American Idol Season 5 Encores Reviews

• American I-Dull

  
  By A19M235PQ9QFD7 on 2006-05-24
  While I'm watching American Idol I often find myself rooting for singers I like more than singers who are good. BUT the songs on this CD are best listened to without the television hoopla, the live audience, and the frenzied absence of rooting for 'your' idol come what may. So, in the privacy of your home, how are the songs on this album? There are SOME that ARE TERRIFIC -- blue-eyed soulster ELLIOTT YAMIN'S 'Moody's Mood for Love', ACE YOUNG on 'Father Figure', CHRIS DAUGHTRY'S 'Wanted Dead or Alive' fall into that category.
  
  MELISSA McGHEE, one of the first contestants booted off, is surprisingly good (has kind of a Patti Smith huskiness to her voice on 'What About Love'). As for the rest, well, some are pretty good (TAYLOR HICKS' 'Taking It to the Streets' and MANDISA'S 'I'm Every Woman'), some are pretty average, and a few are songs you might like a time or two and quickly go tired of. For example, MCPHEE'S voice is amazing, but she has a pronounced tendency to oversing. Her 'Black Horse in the Cherry Tree' would have been a better choice. PICKLER'S song choice fails to impress (her Melissa Etheridge cover was MUCH better than the Patsy Cline song the producers chose here). I would also like to have heard BUCKY COVINGTON'S Tim McGraw cover - 'Real Good Man' -- a lot more than 'Superstition'. You can't help but like Bucky and I wish they'd showcased his voice with a better song.
  
  Sure it's hard to be impartial about these singers -- after all, we feel like we get to know them when we're watching 'AI'. And the producers REALLY should pick out each singer's BEST performance. But since they didn't the overall result is predictably mediocre. Still, it's a CD worth buying. Some of these kids are just getting started!
  
  

• 5 stars are due to Elliot's song

  
  By ATZZPU71XKXSC on 2006-05-24
  I am pleasantly surprised by many of the songs on here. Funny thing is the people who I wasn't too enamoured with are the ones who blew me away. Ace and Melissa "wowed" me with their performances. Bucky's version was awesome too! I will definitely buy a CD of his.
  
  The top artist is Elliot as far as I am concerned. His song gave me CHILLS and I keep listening to it over and over. It's a travesty that this soulman isn't our 2006 American Idol. He is MY American Idol and he has a fan for life.
  
  I also have to note that the other songs are all great with the exception of Kevin and Katharine. Will be skipping past those.
  
  
  
  

• Buy if tor Moody's Mood for Love !

  
  By A1IU0N2MNEN1FO on 2006-05-23
  Well, after listening to this album, I think people will agree that this season had some of the best talent ever on that AI stage .
  
  The STANDOUT performance on the entire CD and the ONLY reason I have rated it five stars is for the track by Elliott Yamin - Moody's Mood for Love - this is an absolutely brilliant jazzy / soulful rendition that gives the original by James Moody a run for the money .
  
  The platinum pipes of Elliott Yamin were the highlight of the whole season - you got it wrong , America - the REAL idol has already left the building , but I have no doubt at all that Elliott Yamin will have a successful recording career - five stars for you, Elliott !
  
  Other honorable mentions on the CD are Paris Bennett with (Midnight Train to Georgia ) - THis was not my favorite Paris performance but she is on point vocally and her delivery is flawless . 4 stars
  
  Ace Young - Not a huge Ace fan here , but I was pleasantly surprised by how well he did on Father Figure - 4 stars
  
  Mandisa - Not my favorite Mandisa choice either but that girl can belt with the best of them ! 4 stars for her
  
  THe only tracks I can not listen to in their entirety are those of Kellie and Kevin - very amateurish compared to the others .
  
  Buy it for Moody's Mood for Love alone or download Elliott's single on ITunes if you don't want the entire album.
  
  
  
  

• A great surprise!

  
  By A3MLK4Y5XVJVBH on 2006-05-24
  this cd has some very nice vocals on it...i don't think any of the tracks are bad... my favorite and the strongest track imo is Moody's Mood For Love by Elliott Yamin... he has a remarkable voice and shines on the track...chris daughtry's vocals on Wanted Dead or Alive shows why he will be a great rock artist..The 3 that surprised me the most were not my favs on the show.. Ace Young sounds just great on Father Figure,, Melissa Mcghee sounds just fine on her track and i really liked Lisa Tucker on Signed, Sealed, Delivered.. weakest track is by katherine mcphee but its not awful, just a tad shrill... Paris and Mandisa have strong vocals also and have a great musical future ahead of them...
  
