From being the master of his own domain as a struggling musician for ten years touring up and down the Southeast region; to what Hicks calls "Dancing with the Devil" the phrase he used two years ago in an eloquent Rolling Stone interview, to describe going through the process of the commercial pop music machine known to us all as "American Idol"; to branching out and creating his own label and an album that is all encompassing of his artistic integrity.

Just at the tender age of thirty-two Hicks truly has gone the Distance. With this, his actual "fifth" musical outing Hicks explores his "New Found Freedom", which in my opinion should have been the title of this release. The album does have a seemingly clichéd love theme around its periphery, which of course is "it is better to have loved and lost then to have never have loved at all" with a bit of optimism "the grass is greener on the other side" thrown in...with tracks like "Maybe you Should" (My favorite track/Grammy Worthy!!!), "What's Right is Right", and a sweet cover of Bobby Womack's "Woman's got to Have It" (minus the intro) guest starring another American Idol Alum and close friend of Hicks Elliot Yamin the two together exemplify true Blue-Eyed Soul at its best!

The Distance is a solid effort and it showcases the story based foundation to Hicks's songwriting style, having penned or co-penned about eighty percent of the album. Hicks has stated in several interviews over the past few weeks that with this album he wanted to take the listener on a musical journey and with the final product he accomplished his goal. The album opens with a great start with it's title track "The Distance" but about mid-way through there are a few twists and turns that should have been left off the final itinerary. One track being the comical pop culture mockery track "Keeping it Real" and the Latin infused "Once Upon A Lover" that just are out of place in true "Where's Waldo" fashion.

Hicks has also been quoted to have had a large arsenal of original material for this album which has me perplexed about the three covers that made the cut. Though Hicks truly pays homage to the original performers with his alluringly smooth Michael McDonaldesque fervor. I myself and I am sure other Blue-Eyed Soul enthusiasts would have loved for him to dig down deep and bring out that gritty down home Southern sound that Hicks always delivers while performing Live, which is raw and unapologetic and is translated onto tracks like "New Found Freedom" and "Seven Mile Breakdown" which I hope Hicks realizes that either track should be the next single off the album. ("Seven Mile Breakdown" Written by Wynn Christian front man for the Indie Southern/Soul-Blues Spoonful James, which Hicks would be crazy not to be the first band signed to his fledgling label)

Hicks got it right teaming up with Simon Climie who has produced the likes of Eric Clapton, Faith Hill, and go figure guess who Michael McDonald. I think Hicks erred in not bringing on board other producers to round out the R&B Soul side of the album like a Jack Splash (Anthony Hamilton, Jennifer Hudson, Alicia Keys), Bobby Ross Avila (Mary J Blige, Usher), or a R&B/Soul Vets like an L.A. Reed or Teddy Riley; I think those total collaborations would have compiled a more well rounded album.

Signifying his Modern Whomp Records label with a simple and humbling start with this effort I believe Hicks has just touched the surface on his new independent pathway. With Hicks's "New Found Freedom" it appears we are all in for a long journey, because Hicks has truly paid his dues and he seems ready to collect.

(In your Time/Under the Radar-Independently produced; the self-titled Taylor Hicks- First major label release-J Records/Arista; Early Works-Compilation of IYT and UTR-first release on Modern Whomp Records Label)

Claudia Oakenfull
Editor and Chief
BES Magazine
www.besmagazine.blogspot.com