Taylor Hicks, 'The Distance'

The buzz: One of the least musically relevant "American Idol" winners (though probably a notch above velvet teddy bear Ruben Studdard), Hicks’ still managed to claim the No. 2 spot on the Billboard album chart with his 2006 major label debut. The singer, who seems like he’s practicing to grow up to be Michael McDonald, was dropped from J Records in 2008.

The verdict: Hicks has a natural appeal that’s hard to dislike. But his voice, while fine enough, has less personality and still doesn’t sound ready for prime time. The songs, each of which seems to emulate a more established, better artist, aren’t likely to attract new members to Hicks’ "Soul Patrol" fan club either. "Nineteen," about a football hero who joins the Marines after 9/11, has conviction but sounds like a Bruce Springsteen reject, and "Seven Mile Breakdown" is like an Edwin McCain cover of Robert Randolph. The mild jazz of "Once Upon a Lover of Mine" belongs in an elevator (or on the "60 and Still Kickin’ It" deck of a cruise ship), and Hicks should give the somber ballad "Maybe You Should" back to Billy Joel. The pained moan of "I Live on a Battlefield" achieves some momentum only to transition into the lamer than lame country storytelling of "Wedding Day Blues." When the record’s over, you won’t have any better idea of who Hicks is than before you started.

Did you know? Hicks is currently playing Teen Angel in the touring production of "Grease"—a milieu for which he seems better suited his stabs at conventional pop stardom.

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