Measure Of A Man

Clay Aiken | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 14, 2003)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Rca
• ASIN: B0000AGWEC
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3,459 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,937 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #96 in Music > Pop > Teen Pop

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

No one will lament the passing of the boy band phenomenon; now the American Idol runner-up Clay Aiken has released his first album. He's picked up right where 'N Sync and the Backstreet Boys left off, not only borrowing Andreas Carlsson, the Swedish songsmith who penned some of their biggest hits (also using the services of other well-known popmeisters like Desmond Child and Cathy Dennis), but turning out the same type of impeccable over-produced and seamless creations that the Orlando pop mafia rode up the charts at the dawn of the millennium. Several years into the new millennium it seems like there's still quite a bit of life left in that zeitgeist, since Aiken's Measure of a Man debuted at number one on the Billboard charts. Well crafted and well sung, but at times lacking discernable personality or endearing idiosyncrasies, many of Aiken's tunes sound the same, whether he's lamenting the lack of love in his life ("Invisible"), reveling in it ("Perfect Day"), or supporting his fellow man ("I Will Carry You"). As a made-for-TV pop star, it'll be interesting to see how Measure of a Man measures up in the years to come. --Jaan Uhelszki

Product Description

Japanese pressing of 2003 album, scheduled to include bonus material. Details TBA. RCA. 2004. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Pipes; Good CD; Just OK Production, October 26, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Measure Of A Man (Audio CD)

I give this CD 4 stars. I won't elaborate this review with my personal opinion of each song, as everyone has his or her favorites, which may differ from mine. But generally speaking, this is a very good debut album. Many songs are well written and like one reviewer has said, "Perfect Day" should be a Grammy nominee for song writing. However, I found several songs to suffer from over production, with the lead and bass guitars nearly drowning out Clay's golden pipes. On songs like "Run To Me", "I Survived You" and "Measure Of A Man" I wish I could reach over and cut back on the accompanying instruments' volume level and turn up Clay's soaring voice. But the first two songs show the man can ROCK! I found other tunes like "When You Say You Love Me" and "Touch" to have some really good hooks that stick in your head for hours-good pop tunes that aren't old news after the third listen. Unfortunately, I found "I Will Carry You" to be somewhat forgettable and a not so innocent "borrowing" of the lyrics from Bruce Springsteen's excellent "If I Should Fall Behind".

Let me just say this reviewer is no "Claymate" nor am I the typical pop music listener. My eclectic tastes generally run from being an avid fan of John Hiatt and Little Feat, to alternative rock bands like 3 Doors Down, Counting Crows, Porcupine Tree, and Dave Matthews Band, to folk balladeers like Greg Brown, John Gorka and Lucy Kaplansky. I am a married 50+ male who rarely listens to pop radio because of it's repetitive drivel, sung by over-hyped pop stars who: 1. Couldn't carry a tune in a paper sack (i.e. John Mayer--sorry folks but he is a so-so talent); 2. Add so many extra notes to their delivery of a song it is likely the songwriter can't recognize it as his/her own (i.e. Christina Aguilera and the male version of Britney, Justin Timberlake); 3. Make their trademark using suggestive lyrics, hip thrusts and groin rubbing that most people find offensive (i.e. Britney Speers, who sounds like she is having a chronic "uh-uh" orgasm interspersed with a few "musical" mutterings thrown in for good measure); or 4. All of the above.

Clay Aiken is none of that. That is what I find so refreshing about this talented young man. He is blessed with a natural talent, who also happens to be a genuinely likeable guy, and also a man of moral fortitude who refuses to sink to the low standards of the typical pop music star of the day. It has been decades since I have been this spellbound by a pop star breaking out onto the current music scene.

From my view there are two camps of reviewers of Clay's music. Those who followed the American Idol 2 contestants from start to finish (I'll admit here, I did). We realize what these contestants were asked to do to showcase their talents. In no way did Clay, Ruben, Kimberly or the others "use" the AI2 show as a short cut to stardom, as many reviewers claim. "Use"? As if any of the contestants had personal control over the show? If I'm not mistaken, didn't the contestants have to prove themselves and earn their spot on the show via a grueling workout involving several musical genres? Any of those without range, power, who were "pitchy" or who could only sing one type of genre were eventually eliminated. I would venture to guess that Britney, Justin and many other current "stars" couldn't make the cut on AI2. Those of us who watched each week saw Clay grow from a talented college student to a professional performer, and got to know the man behind the performer. Even in his "weakest" performances (poor song selection) on AI2, he NEVER missed a note or sang off pitch--his delivery, persona, and remarkable voice came through every time. He was, and is, amazing.

The second camp of reviewers are those folks (professional or otherwise) who didn't watch the show and are quick to dismiss any talent that comes from that venue. How many past pop stars made their debuts on "Live from the Apollo," Ed McMahon's "Star Search," or similar talent shows? Did that make them any less talented? I don't think so. Others try to compare Clay with past and current pop stars. He stands on his own merits. He is Clay Aiken--not Barry Manilow, Elton John, Frank Sinatra or anyone else.

To sum up, kudos to Clay Aiken, Clive Davis, and others at RCA Records on a good first release. It will be interesting to watch Clay's performances and music mature in the coming months and years. I look forward to that eventual CD where Clay might consider singing some classic love standards like "As Time Goes By", "Always", and "Me And My Girl", ala the late, great (and little known) Harry Nilsson on his outstanding 1973 album "A Little Touch of Schmilsson In The Night".

Buy it, give it a listen, it won't disappoint.

120 of 133 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Against All Odds- Real Music is Back, November 8, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Measure Of A Man (Audio CD)

I've read many of the reviews posted on Amazon- most of them echo what I felt when I first heard this CD-- it's the best CD I have bought in a long time. I listen to MOAM at least 2 to 3 times a day- Clay Aiken's voice just makes me feel happy- sounds corny; but in the world we live in today it's nice to feel that again. I didn't realize how snarky, and snotty the music industry was until I read some of the "critics" reviews of this CD- I guess I just don't get it- what's wrong about a pure & honest talent??

Do yourself a favor-buy this CD- The Way, Shine, I Will Carry You, I Survived You- in fact the whole CD is excellent-- I never skip a song- I start my day with this CD & I end it with this CD.

Clay, next time make it a double CD- & quickly.

33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow!, January 26, 2006

By 

Cindy (Ontario, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Measure Of A Man (Audio CD)

I listened to Measure of a Man after hearing it butchered on AI last night, and then hearing the snippet of Clay singing it. WOW! this is a beautiful song. If all you've heard is Invisible, you haven't heard the best of Clay. This song, and Run To Me and The Way are beautiful, emotional songs. Love it!