I was personally surprised by what I heard. After hearing his first single, I kind of thought his album would be purely hip-hop. It's not. After listening to these clips, I can't wait to get the album.

I just can't figure out why "Break Another" is the first single when there are so many better songs.

Listen

I may buy his album. I really thought that it would be much more unique and interesting than Jordan's. I like what I hear so far.

The Walmart.com clips are way better quality than the ones from B&N. I think the samples are promising and I can't wait to hear the full tracks. He's been saying all along that it would be kind of like an 80's mix-tape and you can definitely hear his Duran Duran/Prince etc. influences in some of these songs.

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=8086592 :thumbsup:

oh I didn't even think of checking Walmart.com! Thanks for the link, I'd love to hear the songclips in better quality!

You're welcome EC. Here's a promo for his cd. Pretty cool.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MblTSQ6FBY

:clap: Well, I have to say I am pleasantly surprised by this cd. I figured Blake would be beat-boxing throughout the cd but it is great to actually hear him sing. This will definitely be on my list to get. I did listen also to Jordin's but only liked 2 songs on it so am passing on that one.

Bravo to Blake for doing a great job on this cd! :music: :yes:

I really like Blakes voice. I just don't really enjoy all the "pounding" in the ears type of music. I guess the ole saying is so true--"if it's too loud, you're too old".. I guess I'll stick with Elliotts favorite type of music, more of the R&B for me. :elliottcap:

Interesting clips, I may check out the cd, my only criticism is the overproduction on some of the songs, not a fan of electro-pop music.
Fun to dance to, not so much to listen, it does sound very much like the 80s, hope the clothing doesn't come back as well. lol

I read where he co-wrote "Whatcha Got 2 Lose" with Chris Richardson. I wonder which one of these songs was written by Josh Hoge. Josh mentioned while on tour that he wrote one of the songs on Blake's upcoming album. Is there a way to find this out? I'm pleasantly surprised by Blake's album. I might just buy it! It's way more pleasing to me than Jordin's.

Rutti, I'm not positive, but I think Josh said he wrote "Know My Name"

Yes, I believe Josh cowrote "Know My Name"

hey guys! i was with blake here in nashville friday night and got the album from him. its REALLY cool. i co-wrote "know my name" with ryan tedder and blake. lupe fiasco raps on it too. he is one of my favorite rappers out now! blake and i were talking about the record and it is influenced by EVERYTHING! its pop/rock/hip hop/r&b/electronica/ yada yada. some of it is very pm dawn'ish (which they were one of my favorite 90's groups). buy this record tuesday, its def worth the listen!!! and lets hope "know my name" is the 2nd single!!! ;)

jhoge

I hope it's the second single!!! I'll buy it on Tuesday :)

Oh rarely is the best song the first single. I love Wait For You, but there are many songs on E's album that are 100x better than that one. It all depends on which will do better on radio.

Hey Josh. :) Know My Name is awesome. I think it should have been his first single instead of Break Anotha. I can't wait to hear the version with Lupe.

Someone wrote a review about Know My Name on Blender. They gave it 4 stars.

You can listen to a free preview of the entire album, songs in their entirety on msn.

http://music.msn.com/music/newthisweek?GT1=7702

I liked it much better than I imagined I would.

Thanks for the link. I really like it. I am pretty sure I will buy this CD. I'm also surprised that he had so much input in this CD. It def. has his stamp on it...and he's much more original and interesting than Jordin. Loving jhoges contribution.

I was actually looking forward to Blake's CD and considered buying. After listening to several tracks, I think I'll pass. Not a good year for Idol CDs, IMO.

Thanks for the link. WOW, I'm really loving this, will be buying it for sure. Great sound, some good dancin music.

ETA: Josh you were right about its influences, awesome stuff. I'm sitting at my desk dancin in my seat. :santarotfl:

It's pretty good...not the absolute best I've heard, but most Idol albums are not. Better than Jordin's that's for sure, at least he's distinctive.

I didn't exactly like many of the intros into the songs but once it got going it was hard not to bop to the beat. He certainly has pleasant enough vocals, imo.