  

• Don't dwell on the opinions of others - form your own

  
  By AHHX1NDY2AEQM on 2006-05-26
  Few things in this world are as polarizing as American Idol. These reviews prove that.
  I thought the CD proved a few things:
  1) Melissa McGhee was voted off too soon.
  2) Ace Young can sing when he tries
  3) Kevin Covais never should have made the Top 12.
  As much as I liked Chris Daughtry, I don't love his cut on the disc. It's the song that's the problem. Stand-outs include Taylor Hicks, Paris Bennett and the aforementioned Ms McGhee. However, the reason to own this disc is Elliott Yamin's Moody's Mood For Love. It seems to be in a completely different class than the majority of the other tracks. I look forward to owning more of Yamin's work in the future. The jury is still out on the rest of this group but there is a lot more potential here than on most of the other American Idol compilations.
  
  
• Best Idol Compilation YET!
  By A3OUA3K55Y2BV on 2006-05-23
  I have been watching the fifth season of American Idol, and although I would've preferred a different final two, the Top 12 contestants as a whole are fantastic. Everybody pulled through on this melting pot of music.
  
  1. Melissa McGhee - What About Love - I wasn't a huge fan of Melissa on the show, but she proves strong in the studio with this song. It's one of my favorite songs on the album. 8.5/10
  2. Bucky Covington - Superstition - Bucky has a unique voice, but he hasn't quite figured out how to channel it into something melodic. It seems pretty karaoke, still enjoyable. 6.5/10
  3. Mandisa - I'm Every Woman - Mandisa proves her enormous vocal range on this cd, but I wasn't inspired by her song choice. She was kind of drowned out by the musical arrangement. 7.5/10
  4. Chris Daughtry - Wanted Dead or Alive - Chris should've won the competition. The single most vocally impressive track on the album. His vocal runs made him stand out drastically from the original. 10/10
  5. Ace Young - Father Figure - Undoubtably Ace Young's best performance on American Idol. It actually is an excellent recording, and he sounds very professional. 9/10
  6. Taylor Hicks - Takin' It To The Streets - Taylor's unique, soul type voice is ideal for such numbers. This was his signature, being a fantastic and zany performance, equipped with some awesome vocals. 8.5/10
  7. Lisa Tucker - Signed, Sealed, Delivered - Lisa ceased to impress me on the show simply because she didn't show much personality. While not vocally impressive, this was a great number for her. 8/10
  8. Kellie Pickler - Walkin' After Midnight - Beginning with the twangy, heartstrung harmony of original. Kellie soars through the song, with her undoubtably old fashion country-type voice. This is the reason we fell in love with Kellie. 9.5/10
  9. Elliott Yamin - Moody's Mood For Love - Elliott Yamin has a very distinctive, soul type voice. This song is just ear food. I loved every word, and this is exaclty the kind of record he needs to release. 9.5/10
  10. Katharine McPhee - Think - Katharine never impressed me on the show with her conceited and heartless attitude. Nonetheless, her vocals on this song are SOMEWHAT pleasing. 8.5/10
  11. Paris Bennett - Midnight Train to Georgia - Not her signature on American Idol, but one heck of a recording. This girl has an incredible future. Her voice is so crisp and beautiful, she can hit any note out there. Flawless. 10/10.
  12. Kevin Covais - When I Fall In Love - Not bad Kevin. He is pretty drowned out by the band, but he does a pretty good job singing this sappy ballad. 8.5/10
  
  This is definately the best AI compilation yet and you'd have to be crazy not to buy it. Overall: 9/10.
  
