Customer Reviews

A Thousand Different Ways

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I noticed that a lot of people seem let down because Clay Aiken released an album of covers. But in my case, it's a good thing he did, or I wouldn't have bought his CD, and you wouldn't be reading this now. The familiar songs were what made me take notice of him. (I don't watch "American Idol".) Frankly, I hadn't expected much, but before I bought it I listened to the samples one by one, and I found myself amazed to be liking them. Clay's voice is practically perfect technically, and it is really fervent and uplifting. And I like the breathy quality, because it makes his delivery very intimate. So, how do his vocals and arrangements compare to the originals? Well, I like the added muscle in the arrangement of "Right Here Waiting", and I would say the same for "Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word". As for "Without You", without a doubt it is very similar to Mariah's, but it is still gorgeous, and I can see no reason why both versions can't co-exist in the world of love Clay is trying to bring to us. I feel the same about "I Want To Know What Love Is". On "When I See You Smile", I actually prefer his vocal over the original. He sings "Because You Loved Me" in a more straightforward manner than Celine did, so the lyrics and their message reach me more easily. And his smoother version of "Here You Come Again" makes it a very different interpretation from Dolly Parton's. I want to add that in no way am I trying to belittle the other artists' versions of these great songs. I'm just saying that they sound different in Clay's hands, and there's nothing wrong with variety. My reaction to the 4 new songs isn't as immediate as to the covers, but I think I like "Everything I Have" the best of the 4. All in all, Clay has a beautiful voice, he does a terrific job, and I say, "You go, Clay, with your bad self!"

Clay Aiken makes almost every cover song on this CD better and his own! There are some that sound so different from the original... it's fascinating. While he may be known for his glory notes, of which there are a few, I am drawn to the supptle softness of his interpetation of the lyrics! His voice is so pure. There are four new songs that are extremely nice. He co-wrote Lonely No More, which is lovely. I understand he wrote another one for a bonus track called Lover All Alone.
When he hits that low note in Here You Come Again... I just have to say, one more time... where is that voice coming from?

Honestly, when I first saw the track list, I wasn't impressed. Then I listened to the snippets, and Clay's voice did the selling. WOW! How far he's come from Measure of a Man, and I really liked his first album. I've never heard Clay's voice sound so unique and expressive. First the original songs: He surprised me on Lonely No More, a song he co-wrote, and how it starts gently and slowly, like a roller coaster, and then builds and builds to an exciting crescendo. No glory-noting though and none needed. Sheer vocal power suffices. A Thousand Days has a great pop/rock beat that makes you want to tap your feet and sing along. No doubt it will be great in concert when he goes on tour next spring. Everything I Have exemplifies Clay's skillful control to produce a beautiful song about love's surrender. I was taken with his interpretation and how it allows the listener to affix meaning based on their own frame of reference, such as a parent to a child, or a man to a woman.
And the covers: I can't get over the fact that he's made me love a song I used to dislike intensely, I mean really intensely. With his stylish rendition of Here You Come Again that thankfully resembles little of the original, it has now become one of my favorites. I hope Dolly gets to here it. He hooked me with Right Here Waiting, but it is Everytime You Go Away that truly impressed me. His voice becomes one with the instrumentation here, and exemplifies how Clay's voice has become a finely tuned instrument. Amazing. On Broken Wings, he takes a risky approach to the transformation and his experiment hits the mark and more. Part of me wants this new sound to become Clay's brand, because if it is, it's like nothing out there. It's an amazing rendition that only hints of the original. What a brilliant way to end the album. Clay and Eman, the producer, are a topnotch team, and I hope to see more of their work in the future.
Clive Davis was the driving force behind the covers, but it's Clay who added his own mixture of pop/country/Evanescence type sound to it. He could've produced a vanilla covers album, but that would've been too easy. Instead he created a very interesting, refreshing, and impressive piece of work. If Clay can do this with covers, I can only imagine what he has done and will continue to do with an album of original work, especially his own. I only hope his label will allow him to show us on the next project. In the interim, I'll continue to sit back and enjoy the intricacy of A Thousand Different Ways.
Don't let the track list dissuade you. Not content to merely add a fresh twist to the covers, Clay and his executive producer, Jaymes Foster, have delivered them for rediscovery, with some original gems for added measure. They made me forget what the originals sound like, a feat in itself. Treat yourself, you won't be sorry.

