Audio Day Dream - Dark Publications

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Editorial Reviews:

Amazon.com
The strategy sessions over how to present Blake Lewis's post-American Idol debut must have been excruciating, as label-types scratched their heads, wondering: Is it possible to market a disc full of beat-boxing? If not, would the world warm to Blake Lewis, pop charmer? Or Blake Lewis, balladeer? The safest bet seems to have been to build a better post-prime time set by way of experimentation. Audio Day Dream unfolds much the way late-season American Idol shows do: It sets Lewis on a lot of platforms and lets him play up his charm, if not always his straight-outta-the-'80s musical predilections. Partially the brainchild of producer Ryan Tedder (One Republic), "Break Anotha" is pure beat-box Blake and, as such, it's demonically catchy. The same can be said for hip-hop and electro-tinged numbers such as "She's Makin' Me Lose It" and "Gots to Get To Her." Stabs at sentimentality surface, and they're not bad: "I Got U" may very well get you, if you like soft pop stylized with a nod in Adam Levine's direction. Overall, ADD demonstrates why Lewis blazed his way into AI's final round: He's out there, sure, but he's willing to reel it in enough to keep it real for the masses. -Tammy La Gorce

Customer Reviews: Read 123 more reviews...

5 out of 5 stars

Audio Day Dream December 4, 2007
59 out of 68 found this review helpful

So I really liked Blake Lewis' musical taste and experimentation on American Idol, tolerated the beatboxing but wasn't necessarily in love with it, was sure Jordin and Melinda outdid him on vocals and had absolutely no idea what his first album would sound like.

The label gave Blake relatively free rein on this album and he was heavily involved, with a writing credit on all but one of the tracks and I suspect a hand in production for all of them. There's an overall concept of "updated 80s mixtape", with various fusions of rock, pop, funk, r&b and soul with an overlay of a heavy 80s vibe of synth and electro effects.

What it all blends into is what I think is the first true pop record that hasn't fallen victim to Idol's "safe and sold" route. It's nicknamed A.D.D. for a reason, but somehow it all hangs together, and Blake keeps his reputation for eclectic style with substance. First thing you'll think: "Oh jeez, the 80s are back!", then "Hm, maybe that's not so bad after all."

The beatboxing is fairly minimal (except for one track which is *just* beatboxing) and his vocals are good enough for the job. The music is more about the beats, melodies, and production - lots of layers and little details; you really have to hear this through headphones to get the full experience. There are fun interludes between many of the tracks but I wish they'd gotten their own tracks instead of being stuck on the ends of songs.

1. Silence is Golden - short intro track, electro sound. Blake did a lot of EDM and ambient style singing in his former life and snuck it in on this and the Outro.

2. Break Anotha - First single, takes a guitar line from Jane's Addiction, adds beats and a Jekyll & Hyde storyline in the lyrics and turns out a club banger. Highlight is the crazy drum breakdown in the bridge, produced by Blake himself. 4/5

3. Gots To Get Her - Clever take on "Puttin On The Ritz", very catchy, another club song, the second single? 4/5

4. Know My Name - More mellow R&Btype track, reminded me of Musiq's "Just Friends". Lupe Fiasco guest-raps; catchy chorus, the bridge is the highlight here too. 4/5

5. How Many Words - Breakup letter to the ex, first of the surprising number of ballads on the disc. Nice layering of harmonies, maybe the vocal scratching is unnecessary but the song might drag a bit without it. 4.5/5

6. Surrender - First of the iffy tracks in the middle, first of the more obviously 80s songs on the disc. Good beat, catchy but it starts to all sound the same around the middle of the song. The only track Blake doesn't have a writing credit on. 2.5/5

7. Hate 2 Love Her - And here come the M5 comparisons. A little too similar to the songs in this part of the disc for me, doesn't really stand out. 2/5

8. Without You - The slow sappy ballad on the disc; would be right at home as the last song at a 1986 senior prom. Weakest track on the disc for me, could've done without it. 1/5

9. Here's My Hello - I get a lot of variety of reaction on this from people who hear it. Some say it's hot and should definitely be the next single, some say meh, doesn't stand out. I'm of the second group. Can't deny it's catchy though. 2/5

10. What'cha Got To Lose - Moving back into better territory. This is a more uptempo track, co-written with Idol buddy Chris Richardson and based off one of Blake's pre-Idol original songs. Hints of Tupac's California Love? 3/5

11. She's Makin Me Lose It - Okay, I gotta give this 5 cause it's SO PRINCE. Lots of fun! bt produced on this. 5/5

12. BShorty Grabs Mic! - Beatbox track, you'll love it or hate it. I guess he had to have one of these on here if this CD was really gonna be him. 1.5/5

13. End of The World - Now moving into the end section of electro-ballads. This to me is the strongest one, lots of lush layering, less boyband than you'd think. One of my faves. 5/5

14. 1000 Miles - So supposedly there's a "Sting-meets-Neverending-Story" song somewhere on the disc, and I think this is it :) Nice beat, melody flies, great driving song, another fave for me. 4.5/5

15. I Got U - Last full track, sweet melody, midtempo (none of these are true slow ballads except for Without You), ends the album on an up note. 4/5