  
• Elliott Yamin Was Robbed!!
  By A1JIJMKF8YL4WF on 2006-05-23
  Listening to the American Idol Season Five Encores CD makes it pretty clear that Elliott Yamin was robbed of the title. His number, a very intimate, soulful and jazzy "Moody's Mood For Love" is easily the best sounding song on this compilation, as well as the most difficult and intricate, with chord changes the other competitors never even attempt...thankfully!!
  Kellie Pickler has a nice sound on "Walking After Midnight", and I was not a fan of hers during the competition. However, she does a good cover of this Patsy Cline classic. Taylor Hicks, who I find it difficult to watch on the show, sounds much better than I thought he could on "Taking It To The Streets", and Chris Daughtry does a servicable, if somewhat boring, "Wanted Dead Or Alive". Ace Young is also okay with "Father Figure", although he's no George Michael!! And Bucky Covington holds up to Stevie Wonder's "Superstition" pretty well.
  The rest of the CD is not very good in my opinion. Katharine McPhee screeches her way through "Think", making my ears bleed. Kevin Covais lisps his way through "When I Fall In Love" but since I am no puppy-kicker, I will leave him alone. Paris Bennett's "Midnight Train To Georgia" is fine, just not something I would re-listen to. Melissa McGhee actually starts "What About Love" sounding very good indeed, and I found myself wondering what sent her home so early...then she got to the end of the song and I remembered. And the songs by Mandisa...who I loved during competition...and Lisa Tucker are so bland that they are unmemorable just an hour after listening to them.
  In short, a decent CD, depending on who you liked on the show. If you are an Elliott fan, you will be more convinced than ever that he was robbed, and if you are a Taylor fan, you have one more piece of ammuniton to use against Katharine McPhee...he sounds pretty darned good here!
  
  
• Elliott Yamin is Brilliant! Chris Daughtry Rocks!
  By AFPKNHUEB743X on 2006-05-24
  Followers of Season 5 of American Idol will love this CD if only to relive the onstage moments of their favorite idols. Some may disagree with the encore selections on this compilation but this CD is a piece of history. It documents the greatest ever season of American Idol--the year American Idol discovered Elliott Yamin.
  
  Melissa McGhee - What About Love (3/5 stars)
  It's been so long since I've heard Melissa that I'd forgotten that she can actually sing. Nice job.
  
  Bucky Covington - Superstition (3/5 stars)
  What a fun guy Bucky would be to hang with. You can hear him getting into the song. I can imagine him singing this song with the Blues Brothers (Akroyd and Belushi) as they tear their way across the country. Play this one loud in your car and sing along.
  
  Mandisa - I'm Every Woman (4/5 stars)
  What can I say? Mandisa can sing! This is her signature song from Season 5 and she knocks this out of the park.
  
  Chris Daughtry - Wanted Dead or Alive (4/5 stars)
  I would have liked to hear Fuel's Hemorrhage on this CD but this was a close second for me. It should have been Chris and Elliott in the finals. Chris is going to be a big star some day.
  
  Ace Young - Father Figure (4/5 stars)
  This was Ace's best song of the season. I'm glad they included this on the CD. Great job Ace.
  
  Taylor Hicks - Takin' It To The Streets (3.5/5 stars)
  I'm a big Doobie Brother's fan so this is a good song for me. Taylor does a good Michael McDonald and makes this a fun song.
  
  Lisa Tucker - Signed, Sealed, Delivered (3/5 stars)
  This is not my favorite song from Lisa but she makes it fun and listenable.
  
  Kellie Pickler - Walkin' After Midnight (3/5 stars)
  Again, not my favorite Kellie song but it shows her country roots. She's got that Kellie growl going. A few visuals would make this complete.
  
  Elliott Yamin - Moody's Mood for Love (5/5 stars)
  Get your groove on because Elliott's in the house. This is the reason I pre-ordered this CD months in advance. Elliott fans will treasure this as the first CD with an Elliott Yamin song. Elliot's rendition of MMFL is in a word, brilliant. I would challenge anyone to compare this to other artists. Elliott is the Real American Idol.
  
  Katherine McPhee - Think (2/5 stars)
  Where is Aretha when you need her. Hmmm. Not here. A fun song that McPhever Phans will enjoy. But since this is a signature song for Aretha it's difficult to imagine that this would sell as a single.
  
  Paris Bennett - Midnight Train to Georgia (3.5/5 stars)
  Paris is a powerhouse and vocally seasoned way beyond her years. A believable performance. Kudos.
  
  Kevin Covais - When I Fall in Love (2/5 stars)
  How Kevin got this far is a wonder to me but I have to give him props for having the guts to get up in front of millions of people and singing his heart out.
  
