Blake Lewis made a name for himself on the seventh season of
"American Idol" with daring renditions of "Love Song" and "You Give Love A Bad
Name." Now, Lewis shows his hip-hop finesse and solidifies his skill as a vocal
percussionist on his debut album Audio
Day Dream. Though the album has its downfalls, it is a lot less hollow than
one might expect from an artist who gained his fame from "Idol."

The first few songs on Audio
Day Dream prove Lewis's originality, setting him apart from the multitudes
of pop stars and performers now made famous by "Idol." His first single, "Break
Anotha," the most infectious tune on the album, combines hip-hop beats and
jazzy horn parts. Syncopated notes in "Gots To Get Her," a tune inspired by
"Puttin' On The Ritz," give the song an upbeat, danceable feel. Lewis's
collaboration with Lupe Fiasco on "Know My Name" gives Audio Day Dream a little hip-hop flavor. These are the kinds of
songs Blake Lewis should be recording.

Following the electronic-infused track "Surrender," however,
the album's creativity begins to wane. Club anthem "Here's My Hello" attempts
to salvage the second half of the collection, but several repetitious love
songs, such as "Without You" and "End of the World," fall painfully flat. It is
also unfortunate that hidden beatboxing tracks after several songs only seem
like a rushed afterthought.

Audio Day Dream is
an appropriate title; the juxtaposition of Lewis' fresh sound with several hackneyed
pop songs give the album a disjointed feel.

The major problem with Audio
Day Dream is Lewis simply sounds like he is trying too hard. Although he is
obviously a talented vocal percussionist, his collaboration with boy band
producer Clive Davis does not play to these strengths. Perhaps producers feared
a hip-hop angle would be too sophisticated for Lewis's "Idol" fan base of
middle school girls; the result is an album that borders on edgy, but in the
end remains mainstream-safe.

Nonetheless, Lewis's songs are catchy, and his beats are
fresh. He's not the world's greatest singer, but his vocal ability has actually
gained him some credit in the world of beatboxing. If Lewis can perfect this
skill and stear clear of the boy-band image he projects on the majority of Audio Day Dream, this pretty boy just
may be the least lame contestant ever to perform on the "American Idol" stage.

2 1/2 stars out of 5