Elliott Yamin's CD Smells Sweet

I was never a big Elliott Yamin fan until I met him at the American Idol concert in Peoria, Illinois. I did think he was talented, but I would say I was too focused on Taylor winning to notice how TRULY talented he was. I was waiting outside the Idols' hotel, like a true groupie, in hopes of meeting Taylor Hicks. My heart was pounding as I hear the excited chatter of everyone saying that Elliott had just been out.

All of a sudden, from behind me, comes a man dressed in a football jersey and a had turned backwards. He walks right in front of me and all the "groupies". Suddenly people are screaming. I'm looking everywhere for who they were screaming at. It was "jersey guy". I look more closely and it's Elliott Yamin! HOLY COW! I didn't even notice him and he walked right past me! What an idiot I was!

Elliott is unlike any other artist I've seen. He took time for every single fan. Not just signing a quick autograph and moving on. No, he stopped and spoke with each fan. It was the most incredible thing I've witnessed from any celebrity I've been in the vacinity with. Even some of the other Idols were too high and mighty to take time for the fans that had gotten them to where they are today.

When Elliott got close to me, I realized I hadn't brought anything to be autographed by anyone but Taylor. I scrounged through my purse...nothing! What was I going to do??? That's when it hit me...I was SUPER pregnant. About 9 weeks from my due date. Then it happened...Elliott walked up to me with his sharpie in hand and said, "Hey, how are ya?" I shook wildly with delight. I said, "Can you autograph my pregnant belly on my shirt here and bless my baby???" He smiled big and laughed, "Sure!" He signed away on my belly. When he was finished, he looked up at me and flashed his yet to be fixed smile. I said, "Thanks! I just wanted to tell you that my husband and friend are deaf and they are SO proud of you for accomplishing what you have with a hearing loss." He smiled big again and said, "Thanks! Tell them I appreciate them saying that. Nice meeting you!" After that, he moved on and had instantly made a new fan. After I met him, I got my belly autographed by Ace, Paris, & Bucky.

Fast forward to present day! Elliott is still as connected as ever to his fans. He regularly leaves fan blogs on his MySpace page and from what I hear, he is STILL taking time for his fans like he had done with me.

Elliott's new self titled CD "Elliott Yamin" busted into stores on March 20th of this year. I had heard SNIPPETS of his song on his MySpace page and thought he sounded almost as soulful as my man Taylor Hicks. So when I popped his CD into my player in my kitchen as I was making dinner, I couldn't help but swing my hips to the tunes I was hearing! My son and I danced around the kitchen to the entire CD. I kept saying over and over, "Man, this is a GREAT CD!"

In his opening song, "Movin' On", he wraps himself around every note. His voice soulfully goes up and down effortlessly to make the song smooth to listen to. It starts out with keys and hand clapping, and you just want to clap along as your head bops to the tune.

Each song continues in the same fashion, with a cool, soulful beat that you just have to swing your hips to...seriously, you just can't help it! I guess you could call his record "music to make love to"! The entire record is that sweet and soulful! You can tell he has a woman that he is happy with in his life at the moment, because of the amount of love songs on this record. This is even a great record to go on a walk to or any kind of workout. Believe me, I tested it out! I love that you understand EVERY word that Elliott sings. He articulates beautifully!

The second track is called "Wait For You". It's a beautiful love song with the same hand clapping but slowed down to talk about the love he is missing and will wait for. A song that any woman would be happy to be the inspiration for!

The third track, "Find A Way" isn't one of my favorites, but I do like it. I love the words to this song and that Elliott does a bit of scatting in it.

The fourth tune is slowed down a bit and called "One Word". The hand clapping is thoughout the CD, which normally would annoy me, but it bring the whole record to a cohesiveness. This song is beautiful. I think the words are incredible that one word is all that is needed to describe this woman. Makes you wish you were her!

Track five slows down even more and is entitled "You Are the One". Hand clapping is gone and it's Elliott's sweet voice and a beautiful piano plays along. See what I mean about about this CD being a "make love" record??? Elliott is taking you on an amazing journey with each song!

Song number six is "I'm the Man". Again, not one of my favorites, but still a good song with beautiful lyrics. He sings of being the man that sticks with you and is totally in love with you. His girlfriend better be thankful she has him!

The seventh track is called "Train Wreck" and the beat starts to pick up again in this song. He sings about how the relationship is volitile because it's moving so quickly and nothing else can happen but "...a train wreck". Good track for people in a new relationship!

"Free" is the title of the eighth song on the record. This song seems to be a little too low for Elliott. I think it could've stood to come up a step or two in the key choice. Other than that, it's a great song! I think because the chorus is a little "high", so they made the verses a little too low for my taste.

In track nine, the hand clapping makes its' return in the song "Alright". This song reminds me a little too much of a Backstreet Boys song. I don't know if it really fits into this musical journey that he did so well in creating. Just reminds me a bit too much of the "boy band" stuff.

"Take My Breath Away" slows it back down again in the tenth song and Elliott's soul is back again. He sings about that girl again! She is taking his breath away with everything she does! Man, is she a lucky girl!

The record ends with the track "A Song for You". This is a great bluesy, beautiful, soulful song. It's Elliott and that piano again. Again, his voice goes from low to high in a cool, effortless manner. Elliott really shows his powerful voice in this song...it's slow, but it's a strong song and a fitting one for him to end the record with.

Overall, I give Elliott's new record FOUR out of FIVE tiaras on the "Amy Gayle Scale"! I recommend that everyone try it out. It's well worth the money! Elliott takes you on an excellent ride!