  
• Possibly the best AI compilation CD to-date
  By A2UP9DG0OIL8Y5 on 2006-05-23
  It's no secret that this year's crop of "unknowns" have been the best of all the seasons. The show's maturity has a lot to do with that. I've listened to snippets of the other previous season's compilation outings, and they pale in comparison to quality of the vocalists from this season (with few exceptions). My most favorite track is Elliott Yamin's "Moody's Mood For Love." Simon Cowell was right on the money when he complimented this gentleman by stating that he is "the best male vocalist [the show] has ever had." Elliott's vocal genius and mastery are evident in this track, and there is no doubt in my mind that this "blue eyed soul" should would be signed to a contract very soon. My second favorite is Taylor Hicks' "Taking It To The Streets." It's easy to overlook Taylor's rich voice from being too distracted by his at times strange stage histrionics. When listening to his voice only, it is clear why this soulful gentleman is in the Final Two. All of the other tracks are enjoyable (again, with few exceptions) but were not as standouts as these two tracks were. Overall, a great CD to own (or download).
  
  
• It's Yamin & Co?
  By AHQYDKRIK3LNZ on 2006-05-24
  After listening to the album I know why Fox rushed this one. They knew they'd blown this season despite having the most talented bunch & wanted to catch the fans before they switched allegiance. The selection is mediocre except for one exception. Elliott Yamin has energized the album with a great rendition of 'Moody's Mood for Love'. Who is American Idol 5? Listening to this album I think America got it wrong this time.
  
  
• ELLIOTT YAMIN IS CANDY FOR YOUR EARS.
  By A2Z90P2Y4EVIBL on 2006-05-24
  it is worth the price of the cd for elliott alone.his smooth,mellow and distinctive voice are absolutely amazing.
  
  
• Elliott IS AWESOME
  By A2G0CB0WDQQQ3K on 2006-05-24
  This IS the Elliott that all of us came to love on AI!!! Elliott's version of this song is great!! If you don't know E...then check it out!!! It is one of the standouts on this compilation and makes you wonder how he wasn't in the final?
  Chris Daughtry sounds good too although not my kind of music, and what a nice, pleasant surprise to hear the song by Melissa.
  Enjoy the album
  
  
• A Four Star Production--Elliott Yamin Gets Five!
  By A219OQ2UP6XT0N on 2006-05-23
  I am listening to this compilation for the 3rd time today, and I must say that enjoyment of MOST of the songs grow with each listening. Easily the best cut on the CD is Elliott Yamin's MMFL. Wonderful! Without this song, the CD would warrent a 3 from me. His voice is such a pleasure to listen to (they should have left out the back-up singers on this one!) That said, Taylor's is definately a lot of fun. And Chris sounds great. Love Mandisa's voice, but not the arrangement. Too much DISCO! Most of the cuts are overblown and the band is oftentimes much too loud and drowns out the singer.
  From this effort, I am definately looking forward to a CD from Elliott. It would be madness if he didn't get many offers. I also look forward to efforts by Taylor and Chris.
  
  
• Elliott Yamin? Where Have You Been All My Life?
  By A29E97NRLEXP4L on 2006-05-24
  OMG! This man is absolutely fantastic. I can't wait to see what else he comes out with. What a pure, soulful voice. I will buy anything else he records and can hardly wait for his solo CD. If you think he sounded fabulous live, he's just as good in the studio.
  
  Elliott, whatever you do, DON'T STOP SINGING!
  
  BTW, Chris Daughtry tears it up too. What a wonderful voice he has! It's just a shame these two men weren't in the finals instead. Good luck to both Elliott and Chris.
  
  I'm only giving this four stars because some of the other cuts aren't all that great. Elliott and Chris' contributions are worth the price. Mandisa is good too, so is Ace. Taylor does a decent job too.
  
  
• Elliott Yamin= 5 stars!
  By A159FOVB49OQI1 on 2006-05-24
  Elliott Yamin makes this CD worth buying. His performance of "Moody's Mood for Love" is absolutely amazing. He sounds like a polished professional. His voice is stunning. The musical arrangement is not the best, but he more than makes up for it with his vocals. Outstanding. It is almost out of place on this CD because it is so above and beoyond the vocals of the other singers.
  
