Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Blake Lewis
Heartbreak on Vinyl

1. Heartbreak on Vinyl
2. Binary Love
3. Freak
4. Sad Song
5. Rhythm of My Heart
6. Afraid
7. Left My Baby for You
8. Rebel Without a Cause
9. Superscratchavocalistiturnatablelicious
10. Our Rapture of Love
11. The Point
12. The Remedy
13. Love or Torture (Please Don’t Stop)

Looking for lots of beat-boxing?

You’ll be disappointed in Blake Lewis’ new album, “Heartbreak on Vinyl.”

Looking for dance beats and lots of electro-pop hijinks?

Blake’s your man.

In December 2007, Idol’s season six runner-up delivered his first album, “Audio Day Dream.” The CD was better than its fate; Blake wound up being dropped by Arista Records.

“Heartbreak on Vinyl” comes courtesy of Tommy Boy Records. Blake explains the title as an “ode to all the records stores that have been closing down due to my industry eating itself.”

As for the his new record, he promised “electro pop goodness.” And he had a hand in writing all 13 tracks on the CD.

The good news: Blake kept his word … well, at least partially.

“Sad Song,” the CD’s first single, bolted from number 31 to number 25 on Billboard’s Dance/Club Play Chart this week.

Both the title track and “Rhythm of My Heart” are every bit as catchy as the lead single. And the final track — “Love or Torture (Please Don’t Stop)” — is easily the most irresitable dance tune on the album.

The bad news: With the exception of that song, the second half of the album founders.

The ballads seem pointless. There’s a track called “Rebel Without a Cause” that sounds more like noise without a clue. And on some songs (like “Left My Baby for You’), the hijinks seem overcooked.

Bottom line: There’s enough electro-pop goodness here to make a fantastic EP.

But not enough to make more than a mediocre CD.

Grade: C

Agree? Disagree?

Let me know by commenting below.

Other reviews:

Express Night Out (Washington Post)

Free Listen

Blake’s Web site for two versions of “Sad Song,” and one each of “Heartbreak on Vinyl,” “Binary Love” and “Afraid.”