Personnel: Greg Leisz (lap steel guitar, pedal steel guitar); Jamie Muhoberac (piano, organ); Matt Serletic (keyboards); Leland Sklar (bass instrument); Curt Bisquera (drums); Lenny Castro (percussion).

For the legion of adoring fans (dubbed the "Soul Patrol") that singer Taylor Hicks won over on the fifth season of AMERICAN IDOL, the months that went by between his May 2006 victory and this album's December release must have seemed like an eternity. The Alabama-born vocalist's self-titled major-label debut, however, proved to be worth the wait, with Hicks confidently presenting a well-crafted and pleasantly varied set of blues/soul-tinged pop tunes.

From its rousing, horn-laden opener, "The Runaround," to the slow, pensive closer, "The Right Place," the record showcases Hicks's smoky, impassioned Everyman voice, occasionally pointing to his notable Michael McDonald influence but never overstating that case. In addition to self-penned songs, the disc features writing contributions by Diane Warren, Bryan Adams, and Rob Thomas, the latter being responsible for the soaring anthem (and album high point) "Dream Myself Awake." Although TAYLOR HICKS was issued within weeks of offerings by other IDOL alumni, including Chris Daughtry and Fantasia Barrino, with its energetic and dynamic performances, it easily stands apart from the crowd.