This came out in 2003 – or at least that’s when I got it. Here’s what I said about it back then (with some minor editing):
Another TV season, another overnight-sensation singer, another pre-fab disc of generic glop ground out by hired-gun tunesmiths and faceless session musicians.
Oh sure, I’ll admit that of all the false “idols” and nanosecond “popstars” to which I’ve been subjected, Clay Aiken could arguably be one of the least annoying, for two simple reasons: 1) His voice has a Britpoppy warmth somewhere between Rick Astley, Boy George and Paul Heaton of Beautiful South (look it up, kiddies); and 2) He doesn’t oversing every syllable like most of the female vocalists do-ooh-ooh-ooh-oh-oh-oh-yeah-ah-ah-ahhhhhhh! But if Aiken really wants to give us the Measure Of A Man, how about writing a song or two? Or even a set of lyrics? Unless and until these so-called talents start showing a facility for something besides wooing Paula Abdul and inspiring teenagers to use the speed-dial, CDs like this will remain exactly what they are — nothing but disposable marketing tie-ins to trendy TV shows.
