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36 of 41 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Songwriting, Performance Both Improved On Leave This Town, July 14, 2009
As much as I like "No Surprise", the sizzling, energetic first single off Daughtry's Leave This Town (the follow-up to their multi-platinum self-titled debut), I'm even more impressed with the quality of the rest of the songs. Creative and original (especially considering this is mainstream pop/rock), this collection eliminates much of the 'cookie-cutter' nature that I felt many of those songs had while retaining hook-laden melodies that made it so successful commercially.
Dubbed by Chris as "a very big rock album", this sophomore effort starts that way with "You Don't Belong", a heavy rocker filled with '80's-inspired guitar riffs and power chords. Rather than using studio musicians as the debut did, Chris' bandmates recorded the musical tracks, and that's one of this album's major highlights and improvements. The almost not-stop touring allowed the band to develop chemistry, and the resulting cohesiveness shows through on the recording, giving this album a more loose, 'live' feel.
"Every Time You Turn Around" keeps the rock edge going...the band members were given latitude to "throw things in on the fly"...an extra solo line here, an extra cymbal crash there, and this song is a good example of that. "Life After You" finally slows things down a bit, but that's not a bad thing on this record. The string of mid-tempo or slower songs that dominate the rest of the album are not contrived or 'manufactured'-sounding...in fact, Chris' weathered voice bleeds passion and sincerity combined with his relatable relationship-themed lyrics. The production allows 'holes' to open up for the vocal(s) to be heard clearly.
Chris (collaborating with some of his rock 'buddies' and producers, including Nickelback's Chad Kroeger on two songs) seems to have honed his songwriting skills further...his almost innate ability to craft melodies and write lyrics from the heart continues to grab you and reel you in, without 'recycling' too much from the first record. Two songs in particular stand out for me... "September", a heartfelt ballad about growing up in the summertime in his small, North Carolina hometown but having to leave things behind to move forward, and "Tennessee Line", a country-flavored tune (fiddles and all) featuring country legend Vince Gill on background vocals. Unique and captivating, these gems are refreshing to hear while staying within the confines of the basic formula for Daughtry's success.
While returning producer Howard Benson throws in a few extra production tricks here and there, he manages to keep the sound fairly natural and the enhancements aren't too overdone.
The bottom line: Great songs, solid performance, and an overall stronger rock attitude. I'm not sure if the changes would be enough to win over those who didn't like Daughtry before, but if you did enjoy Daughtry Part 1, the sequel isn't likely to disappoint.
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25 of 30 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Daughtry Returns Strong with Sophomore Effort, July 14, 2009
Chris Daughtry and company return almost three years later to follow up on the release of 2006's multiplatinum self-titled debut which went on to be the highest selling album of 2007. After writing and recording his debut album while on the American Idol tour with session musicians, Daughtry, the band, comes together seamlessly on this radio-friendly follow-up. The album plays out as such.
1. You Don't Belong To Me- 8/10
The heaviest of rock songs on the album. For those who enjoyed Chris' harder tracks on the first release, this will be a song you enjoy.
2. No Surprise- 8/10
The first single off the album (and co-written by Nickelback lead singer Chad Kroeger), this tune is pop-rock in its finest form. The soaring bridge is the definite highlight of this track.
3. Every Time You Turn Around- 8/10
A midtempo rocker with a solid beat, this song builds up nicely to a catchy chorus. This one definitely has single potential.
4. Life After You- 9/10
The first true ballad on the album, Daughtry's raw emotion comes to the forefront in the vocals on this track. Very heartfelt, and very catchy, this song is a surefire single.
5. What I Meant To Say- 7/10
A rocking song with a soaring chorus and powerful vocal delivery.
6. Open Up Your Eyes- 9/10
A midtempo track with solid lyrics and an emotionally driven delivery.
7. September- 10/10
An amazingly crafted acoustic gem that breaks into a midtempo rock song. Daughtry is able to show off his vocal chops on this one. This track builds throughout, leading to a huge payoff at the end. Best song on the album.
8. Ghost Of Me- 8/10
An uptempo rock song with a soaring chorus that utilizes solid backing vocals and searing guitar riffs.
9. Learn My Lesson- 7/10
A solid midtepmo song that doesn't quite deliver as much as the other ballads on the album.
10. Supernatural- 9/10
An extremely uptempo rocking track that utilizes driving guitar riffs to create an almost manic effect throughout.
11. Tennessee Line- 9/10
One of the slower paced songs on the album, this track toes the line between rock and country while never quite crossing it. An emotional ballad with excellent backing vocals, a string section, and a beautiful steel guitar ringing throughout, this is a standout on the album.
12. Call Your Name- 9/10
This haunting acoustic track is a solid way to close out the album. One of the more emotional tracks on the album, Daughtry is at his best on this tune.
If it isn't broken, why try to fix it? Daughtry doesn't produce anything earth shatteringly original with this new offering, but they do succeed immensely in crafting 12 songs that are sure to please the millions of fans who purchased their debut album. Their latest effort is chalk-full of catchy tunes that will be sure to keep Daughtry blasting away on every mainstream radio station for the next few years.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Daughtry rocks!!, August 6, 2009
This tops Daughtry's first album! He says himself that they had ample time to work on "Leave This Town" which wasn't the case with "Daughtry", pressured by the powers that be to release it quickly. Although Daughtry has had a number of top singles from their first album I believe "Leave This Town" will produce even more. The first single release, "No Surprise" is a great, catchy tune! Other songs on this album will follow quickly on the airwaves and will easily make the top 20. Buy it!!!
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