'S A STAR.

Hopefully people will TRY to read this objectively...

I was a fan of Elliot's during the show. I loved his takes on some jazz and blues classics when he was competing. I was really hoping for an album like that. If, like me, you were hoping for such an album, this isn't it.

It's not a bad album, but it's also not a stellar album. Elliot has a good voice, he knows how to use it, and all of the songs work for him. The problem is that where I was hoping for a blues and jazz album, I got a pop album instead. Most of the songs are commercialized r&b songs meant to appeal to a presumably wider audience than AI. Again, not a bad thing, but not what I was hoping for.

I agree with a few other reviewers, AI really gave Elliot a name. Had this been a release by an unknown, I really wonder if it would get so many five star ratings. I'm not going to throw around such a rating just because it's Elliot Yamin. I have better CDs in my collection, and I have worse CDs in my collection.

I hope he finds his niche, I hope he goes platinum, but I also hope that the next release is a bit more of what we saw on AI. For someone who basically sabotaged his chance at the title by singing obscure music in the name of "being true to himnself", he really didn't take too many chances on this first album. 3.5 stars, looking forward to the next one.

Breathtaking.

Thats the only word to describe this monumental work of art by American Idol finalist Elliot Yamin.

To be fair, this debut leaves the work of Taylor Hicks far behind, and also made me realize how 'commercial' Carrie Underwood sounded. In short, with this album Elliot elevates the American Idol genre into something it hasnt ever been before. This is CLASS personified, and I urge you to invest your hard-earned money in this CD - there isn't much else out this year I would say that about.

Highlights include the beautiful "You are the One" which opens with a stunning piano break. Elliots' voice here is soaring - I would compare his range to that of Japanese R&B Star Ken Hirai - its smooth enough to go soprano when it has to, but has this deep, soulful edge to it - making it easy for this artist to sing ANY kind of song, really, and give it enough personality.

The only downside are the various bonus editions of this album that are out. If you buy this in a regular store, you get 11 tracks. If you buy it from Itunes, you get a bonus track. If you buy this from Walmart you get additional bonus tracks that are different from the other Bonus Tracks.

In fact, the best bonus tracks - "Train Wreck" (Acoustic Version), and his cover of "A Whiter Shade of Pale" are all NOT on this edition of the CD. What gives? With all the bonus tracks, this CD would have been 21 tracks long - do try to get them online or invest in the special Walmart edition - its worth it!

Either way, I highly recommend this CD. To sum up, this is like Marvin Gaye, Robin Thicke and Maxwell all got together in a lab and created one mutant with all their amazingly talented DNA - and Elliot Yamin in the process becomes the new big hope for soul music. Who woulda thunk?

I have to admit, I tagged Elliott Yamin as a great vocalist the first time I heard him sing on Idol, but I never imagined his first album to be this complete. From front to back, this is a quality set. The ballads are fresh and creatively pieced together, while the mid-tempo stuff is equally as pleasing.

Elliott got a little help from Stargate, who has strung together a number of big hits for Ne-Yo and Rihanna ("So Sick," "Sexy Love," "Unfaithful" to name a few). The Stargate produced tracks -- including his first single "Wait For You" -- are outstanding, but they don't overshadow the surrounding material.

"Trainwreck" is a feel good groove full of smooth, full harmonies. It certainly stands out.. while "I'm the Man" also makes itself an instant highlight. "Find A Way" and "Movin' On" reveal a bit of Elliott's jazzy side, while "You Are the One" and "Take My Breath Away" should satisfy all those looking for soulful balladry.

Overall, this is a very well thought out, written, produced, recorded, and performed set. I have virtually no complaints. The only thing that might be missing is a few more really solid uptempo tracks, but beggers can't be whiners. This is what R&B should sound like.

Elliott's CD has been worth the wait. He has brought through his amazing voice to each and every song on this CD.

Twelve tracks and there is not one that I can say I have not enjoyed. That in itself is amazing for ANY artist.

Some of my favorites are

Movin on get up on your feet and enjoy the music because you can NOT help to enjoy the rhythm and voice.

Wait for you. Beautifully sung the beat is easy to and get your feet tapping . REQUEST this on your radio station NOW!

Find a way. I found this song to be very moving if you listen to the words it will make you feel Elliott's love that he wants to share and make the world a better place. He is right we need more LOVE!

One word. Beautiful ballad Elliott's voice just wraps you into a trance.

You are the one. Though I enjoy this version he also has an acoustic version that will just blow you away. BUT both versions you will want to either fall in love all over again or deeper in love with the one you are with. Beautiful!

I'm the man. Love this just amazing.

Train Wreck upbeat get you movin song.

Alright hummm what can I say about Alright.. HOT you have to hear this one! You won't be sorry.

Take my breath away.. Beautiful

A song for you! My all time Elliott Yamin song OUTSTANDING!

You will NOT be sorry when you purchase this CD there is something for everyone yet your going to love each song.

I'm a HUGE Elliott fan and eagerly awaited this CD, but I was a little disappointed in it. Only 1 or 2 songs really stand out, most of them sound very much alike (same background music style and rhythm). I was hoping there'd be a couple acoustic songs (besides Song for You, which we already know) that would really show off his magnificent voice! He sounds great as usual, I just hoped there'd be more variety in the songs.