Daughtry debut dashes hopes

For the past six months, we've heard how McLeansville's Chris Daughtry was a cut above most "American Idol" contestants. Even though he didn't win this past season, he was supposed to be more rockin', distinctive and original than the rest of the field. And because he got an unprecedented amount of input on his debut album, with writing credits on 10 of 12 songs, there was reason to hope it might be something more than cookie-cutter "AI" fare.

Despite all that, "Daughtry" (RCA Records) might be the most generic album yet to emerge from the show. If you put Fuel, Live, Matchbox 20, Creed, Nickelback, Hinder and half a dozen other faceless mainstream rock acts into a blender, hit "puree" and poured the results into your playback device of choice, this is what you'd have -- an album that suggests the soundtrack for Army recruiting commercials. As soon as it's over, you can't remember a thing about it.

Well, that's not entirely true. But the details that linger -- most notably Daughtry's ultra-lame lyrics -- are not positive. If an aspiring 12-year-old songwriter earnestly presented you with the couplet "I'm slowly getting closure/I guess it's really over" (from "Over You"), you'd probably do your best to smile, pat him on the head and send him on his way. But given that Daughtry's songwriting is supposed to be his big drawing card, his reliance on cliche is embarrassing.

Vocally, Daughtry comes on like a faux-grunge Michael Bolton. There's really no difference in his delivery -- whether he's crooning or howling, it all sounds just as blank. As for lyrical content, Daughtry tends to play the victim whether he's singing about romantic trouble ("It's Not Over," "Gone," "Breakdown," "Over You"), an accused murderer ("All These Lives") or what a drag it is to be plucked from obscurity and turned into a big star who has to spend all his time on the road ("Home," which warns, "Be careful what you wish for").

The music is as nondescript as the verbiage, although ex-Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash puts a little get-up-and-go into "What I Want."

Come back, Clay, all is forgiven.