Customer Reviews

Home

5 star:		(50)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Anyone expecting a generic, cheesy album from yet another Idol winner is not going to get it from Ryan Malcolm's debut cd. Home is a cd that can stand on its own merits musically and one that would be a hit regardless of how Ryan Malcolm got his record deal. A great collection of pop-rock hits sung with emotion and character, Home is the kind of cd that you can put in the cd player and play all the way through, which I find to be a rare quality. Ryan has a strong, emotion-laden voice with great range. The title track "Home" is worth the price alone; it is a classic, sung with a raw passion and urgency reminiscent of Bono.

The CD is already a Top 5 hit in Canada, and I can see this cd becoming a hit in the U.S. as well. It's a cd filled with enjoyable, radio-friendly singles.

Well, after many weeks of anticipation, Canadian Idol, 24-year-old Ryan Malcolm of Kingston Ontario, released his first full length CD - Home. I have to say that this is an impressive body of work - the diverse song styles allow this album to be appreciated and respected by music lovers of all ages and discerning musical tastes. It was produced with care and stellar attention to detail and Ryan's golden voice is the center that holds all the harmonic and melodic components together. The team of musicians, producers and engineers really treated this young man with the respect that he so deserves - the songs reflect Ryan's personal style, his diversity and his exceptional vocal ability and range.

As a listener, a couple of these songs didn't really appeal to me -however I am sure many listeners would say the same thing about this or any CD that they have purchased. Some songs are obviously there as "filler" and the rest are the gems and the cornerstone of this album and they are excellent.

The programming sequence of the songs on this album was planned and formulated in exceptional fashion. This makes a huge difference in the listener's first impression of the album. We are never allowed to wallow too long in the melodic ballads or be energized too long with the up tempo numbers - we are given a couple of doses of each, mixed with a sprinkle of mid-tempo songs and a lot of different genres to enjoy and to appeal to everyone.

The Home album is an eclectic collection of memorable songs and, except for a few technical and artistic glitches here and there - and what CD does not experience this - this album, in my opinion is an unqualified success. Congratulations to Ryan and his talented team of writers and producers - very good work indeed!

Ryan was a favorite of mine during the Canadian Idol season, and when he won I couldn't wait to here what his debut CD would sound like. I couldn't be more impressed! The whole CD has a great rock/pop feel, which I seem to love more every time I listen to it. Ryan has a very clear, unique, and versatile voice and gives a solid and passionate performance to each song. Some of the best rockin' songs are "Absolutely Perfect" and "Star Of All The Planets", and there are also a few beautiful ballads such as "Home", "Something More", and "You Made This Fool Become A Man". Very well produced. Great work from a great performer!

From the very last notes of Ryans first preformance in the Canadian Idol Top 30 of the U2 song "One"...I was hooked. Ryan has a totally unique and beautiful voice that I fall in love with every time I hear this album or one of songs, all over again. The track listing on this American version is a little bit different then the one released here, so I'll review it on the US terms. The music in general on the alb. is sorta a pop-alt-rock sound, with bits of country, classic rock, and other influences thrown in. A number of tracks were written by Canadian Duo McMaster and James, who had a few big hits a few years ago. Their influence can be seen on this cd with the glossy yet pure sound of the tracks. There is something for everyone here, so take a listen and I gaurantee you'll end up loving the album as a whole. I had to give it a 5 based on Ryans voice alone!

1. I Gotta Be Me - Not my fave song on the album, has a really loose feeling, as if its an alternative version of a song being played live. Not bad though, love Ryans ad libbing!

2. Crash & Burn - A really sweet song with good lyrics, that will get stuck in your head for hours, especially the chorus. I love how his vocals really showcase his range throughout.

3. Memory Lane - More of a mellow song, a bit U2-esque but the chorus is quite poppy. These first three songs all kinda have a "rounded" chorus so I'm not too sure I like 'em together. Still a decent song.

4. Nothing Left To Say - A sorta poppy sound here, head-bopping inducing. Reminds me a bit of some of the bands in the states, like Matchbox 20. Pretty good.

5. October Skies - This really isn't my number one song on the cd, however it has grown on me. It has a bit of a Santana-esque vibe, and the chorus is actually really beautiful. Let it grow on you.

6. Absolutely Perfect - A more of a rock song here, reminds me a lot of Our Lady Peace (Canadian Rock band). Love the vocals and how different it sounds compared to a lot of the cd. Will have you singing along (except maybe not the super high parts in the chorus).

7. Home - Most definiately my fave song on this cd, as well as being the title track. Its sorta Beatles to me...just really beautiful and simple at the beginning with gorgeous lyrics and everything just comes together so perfectly. If you were to judge the album on the title track alone you'd have to give it a 5.

8. Star Of All The Planets - Ryans second single, although really his first album release, has two different feels to it. The verses are kinda 80's rock, but the chorus is a really light and beautiful pop bit. Good song, quite catchy, cool lyrics.

9. Good Girls - Probably the most different song on this album, mixes old school with new school, for a ...sorta r'n'b feel. Not a huge fan here, cuz the lyrics are kinda lame as it is, but its interesting to hear Ryan's singing background (he used ot sing covers in a family band) come through.

10. You Made This Fool Become A Man - The song with the most country influence, its a nice ballad, pretty message and a sweet chorus. Love the line "Big city kid with a big city life..." and the way he sings it.

11. Straight Up The Middle - The 2nd shortest song, but its really quite good. Has an airy guitar feel to it, and a super catchy chorus. Possibel single?

12. Ride - Don't be fooled by the safari-cheese-fest that starts this track off. Its actually pretty decent minus the "sheryl crow" references. The chorus is awesome, a good going to the beach song.