  Chris Daughtry gives a solid performance as well, sounding as if he has been singing in a rock group for his whole life.
  
  The standout is definitely Yamin, making it worth the whole $10 just to hear his silky smooth voice tear this song up! You will be not be disappointed!
  
  
• 5 STARS FOR ELLIOTT YAMIN
  By A13GN3EXI3HLHA on 2006-05-24
  this compilation reeks of the mediocre "pop-plague" that FOX's American Idol production co is so good at providing us with.
  
  however, one standout performance by ELLIOTT YAMIN makes this CD worth purchasing just to hear him sing for 3 minutes and 11 seconds. Yamin's cover of James Moody's Classic "Moody's Mood For Love" showcases that not all of the American Idol contestants are consumed by indistiguishable voices and a lack of vocal control. You can feel and hear "YAMIN IS A STAR" in every phrase, riff, and line of this beautful cover.
  
  
• What a waste of money.
  By AAKDEUT71XET9 on 2006-05-24
  My friend just made me listen to it. My advice - Don't waste your money on this CD. You can go to your local clubs and karaoke bars to hear better singers. I gave it two stars because Elliott Yamin sounded rather brilliant on that James Moody song and Ace Young had one nice falsetto moment. The rest of them were either terrible or boring as hell.
  
  
• American Idol Season 5
  By ANTJ2M7TX38S4 on 2006-05-24
  The contestants that were named in the top 12 were the right choices for this season. This is a decent CD and worthy to have in your collection if you are indeed a Elliott, Chris, Taylor, Bucky and a few others fans. Elliot rendition of Moody's Mood For Love takes us back to the hey day when it was first released. Its bringing a whole new fan base to that type of music and Elliott Yamin singing is just the person whos doing it. This is one of the "songs" that has made him "Our" American Idol.
  
  
• Editorial Reviewer probably does not like Michael Macdonald
  By A17OXPG5XULGC0 on 2006-05-25
  All I can say is this Ms. La Gorce (Editorial reviewer) -- why don't you listen to the Michael Macdonald version of Takin' It To the Streets and compare it with Taylor Hick's version ?
  
  I'd say the version in this album compares FAVORABLY. There is an uncanny resemblance between Hick's voice and Michael Macdonald's. I should know... I am an audio engineer working for a stereo company and I have OBJECTIVE FREQUENCY, TEMPO, PITCH and RANGE MEASUREMENTS to show for it too.
  
  In short --- I don't think Ms; La Gorce knows what she's talking about.
  
  And no, I don't get stinged by her comment because Taylor isn't even my favorite. My best vocalist for this season was Elliott Yamin hands down. His version of Moody's Mood for Love is the best in this compilation. I only wished MORE of Mr Yamin's performances were in this compilation ( His renditions of TEACH ME TONIGHT and IT HAD TO BE YOU for instance make you forget the originals ).
  
  Mandisa's I'M EVERY WOMAN was probably one of the best performances this season. IMHO, she got voted out too early. It's good to hear the studio version here.
  
  I did not give the album 5 stars because some of the songs included were arguably not their best.
  
  For instance....
  
  Paris' MIDNIGHT TRAIN TO GEORGIA was not her best. It should've been her electrifying performance in American Standards Night of Billie Holiday's THESE FOOLISH THINGS ( which did not make it to the album ).
  
  Also, it's too bad that Kat Mcphee's version of SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW didn't make it to the album but her version of THINK was quite lively and enjoyable. However, I'd much prefered her earlier version of SINCE I FELL FOR YOU. Kat is at her best performing old style cabaret/broadway type songs that evoke Barbra Streisand.
  
  Lisa Tucker's best was Jennifer Holiday's I'M CHANGING, but what was included instead was an OK version of SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED.
  
  Bucky's Best was THUNDER ROLLS ( which was his element -- country rock ). What was included instead was a passable version of Stevie Wonder's SUPERSTITION.
  
  Ace Young set the bar high for himself with FATHER FIGURE and never reached it again in the competition. Which means that this version is really his best and it is good that it was the encore of the album.
  
  Chris Daughtry had several best performances and this version of WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE was one of them ( I would've wanted his version of Hemmorghage or I Walk the Line ).
  
  All in all, a good album but the encores were not really the best for every contestant.
  