16. I Choose Noise - Outro, the ambient/edm effects Blake likes so much.

Overall: Good strong debut with a unique sound. Hopefully enough people out there can set aside American Idol and give this CD a fair chance, because barring some same-ish sounding songs in the middle (I won't say boyband but I won't blame you if you do) this is a very smart, listenable album with lots of interesting ideas. Looking forward to more from Blake! Music is 4/5, but skewing to five stars cause originality should be encouraged ;)

4 out of 5 stars

Raptuous Daydream December 4, 2007
57 out of 63 found this review helpful

It is undeniable the talented beatboxer, Blake Lewis, is up to something good. Audio Day Dream confirms it. While many might liken him to be another Justin Timberlake-wannabe, Lewis has it in him to differentiate himself a little. On his debut outing, he works with mostly OneRepublic frontman, Ryan Tedder. The result is more electro-funk-pop with a tinge of rock.

First single, Break Anotha (co-written with Ryan Tedder and Sam Watters of Color Me Badd fame) is incredibly catchy and funky with some parts reminiscent of Missy Elliott. Know My Name probably draws much of its inspiration from 80s Prince (and thank god the only song that features rapping by Lupe Fiasco). The sappier tracks like How Many Words and I Got You recall Color Me Badd (Watters contributes again on End of the World). That's not a bad thing for they feel entirely different from those faster tracks. Electronic maestro BT contributes a track She's Making Me Losin' It where Lewis sings in his falsetto amid the blips and beats. End of the World and 1000 Miles also signal his aspirations in electronic music, with the latter breaking into vocodered stutters towards the end.

Knowing that beatboxing isn't the kind of thing the masses might enjoy, he has kept them mostly on the interludes interspersed throughout the album, occasionally showcasing them on the main songs. The majority of the album revels in the uptempo beats, something the newbie is effortless at. The closer, ...I Choose Noise is a sign of more good things to come. Except for a few fillers in the middle, Audio Day Dream does a good job at capturing Blake Lewis' musical persona. (B+)

4 out of 5 stars

A.D.D. - A distinctive debut December 22, 2007
19 out of 22 found this review helpful

He's no Kelly Clarkson, but at least Blake Lewis has made his mark by co-writing twelve of the songs on this album. The mix may best be described as eclectic, and you'll probably have to listen to the album a few times to get a feel for it, but I think you'll find a few tracks here to make this worth your while.

Hint: This album sounds best through headphones with the volume turned up.

The tracks that deserve a comment are:

1.Break Anotha - A little techno, a little beat-boxing, a little funk, but all held together with a great beat. A good choice for the first single.
2.Gots To Get Her - An updated tribute to "Puttin' on the Ritz"
3.How Many Words - Nice melody and a comfortable vocal range for him
4.Surrender - The one he didn't co-write. All around radio-friendly song with an eighties feel.
5.Without You -Arguably one of the best songs on the album, if you like eighties ballads, that is.
6.End of the World - A mid-tempo track suited to his vocal range, with a swelling chorus. This would make a good single
7.1000 Miles - Nothing to do with the Vanessa Carlton song, and won't be as big a hit, but well worth a listen anyway
8.I Got U - Another mid-tempo track to end the album. Sounds boy-band-ish.

The song titles may make an English teacher faint, but you can't accuse Blake Lewis of not being himself on this album.

Amanda Richards, December 22, 2007

4 out of 5 stars

Surprisingly Good! December 4, 2007
17 out of 22 found this review helpful

I wasn't really a Blake Lewis fan during his AI run; I mostly found the beatboxing thing annoying. But I just listened to his debut album online, and it's surprisingly good! I'm impressed, and I think he'll do really well with these songs -- I can definitely see a couple of them getting radio play. Congrats, Blake!

2 out of 5 stars

Blake Lewis' debut album an Audio Nightmare December 4, 2007
16 out of 44 found this review helpful

America first fell in love with Blake Lewis' creativity and showmanship on American Idol, not his voice. Lewis always fell short when it came to ballads on American Idol, and he does the same on his debut album as well. But surprisingly Blake falls short on the upbeat hip/ hop songs as well. Where is the Blake Lewis America first fell in love with?

Blake Lewis' debut album Audio Day Dream is more an audio nightmare than an `Audio Day Dream.' On ADD, Lewis throws in a half dozen unnecessary, poorly produced beat boxing interludes, along a excessive amount of mediocre pop ballads that do not suit Lewis' vocal range and style. When Lewis does succeed, it is not exactly pop perfection. His fast paced more electropop songs suit his minimal vocal range much better than ballads and slow songs, but the finished product is still not listenable. The songs are a blend of too much, and Ryan Tedder, the producer on this album and lead singer of OneRepublic, does not seem to know how to produce and synthesize this mess of sounds into something listenable.

Although the album never really comes together, you have to give Lewis credit for taking chances. ADD certainly is the most creative debut from an Idol yet. Lewis just needs some more time and better producers to create something less irritating and more listenable. And next time, Blake Lewis, choose a title that is not some type of disorder.

2/5 stars for taking chances.

Download: Break Anotha, Human

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