I wasn't really sure about this CD until I heard the songs streaming online. I have to say what a pleasant surprise I had when I heard them. I really like most of them, and I love several. Here You Come Again is a great treat. Everything I Have is also a favorite, and I read that Clay says he wanted an Art Garfunkel sound to this song. I'm a fan of Artie's. I think Clay did a great job. Broken Wings is really unique, and I love the way the poem ends with the title of the CD. Finally, Clay is given credit as a songwriter with Lonely No More. When the snow begins to fall and the fire is lit, I'll be having my glass of wine and listening to this CD.

If you are a lover of great vocals you will love this cd, it is a feast for the ears. I'm not sure if the idea to use so many covers was that great, but the glory of this man's voice cannot be denied, I love the way he uses his breath control to an advantage on this album, Wow.... I really enjoyed what he did on this cd.

As a Clay fan, I know Clay has the ability to take a cover song and make it his own, as evidenced by his Jukebox Tour summer of 2005. But, I had a few concerns when I saw the covers selected for the album. The 30 second clips I heard first were OK. Of the 10 covers, I could hear a "retooling" in maybe half of hem -- and I loved the preview of the 4 new songs. But, when I first heard the full tracks when they became available via ClearChannel -- GOODNESS!! They were SO much better than the 30 second clips. I adore every one of the 14 tracks, but here are my favorites.

Richard Marx's "Right Here Waiting" -- this song is much better than the original. I liked the original OK, but it just seemed to drag a bit. This retooled version holds the listener's interest and moves forward much better.

Harry Nilsson's "Without You" -- this is a perfect song for Clay. It really showcases his amazing voice and contains both the tenderness and huge glory notes that Clay can sing like no other.

Bryan Adams "Everything I Do" -- this is ~totally~ reworked and has a kind of celtic flair throughout. Georgous!

Dolly Parton's "Here You Come Again" -- this was a concern for me, but he knocks it OUT OF THE PARK (those low notes; how DOES he do that?? Especially when coming from a higher register??)

Celine Dion's "Because You Loved Me" -- it is a bit faster with a stronger percussive beat that makes me like it so much more than the Celine Dion version.

Mr. Mister's "Broken Wings" -- the first time I heard it, I was kind of like "OK, it's not bad", but the more I listen, the more I like; I'm now addicted to the song. The poetic voice strung throughout was a bit of a distraction at first, but now I can't imagine Clay's version without it. And, pay special attention to the very last line. It explains why this beautiful track is last.

Elton John's "Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word" -- this is another one that surprised me, as it is so very different from Elton's version. Clay sings it with such emotion, and the phrasing and falsetto he uses in the "sad sad situation" parts gives me chills (in a very GOOD way!)

The new songs:

"A Thousand Days" -- fans who attended the JBT last summer are familiar with this song. This studio version is quite good; they came very, very close to capturing Clay's "live performance" intensity.

"These Open Arms" (written by Bon Jovi and Desmond Childs) -- this song was not a favorite based on the 30 second clip. But again, when I finally heard the whole track, it is a really, really good song. Some of the lyrics make me think it was custom-written for Clay, but I don't believe that's the case.

"Everything I Have" (featuring William Joseph on the piano, who opened for Clay during his holday "Joyful Noise Tour 2005") -- this song is so very tender. It is a very quiet song -- no big glory notes, no big instrumentation. Basically an acoustic version that truly showcases Clay's amazing vocal talent.

