Album review: Daughtry's 'Leave This Town'

To understand the sensibility Daughtry brings to hard rock, read the acknowledgments in the CD booklet for "Leave This Town." Every member of the band put together by Chris Daughtry, the chart-topping former "American Idol" contestant, thanks his wife profusely -- except for the drummer Joey Barnes, who expresses deep gratitude to a spouse he hasn't yet met.

What happened to the stripper-worshiping hedonism of hair metal, or even the lonely, monkish pose those messy '90s grunge rockers struck? Daughtry and his boys are marriage maniacs. That's what gives this band its pioneering edge, despite the utter predictability of its music.

Focusing on the drama of long-term relationships, Daughtry does something more radical than many more sonically adventurous (and fashionable) rock bands dare.

This doesn't make "Leave This Town" anything but a familiar listen. This is by-the-numbers arena rock, played with muscular competence by a relatively young band showing off its chops by executing successful formulas.

That unwed drummer might be the best thing about Daughtry the band -- Barnes is itchy enough to push forward anthems that might otherwise plod. Guitarist Josh Steely also has his moments, throwing in spicy little riffs. And there's Daughtry's voice, of course, an instrument cleaner and stronger than that of anybody else singing mainstream rock right now. Sometimes the notes he hits here are so open, you'd swear someone had invented a new audio processor just to generate it: Vibrato-Tune. But the mix on "Leave This Town," by hit doctor Chris Lord-Alge, is so compressed that it's tough to notice what each player is doing.

Because of this, though many of its songs surely will be radio staples for the next two years. "Leave This Town" might not make an impression on those not already inclined to love it, but Daughtry is still a major architect in mainstream rock, and his music is part of an important shift in the genre.

This Christian father of two is not the first rocker to tackle the subject of monogamy, but he could be the most focused on its ups and downs and the most passionate about its value. It's one thing to offer to lay your lover down on a bed of roses, the way Jon Bon Jovi did; it's another to write about how an argument can make you stalk off clutching your car keys and then come slinking back, or to assess a breakup with the level-headed words, "Don't be surprised when we hate this tomorrow, God knows we tried to find an easier way."

That song, "No Surprise" was co-written by Nickelback's Chad Kroeger; but unlike that band, Daughtry never indulges in tongue-wagging lechery. When he does address new love, in "Supernatural," it's with a blushing hopefulness that would have suited a 1960s girl group (or the Jonas Brothers).

More often, Daughtry dwells on those downs -- the misunderstandings, regrets, momentary straying and emotionally charged returns that make up a lifetime spent together. Most remarkable are the two songs he co-wrote with the talented pen-for-hire Brian Howes.

"Ghost of Me" vainly comforts a lover whose (possibly justified) doubts about the singer come out in her dreams. "What I Meant to Say" is anti-apology from a tongue-tied guy who can't get the upper hand with his argumentative mate. Both focus on the kinds of real problems that actually wreck relationships, not on the fantasy realm of romance.

Daughtry might get more credit for his interesting perspective if he were a sharper writer on a line-by-line level. He's prone to clichés, and to flowery phrases like "tonight the sunset means so much," which work against his common-man persona. He could learn something from more grass-roots songwriters like Billy Bragg and John Darnielle of the Mountain Goats, who've been burrowing into the details of domestic life for years, in more literary settings. He can also learn from country music, which he reaches toward here with the not too original Vince Gill duet "Tennessee Line."

But what's important about Daughtry's relationship rock is that it is rock, macho and cathartic. In recent years, the audience for this music has matured and expanded to include middle-aged PTA parents and the "nice" kids who would never have gone for the gender-bending, whiskey-swilling lifestyle with which the music was long associated.

Chris Daughtry and his mates are making rock that's not just safe for this more sober crowd, but powerfully attuned to it. Dismiss him at your peril.

-- Ann Powers

Daughtry
"Leave This Town"
RCA
Two and a half stars

Comments

[Clark]

Two and a Half stars, Really?
You don't know music.
Go back to your bubblegum crap.

[Pam]

Wow, 2 1/2 stars!! Nice comparisons too. Who are you?

[HippyHo]

I don't see really anything worthy in Daughtry. Yeah, nice voice. But nothing deep or creative or even majorly crafted in this. It won't ever appeal anyone beside US usual American Idol crew. No poignancy, nothing remarkable in any of these songs. It's like Nickleback, without any of their edging attempt at doing rock (not that they are that hot anyway, but light years better than Daughtry for sure). The only cool thing this man has done so far is the witty cover of Poker face. That's not a compliment.
Even though, if this blog can give some credit to the dreadful Disney stuff (JonasBrothers, Miley Cyrus and talentless company), then I suppose Daughtry should be given way more credit than two and half stars. This record is harmless. Not that I was expecting anything better anyway.

[Sarah]

"That song, "No Surprise" was co-written by Nickelback's Chad Kroeger"

That's the problem--Daughtry, though he is a really good singer, he sounds pretty much like Nickeback, and Nickelback is not really rock--it's just bland yet catchy noise. I don't really get how it can be considered rock--it's more like the rock equivalent of elevator music. I will never for the life of me understand why this music is popular.