It is also on aol music. Every tuesday AOL music previews a handful of new releases for free.

http://music.aol.com/songs/new_releases_full_cds

Now, I'm not a Blake stalker but these are both sites I check regularly to check out new music for free.

That's what i found on IDOL CHATTER:
Falling off the chart were Daughtry's It's Not Over, Elliott's Wait for You, and, ominously, Blake's Break Anotha (after just two weeks).

I'm just listening to 'Breat Anotha' - I rather like it. I'm surprized that this song is not becoming more popular.

HDD is predicting 90K for Blake's first week.

Can I just say, now that we are seeing another batch of Idol contestants (and when I say contestant, I mean Blake and Jordin) coming out with CDs and seeing their numbers and all that, it's really only now that I'm seeing what an amazing year 2007 has been for Elliott fans.

How Many Words is such an amazing song.

haha
Blake stinks.

FYI, Blake's CD got 3 out of 4 stars in People Magazine. I bought it, I like the sound.

End of the World Is my favorite song. Oh my gosh it is SO beautiful, i cannot even describe how great i felt
the first time I heard it. It is SO wonderful.

I LOVE that song too. It's my favorite song out of all the songs in his album. ^_^

Blake Lewis Talks About Getting Screwed on American Idol

BW: When you first heard “This Is My Now,” the ballad you had to perform during the finale, did you think you were toast?

BL: Oh, totally. Me and Jordin went in a room with some guy who was producing that song and I was like, what the f— is this? This is a piece of s—. And you’re not going to let me arrange it? OK, cool. Thanks guys. I didn’t want to win American Idol anyway; I wanted to get second. Then we found out we had to learn it in, like, three days or something ridiculous. It was dumb. [Laughs.] It was just like, are you kidding me? It was really a piece of crap song. And the guys who wrote it were like, we’re sorry, dude.

Kinda reminds me how we felt when Clive picked Open Arms for Elliott.....

^^It's so stupid. I am seriously not gonna watch AI this year. It's lost its thrill anyway.

that sucks

I'm watching next season because I made a little contest. It's guess 5 people from the First auditions and see if one wins american idol. Whoever has one that wins or goes the farthest, wins. Yay fun. Season 5 was the best and after that it has been kind of downhill... i hear american idol is doing lots of new things this next season.

Hmmm, I never would have heard of Blake were it not for AI.

My one word impression of Blake after reading this snippet is ingrate.

Sorry to all Blake fans. His songs/singing might be okay but his personality ruins it all for me.

Sk8888

p.s. I seem to remember Taylor making the best of DIMYP, so whatever Blake.

but if you'll remember, Taylor REFUSED to sing the song that was assigned to him. There was a big thing about the AI people being angry with him because he was "hard to work with". He did not sing the song assigned to him; He took DIMYP, which was Elliott's song.

You are so right!!!!

But DIMYP was still so cheesy to me that I forgot. Thanks for accurately recalling how things went down.

I've always felt that the finale songs are a bit unfair because they just don't fit everyone's voice. I remember the very first season when Kelly and Justin G. both had to sing A Moment Like This. I think they should have more freedom of choice over the song they song. After all, they make choices each and every week that helps propell them to the finale, and then they have to sing a song that may or may not be suited to their voice or style. Blake is definitely not a ballad type of singer. I thought he was a very interesting and unique contestant. I haven't purchased his CD yet, but I've listenend to it and I like it. I will probably buy it, especially since jhoge has a song on it :)

I was so hopeful that the finales would be more interesting when AI announced it would be taking original songs for consideration.

I thought the two finalists would get to choose from the group, not the producers....perhaps the contestants should have an opportunity to listen to the submitted songs and rate them, and have that considered part of the overall evaluation??

very good idea.....they have a reasonable amount of control up until the finale, even with the arrangements, and then it's all taken away. Maybe that is by design, so AI can have greater control over the outcome.

Even if the contestants feedback didn't count as part of the evaluation, perhaps they could be asked to create "Playlists" from original songs that have been submitted so when/if a given contestant makes it to the finale, they could choose a song from their "personal" playlist.

But you're right, that would be giving too much control to the artist, as far as the producers are concerned. Too bad. It would be a lot of fun.