13. Your Heart Will Know - This is actually the last song on Ryan's Canadian release. Its basically a power ballad which Ryan uses at every possibel moment to accentuate his powerful voice. Listen to everything from the sweet poppy intro, to his trademarked rock-like vocals, and the strong chorus. Sweet song.

14. Dont Dream Its Over F/ Gary Beals - Gary Beals is the runner up in the canadian Idol competition. I believe they actually sang this on the show. The arrangment of the song itself is a bit weak, but its nice to hear a collab.

15. Something More - Ryan's winning single which broke all sorts of Canadian music records. Its a really good song actually, in comparison to the typical idol fare that gets released. Note the double meanings in the lyrics for love and the love Ryan recieved from his fans during the competition (much liek Kelly's 'A Moment LIke This')

Altogether give this guy a listen, he'll surprise you by sounding as flawless as he does live as he does on the album. A lot of different styles are sort of infused here, but it would've been nice to see Ryan go to even more extremes of the musical spectrum. either way I hope he has a great career ahead of him! Super album!

Ryan Malcolm proves himself to be a phenomenal talent with his first album. With 15 wonderful songs penned by Malcolm and a panorama of Canadian and international writer's, 'Home' proves to be head-and-shoulders above your average pop album. An eclectic collection of songs ranging from pure pop, to all out rock and a few beautiful and heart-felt ballads thrown in, anyone buying this album will find a number of songs to fall in love with. There really is no place like 'Home'.

I reviewed this earlier and at that time I said it was a surprisingly good CD and that I enjoyed almost all of the songs.

After weeks of playing the CD (and often) I still stick by that statement. Actually some of the other songs that I was unsure of really have grown on me to the point where I really like them.

This may be one of those albums that get's better with time BUT will people listen to it long enough to appreciate the talent??

Ryan seems to be getting a great deal of "Idol" backlash which means they're judging the show and not his music. I requested the local radio station to play some of his music and they have.

If this was released in the US and got the right "push" I think it would be a big hit. (Especially STAR OF ALL THE PLANETS & OCTOBER SKIES and STRAIGHT UP THE MIDDLE)

Ryan's album is a must for any of his fans from the show. The songs showcase his unique voice and introduce us to his songwriting ability. "Star of All the Planets" is an amazing song that really allows Ryan to prove why Canada chose him to be their first Canadian idol. While he may not have the vocal range of Kelly Clarkson, he is talented, charimatic and down to earth. I gave this album a three star rating because half way through the cd I felt like some of the songs sounded too much alike. However, considering the limited amount of time that went into pulling this album together that is understandable. Regardless, the cd is a great addition to any Canadian Idol fan's collection. If you saw Ryan on World Idol and liked his performance you should also check out this cd.
PS. Any disappointed Gary Beals fans should check out Ryan's duet with him, "Don't Dream It's Over".

The first time I listened to it I was surprised.
It was not what I had been expecting at all. I find a few of the lyrics not to good , but the CD on the whole is good !
His voice is clear and has wonderful range, and the music great!
There isn't one song that I skip over when playing it, and there are not many CD's I do that with.
WELL worth adding to your Idol collection

Ah Ryan Malcolm. The geeky (but geeky-sexy) waiter who, in front of millions of adoring Canadians, rose to stardom. Sounds like a dream come true for Ryan. The dream come true for his fans is the album. It is a brilliant showcase of Ryan's vocals, versatility, passion and, in three tracks, songwriting. The way I see it, the cd can basically be divided into two categories - upbeat, high-energy songs, and slow, mellow tracks.

The first category contains such songs as the incredibly bright, hook-y "Star of all the Planets", which Ryan co-wrote and became his single. The lyrics speak of adoring a woman from afar and wishing she knew how much he cared, and the stellar melody and words should have made it a far bigger radio hit than it was. Other great tracks are "Absolutely Perfect", which has the great message that, even though things aren't always roses, they will turn out perfect, "Ride", a fun, summery song (another one Ryan helped write), "I Gotta be Me", a fun song about being yourself, and "Nothing Left to Say", Also similar are the poppish plea for the best woman in "Good Girls" and the determined "Straight up the Middle". These songs all beg for an audience to sing along and dance.

The second category is much tamer, and, if you are sappy and emotional like I am, many of the songs will make you cry. It includes Ryan's idol single, "Something More," and the title track, "Home". This song is one of the sweetest, most beautiful love songs I have heard in a very long time, and it is extremely fitting it be the title track. Ryan also co-wrote "Your Heart Will Know," a story of waiting and eventually finding love. "You Made this Fool Become a Man" was Ryan's third single, and an excellent choice, because it reveals his tenderness and emotion, as well as showcasing his upper range. "Crash & Burn" is an amazing song with a very poetic meaning, as is "Memory Lane," and "October Skies" is a fun ballad about spending time with the one you love.

Also on the album is a cover of "Don't Dream it's Over" sung with runner up Gary Beals. Although Gary was arguably the least vocally compatible with Ryan of the top 4, in this song, their voices mesh nicely in this mildly cheesy song. Overall, the album has something for everyone. Many of the songs are realistic and easy to relate to, and the CD has taken on a lot of personal meaning for me. Anyone who doesn't give Ryan a chance because of his image or Idol background is only cheating themselves

Ryan is an amazing vocalist who has been working hard singing since he was 12, and that work shows. He (like the other idols) is a pure talent, obviously not needing the studio remixing to make himself sound good. This CD is top notch from start to finish. Treat yourself to some of the best that Canada has to offer, you won't regret it!! One of the best CD's I've ever heard...can't wait for #2!! :o)