  Hence, a 4 of 5 stars will suffice. Zero stars to the Editorial Reviewer for her tone deaf comment.
  
  
  
• Taylor/Elliott
  By A38XFCHSVY39TQ on 2006-05-26
  I'd personally like to thank Tammy, rather than withdraw a what? 5 dollar order? I wouldn't necessarily just like to bash Taylor, because I know public opinion concerning him is extremely high. However, I would suggest that if American Idol would have really been a SINGING competition, rather than a popularity contest, Taylor Hicks would not have won. What do I mean by that? To clarify, if American Idol were a radio show, it's my opinion (I'm a music major, BTW) that Elliott Yamin would have won, with Chris Daughtry and Mandisa Hundley (her dismissal is another story) following close behind.
  
  
• ELLIOTT YAMIN'S SONG BLOWS THE OTHERS OUT OF THE WATER!!!
  By A1I88POKLERGYN on 2006-05-23
  I always enjoy picking up the American Idol CD's. Usually I am fairly happy, but not overly thrilled with them. This year is different. I LOVED Moody's Mood For Love by ELLIOTT YAMIN. That kid has some amazing pipes!!! I am anxiously awaiting his solo CD. Some other high points were Melissa, Paris and Mandisa's songs. The rest of the AI crew were pretty entertaining, as well. I would definitely recommend this CD to any American Idol fan, if only to hear Elliott Yamin's song.
  
  
• Elliott Astounds us once again!
  By A3QO1YEWIL4YAW on 2006-05-24
  Elliott Yamin's version of "Moody's Mood For Love" is, quite honestly, one of the best vocal and emotional performaces that I've heard from any American Idol contestant, hands down. Show him your support and buy the CD! (Don't forget to buy his Album when he releases it, too!)
  
  
• Elliott Yamin
  By AISDX5QL2RYD7 on 2006-05-24
  I like most of the cuts on this cd, however, the stand out for me was Elliott Yamin. His rendition of James Moody's "Moody's Mood For Love" is sung with so much soul and emotion. The more I listen to it the better and better that it sounds. He sounds as if he has been singing all his life. I can't believe that someone with his vocals has only sung at local karoake bars. I purchased his song on Itunes because I feel he is the only one on the ai cd that gives me that goosebumps feeling when I hear his voice. Much love to ya E. You are my ai.
  
  
  
• Elliott is by far the true American Idol
  By AH0WJZVUVN26H on 2006-05-24
  It's amazing to read all the reviews and how most of them pertain to Elliott Yamin. He came into the competition as the underdog and truly showed American what a gifted, talented, and humble human being he is. Elliott's rendition of Moody's Mood for Love brings tears to my eyes whenever I hit track #9 on the CD player. He truly has a beautiful voice. This song alone makes the CD worth the money. I fast forward through the majority of the songs or just skip the song entirely in a few cases. We can only hope that Elliott will continue on with his music career and put out more of his beautiful music for us true Elliott fans to listen to and enjoy. We Virginian truly know who is the season 5 real American Idol is.
  
  
• Wow
  By A3Q1FVRV0CRYTH on 2006-05-23
  I just want to say that as far as seasons go this is probably the most diverse group of young hopefuls vying for the crown, and honestly, they are the best talent that AI has seen in a while. I actually enjoy hearing most of them each week. This album is the best AI album yet for it features an excelent selection of songs. Elliott Yamin is by far the standout here with 'Moody's Mood for Love'. He should have won, for he has the most polished voice I've heard on AI period. Another standout here is Paris with 'Midnight Train to Georgia' which was my favorite performance she gave all season. She is a true star with excelent vocal range and talent. Chris Daughtry serves up 'Wanted Dead or Alive' and while not my favorite performance he gave the recording is still solid (the judges were right, he has a great recording voice). Ace Young, the heartthrob of the season, does amazing with 'Father Figure' which is the perfect choice for him since it was his best performance. The song just suits him VERY well. Kelly is decent (not great song for her) & Lisa does great, as does Mandisa (I felt her overrated, but here she does well) and even Melissa (I wanted her to stick around) & Kevin serve up nice tracks (although I would have liked to see his version of 'You Raise Me Up' instead) and our two finalist Taylor Hicks (my favorite to win) and Katharine McPhee (stunning and very talented, but a bit over reaching at times) turn out brilliant tracks...My only let down was Bucky, but that's cuz I never liked him (although I will admitt that he sounds much better in the studio than he did on the show). All in all this is a great album featuring the best of the best and if your a true fan of AI you'll LOVE this.
  
