Taylor Hicks

With everyman-blues vocals, world-weary romantic inclinations and a casually toe-tapping groove, Taylor Hicks' debut sounds like the work of the veteran performer he is. Hicks kicks things off with lead single "The Runaround," a horn-driven, soul-pop celebration reminiscent of the mid-1970s radio heroes he's successfully covered in the past. With plenty of meaty balladry at its center, the album closes with two Hicks-penned tunes, including the southern-spiced "Soul Thing," which could easily serve as the American Idol's default mission statement.