by Katie Kenerly
When I say “Chris Daughtry,” what immediately comes to mind? Probably tearful eliminations from the now-passé American Idol, set to his hit song “Home.” I’m sure the question on all of your minds is: “Where in the world is he these days???” Well fear not, good people: the Grammy-winning finalist of Idol’s fifth season is alive and well, and has even come out with a new album!
Let me start off by saying that when I signed up to write a review of the new Daughtry album, Baptized, I did so entirely as a joke. But I followed through and listened to it, and it was pretty much exactly what I expected it to be: really bad. Released on November 9, Baptized is the band’sfourth studio album since they formed in 2006 after Chris’ own Idol elimination.
If you ask me, they should have hung up their guitars following the release of their first album, Daughtry, which (unsurprisingly) remains theband’s best-selling work. It even reached the top of the charts just nine weeks after its release. (Confession time: I know a disturbing amount of songs off of that album… But hey, “It’s Not Over” was a hit, too… right?)
Baptized has a different sound than the band’s earlier releases, which probably has something to do with the fact that they simply aren’t relevant anymore. In what was probably an attempt to appeal to a contemporary audience, Daughtry has toned down his southern-rock/grunge shtick in favor of a more pop-y approach to music, but, truth be told, it just isn’t working for him.
In the years that have passed since the North Carolina native was voted off the show, his popularity has dwindled to an almost nonexistent level. Most people have forgotten all about the man who looks like Val Kilmer and Vin Diesel’s tatted love child, which is why I do not anticipate Baptized to be a huge hit – not that anyone had very high expectations in the first place.
Sorry for raking you over the coals like this, Chris, but you kind of brought it on yourself when you decided that being completely bald with a goatee was a good look. That being said, I wish you the best of luck in all of your future musical endeavors (may there be few).
This review was just plain mean.