  
• Encores: Bravo Elliott & Chris!
  By A2C07ZH0EDY591 on 2006-05-23
  With the release of the "Encores" album we finally have proof that AI5 collectively had the best talent this competition has ever seen. This is a very solid CD with some standouts from some idol contenders and some unexpected flops. This is definitely the best compilation CD this franchise has ever put out.
  
  Based on this album it's very obvious which contestants should definitely have a shot at a successful recording career (Elliott, Chris, Ace, Katharine, Taylor, Paris). Which idol wannabes might have a chance at some sort of a recording opportunity - with the right song and right production (Melissa, Bucky, Mandisa) and which amateurs were definitely WAY out of their league (Lisa, Kevin, Kellie).
  
  Track by Track Review:
  
  Melissa McGhee: I was always a fan of Melissa and I think she sounds great on this track. The main problem is that her use of runs is extremely predictable and she uses them a little bit too frequently, oversinging at parts. Also, the ending of the song gets a little bit out of control with the background singers and the unnecessary shouting. With that said this is definitely one of the best tracks and a great way to start the album.
  
  Bucky Covington: Bucky's country growl actually sounds pretty good on this track. That doesn't change the fact that I'm not a fan of it. If you've liked Bucky, you'll like the song. I personally would have preferred a country song instead of a Stevie song, but in the words of Randy, he "worked it out."
  
  Mandisa: What happened to Man-DIVA? She certainly did not bring any edge to this classic. While listening to this cut I felt like she was just another everyday woman trying to sing a Karaoke version of "I'm Every Woman." The level of production is way below many of the other tracks and the background singers outsing her during the entire song. For being such a great singer I was really disappointed with this track.
  
  Chris Daughtry: Wow, this track was very impressive. Not only was the production right on the money, but Chris' vocals really shined. Chris was totally in his element, and it sounded like something you could probably hear on your local KISS affiliate right now. Chris wasn't even my favorite this season, but I can't help myself from listening to this track again and again. While it's not my absolute favorite on the CD - it is one of the really stellar cuts. Chris is definitely going to succeed in the music business. That's a fact (not like anybody had a doubt in their mind anyway).
  
  Ace Young: While there were a few minor problems, this was actually a very good track. The first is that the background singers sing the entire chorus while Ace just does little improvisational runs. It lacks a certain quality through that - I think he should have also recorded the chorus and then sung over his own voice. (Chris did that in parts of "Wanted Dead Or Alive" and it sounded great). Also, the song is a little bit longer than I would have liked it to be so by the end you're wondering if you should just wait it out or skip to the next track. With that said, this is the style of music Ace excels at and probably one of the only Ace performances I enjoyed on the show.
  
  Taylor Hicks: Well, what can I say - this is Taylor and it sounds identical to "stage" Taylor minus all the crazy dancing. I thought something new would come out of his recording voice, but surprisingly enough - it just sounds like...Taylor. You either like him or you don't. I personally don't so I won't comment on what I think about the song :).
  
  Lisa Tucker: This sounds very amateur to me. The production, her voice, everything. It totally reminds me of a Kidz Bop track with very cheesy, oversang vocals and the whole thing is very childish and amateur. This was not the right song for Lisa, nor does her voice sound like anything special on this track.
  
  Kellie Pickler: I must admit at first I thought Kellie's country voice would sound OK on a CD, but with this mess little Schtickler proved me wrong. She is way more twangy than any country artist you will hear on the radio these days. Now country has a more urban/r&b approach and country singers keep on getting better and better vocally. For Kellie to be a successful country artist would require the entire country genre to take three giant steps backward. The female gritty country growl that she overuses in this song sounds like a stretch to bring something exciting to the song, but really doesn't add anything. They should just make a track with her talking about...well anything. I think it would be more entertaining than listening to her sing.
  