[Sarah]

"Two and a Half stars, Really?
You don't know music.
Go back to your bubblegum crap"

To many people, Daughtry's music is bubblegum crap--just a slightly more rocky version.

[musicisdead]

Everything about this album is cheese. Seriously, it lacks depth and insight, and the musicality is something you would hear in the early part of this decade.

[musicisdead]

Everthing about this album is cheese. Seriously, the song September was wasted on Daughtry's voice. I was really disappointed with more people bowing to the execs.

[FlexMan]

I try and look at it from Chris' perspective which is that not long ago he was playing in a garage with his buddies. So-called cheesy or not, doesn't matter. He's doing what he loves and that is much more than those who arm-chair-musician's out there who would give everything to have what Chris has achieved thus far.

[Paquita]

Seriously, Daughtry is just another evidence reality shows are ruining music. There was a reason this dude was struck in a garage before idol (just like any other contestant beside first edition, when Idol was an honest trial and attempt at discovering unknown talents): he simply isn't able to raise beyond average. Nice voice. Zero inspiration. Good for millions of avid, tasteless AI fans out there, sure. But ashaming as for definition of where current american rock pretends to be at.
This album is a plain waste of time.

[Daniel B]

Everytime I see someone commenting that 'Daughtry sounds just like Nickelback' I roll my eyes at the stupidity. Sure, Chris Daughtry and Chad Kroeger sound just exactly alike - if you're tone deaf and hate rock. I bet you think that Bon Jovi and Guns n Roses sound alike too, huh? Idiocy. They couldn't be more different.

Daughtry's latest effort is genuinely one of the best rock albums of the past 10 years, the first album was pretty good but nowhere near the league of this latest one,. For some reason, just because the guy started out on American Idol, people love to come out of the woodwork insulting him or putting his work down as inferior. Well, whatever. I'm a real rock fan, and I don't care where the band comes from, I just care that they rock. And Daughtry definately does.

[Madeleine R]

Personally, i think Daughtry is amazing. I also find it idiotic & stupid for someone to compare him to Chad Kroeger, because they are not alike what so ever. Daniel B, i 100% agree with you. Real rock fans know what good is, and Daughtry fits the bill. Amazing album <3 Oh and as for you, "Paquita"...get the wax out of your ears, because Daughtry & this album are just genious. I'd pay to see you do better. Then again, i probably wouldn't want to waste my money. :)

[Stephen D.]

I appreciate the original review by Ann Powers. It seems fair, constructive, and maintains perspective. In the end, I will most likely go listen to the new Daughtry CD and decide for myself. And, I'll probably watch for other reviews by Ann Powers.

[jerry]

I find it so funny how much hate people have towards this guy. This man has it going on and has many fans so all the hate mail, I bet Daughtry would be laughing at it.

[Alisonnyc]

I feel the need to defend my boy, Chris Daughtry. I am a HUGE fan and have been since Idol. Not only do I own Leave This Town and listen to it constantly and think its AMAZING, but I have also met Chris, TWICE and ha always been a super nice guy and VERY VERY accomodating with pics, signing stuff, hugs etc. He is VERY talented and a GREAT guy! Who CARES if you think his voice sounds like another musicians' voice? He is topping the charts, selling out venues for his AWESOME shows, and people WORLDWIDE looooove him! Including me! I think people are so jealous and mad that he got his beginning from AI....well, good for him! He's a household name and WELL DESERVED! This guy can sing his face off, plays guitar, writes his OWN music...sorry to all those who disbelieve, this guy is GOING PLACES whether you like it or not. Embrace it cause he's gonna be in your face more than you'll care for....GREAT for me though! This dude got it GOIN' ON!!!!

[Frazier]

Ann Powers doesn't have a clue, I hate critics, I'm glad the internet is putting them out of jobs

[M. S.]

When I first heard this CD, I was disappointed. However on repeated listenings I have
grown to like it more and more. I think it was a mistake for him to write with Chad Kroeger;
in my opinion Nickleback is pure velveeta and the first single, "No Surprise" was just that;
a formulaic piece of hard candy. There are much better singles on the album like What I Meant to Say , Ghost of Me and Learn my Lesson, but it's typical for the labels to want to release the most tame, predictable stuff. Anyway, D sounds nothing like Kroeger; in fact he is one of the best singers of all time and completely deserves his success.

[Seasoned Musician]

Yawn,..... Wow.

I don't get it.....this music has nothing in the originality department.
Predictable to the last. Yeah it'll push it's way up in the charts...but
when it's all said and done.....forgettable. Kinda speaks for the state
of affairs that the music biz has been in lately.

Will I be listening to this in ten years?

[Zion]

Daniel B-Couldn't agree more, every word is holy.
Real rock fans know what's good and Daughtry is definitely one of the best, if not the best Rock band that has been out there.
I hate how people either compare his to Chad Kroeger which is plain dumb, or how they like to insult him just because he came from AI!
So what?That doesn't mean he's not a great singer with a great talent.
Absolutely amazing album, every song is just so meaningful and inspiring, best by far than any rock album I've heard lately.
My favorite album until that one was their first, and now it's the second, can't stop listening to it, loving each moment I do.
All you people, real people that know rock music know that Daughtry's just plain awesome.