"Lonely No More" (co-written by Clay) -- This song is quickly becoming a favorite. I can't explain why, exactly, but I do find myself humming it while doing other tasks. It's got a nice hook that pulls you in.

While I relly liked "Measure of a Man", this album is far superior to that; it is a masterpiece. The cover songs chosen really do showcase Clay's wonderful voice, and demonstrates Clay's ability to take VERY different songs, make them his own, and make one forget what the original sounded like (much like he did for "Bridge Over Troubled Water"). I can see this album becoming a classic. At least it will be for me. I can imagine myself listening to it decades from now.

I am so thankful Clay has entered the entertainment world. A voice as pure and wonderful as his does not come around often, and it truly needs to be shared. And, he is such a wonderful celebrity role model for my children. He proves that nice guys can indeed prevail.

I've been really looking forward to getting Clay's latest CD so I ran out today to pick it up and I must say it does not disapoint. I've always liked when artists take a trip down memory lane and re-record other people's material and the songs picked for this CD are right up my alley (Paul Young, Bad English, Richard Marx, Elton John, Mr. Mister) All bands I really love. Plus Clay went all the way to the top 2 on American Idol singing covers and everyone loved it then so what's not to love Now. His voice sounds very smooth and strong and gives a great new spin to some classic songs. My personal favorite is Paul Youngs/Hall&Oates "Everytime you go away"

While cover heavy, this cd is surprisingly a treat! If you enjoyed these songs in the past, and even if you didn't, you'll find different treatments on several of the tracks. Some highlights: Everything I Do has a wonderful Celtic feel, Broken Wings, a haunting blending of poetry and song, and Aiken's rendition of the Dolly Parton classic Here You Come Again, totally revamped...melodious and pure enjoyment. Lonely No More, co-written by Aiken, is a beautiful song, would love to see what he coes up with in the future as a songwriter. I personally would have picked These Open Arms (penned by Jon Bon Jovi) or A Thousand Days, (an original song), for the first single over Without You. While WY is richly delivered, both of these would have been better as the single, they're both terrific! I would hope we hear those two on VH1 sometime in the future. Clay Aiken's voice is an amazing instrument and his range is evident throughout the album. A must have for fans of Clay Aiken as well as those who enjoy beautifully sung melodies.

Clay Aiken's new CD transcends the sense of sound. It is beautiful, sensitive and melodic. These are the qualities that describe Clay.
It is a welcome relief from the noise and panic sound of Hip Hop, and Rock.
If people listen to Clay's kind of music, perhaps a more serene, romantic and balanced world will prevail.
God Bless Clay and his fans.

I approached this disc with some trepidation, not expecting more than a hour's listen to what is arguably the greatest voice of this generation--dynamic and eminently listenable. And parts of it are just a nice listen, particularly, for me, the songs that are not noticeably changed up from their original form.

But what truly kicks it out on A Thousand Different Ways are the RE-makes, and I mean the term literally. Clay Aiken takes many of these familiar tunes apart and puts them back together into something wholly new. Right Here Waiting and Because You Loved Me are 2 of my most hated pop songs ever, in their original forms; to me they drag like an overweight dog's belly. Clay turns them into irresistible uptempo joyrides, and they are probably (if you put a gun to my head and forced me to choose) my 2 favorite cuts. Conversely, he slows Dolly Parton's perky Here You Come Again way down, jazzes it way up and infuses it with deep emotion. There is a surprise around every corner, from a breathtaking cello line soaring with Clay's voice on Everything I Have (one of 4 original tunes, including one co-written by Clay), to the haunting poetry of the late Erin Taylor as a counterpoint on Broken Wings. If anyone tries to tell you this album all sounds the same, believe me, they haven't bothered to take the cellophane off.

The arrangements are creative; the production is clear, and showcases the greatest instrument on the recording--Clay Aiken's amazing voice. This is one you do not want to pass up, if you love music.