  Elliott Yamin: What a beautiful track. My favorite on the entire CD. Elliott's smooth vocals carry this astounding track through and through. At first the jazz arrangement may seem like a bit much (with the strings and the saxophone and the background singers), but after listening to it a few times the arrangement gets better and better and Elliott's voice sounds better and better. If this boy does not get some sort of a recording contract then America is out of their damn mind. I can imagine hearing this on a Light jazz/adult contemporary station and it being a hit. I can't wait to hear Elliott come out with something more modern. I could just listen to his voice all day long...
  
  Katharine McPhee: She sounds a lot better than I thought she would on this track, as her performance on the show didn't do much for me. She handles her runs well in the studio and I think that although this wasn't the right song for her, that if she wins this whole competition over Taylor that she has got the perfect voice for the type of CD AI would like to manufacture. Regardless, if she does not win and make a pop CD - she could be successful on broadway if she cuts back on all the runs. A solid track from McPheever.
  
  Paris Bennett: While Paris' vocals are spot on with the track I can't help but be disappointed. I would've loved to hear her sing something different (either jazz or modern). This style of music just does not scream PARIS to me. The production sounded karaoke to me as well, while her voice sounded brilliant. Paris can do anything with her voice and it will sound nice, she just needs the right backing (and the right song). I can't wait to see the type of music we will hear from her within the upcoming year.
  
  Kevin Covais: A weak track from a weak contender in the competition. I assume they put this last as it will most likely be the least listened to song. While his voice sounds OK, it is nowhere near the talent on the rest of the CD. He sounds too young, slightly feminine, and out of his league. I'm not disappointed that I will not be seeing Kevin at the Idols Live tour this summer.
  
  With that said - the stellar tracks on the CD were Elliott's and Chris'. The strong & solid tracks were Melissa, Ace, Taylor, and Katharine. The OK tracks were Bucky & Paris. And the "throwaway tracks" go to Mandisa, Kellie, Kevin, and Lisa.
  
  
  
• Very Enjoyable
  By A2YO4603UHKZT3 on 2006-05-23
  Although I was an early Idol fan, this was my first purchase of an American Idol cast album. I have to say it is pretty good. Not exactly outstanding but worth picking up if you love Idol.
  
  THE STANDOUTS:
  - Melissa McGhee who sounds surprisingly seasoned in her take on "What About Love".
  - Elliott Yamin who is in prime vocal form on "Moody's Mood for Love" and almost recreates the magic of his live performance.
  - Ace Young who proves on "Father Figure" that he really does have a great recording voice (color me surprised).
  
  OTHER STRONG PERFORMANCES:
  - Chris Daughtry who pulls off a pretty convincing rendition of "Wanted Dead or Alive".
  - Taylor Hicks who I admit I'm not a fan of, but he sounds like he's having so much fun in "Takin' It to the Streets".
  - Paris Bennett whose strong, husky vocals on "Midnight Train to Georgia" are right on point and she is infectious--even on CD.
  
  I was disappointed with the tracks from Lisa Tucker and Katherine McPhee. The songs they sang are fun but not the best to showcase how great their vocals really are. I think these two do ballads so well and it's a shame they couldn't do those types of songs on the album.
  
  Overall, an enjoyable CD.
  
  
• Elliott can really sing!
  By A30NZSBXVMNOHW on 2006-05-24
  Elliott Yamin's Moody's Mood for Love is the sole (or should I say soul!) reason to buy this CD. His gorgeous voice will introduce this jazz classic to a new generation of listeners. I'm anxiously awaiting his own debut CD!
  
  
• 5 Stars for Elliott Yamin!
  By A2P7ZCNZO2C2XF on 2006-05-24
  What can I say about this young man with THE VOICE? Elliott plays on your heartstrings with his soulful rendition of "Moody's Mood For Love," by far and away the best track on this medicore CD. His God-given voice is a musical feast to your ears. I'm waiting anxiously for Elliott's first CD to purchase and savor. It would be a masterpiece!
  
  
• Elliott, Melissa, and Paris are awesome!
  By A2GTENNINKURV1 on 2006-05-24
  I think this CD is far better than last years AI CD. I especially love Elliott's Moody's Mood For Love. it was his performance of this song that made me pick up the phone and vote on AI for the first time. Melissa does a great job,too, as well as, Paris. They are all great but Elliott, Melissa and Paris are awesome on this CD. Buy it you will love it!
  
  

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