Bo Bice

The Real Thing

3.5/5

Key Tracks: The Real Thing, Lie…It's Alright

No radio-singles so far, but non-hesitant sincerity and throaty passion is what you'll get from Bo Bice's deep voice in this album. Another artist brought into the American Idol spotlight, Alabama's Bo is true to the south with his openness and acoustic soft rock riffs. The album introduces some songs written by none other than Nickleback's Chad Kroeger and Jon Bon Jovi.

Every track on "The Real Thing" is of the singsong ballad type with full musical accompaniment and vocal stretches with the exception of "Lie…It's Alright", which is an obvious leap from his typical style. Not only are the riffs faster paced, but also there are background cuts of him talking. This is perhaps the liveliest song on the album.

Another decent track is "Nothing Without You" which has a rockin' backbeat but melodious vocals. Subject-wise, most of the songs are sappy and romantic; Bo Bice failed to find subjects that varied out of the overused ordinary.

+Grace
February 10, 2006