Jason Castro gives fans sweet taste of new music

 

Idol Season 7 finalist Jason Castro was to have his Atlantic album debut out by now but when the jaunty first single, Let's Just Fall in Love Again, failed to take off late last year, Atlantic opted to put off a full album release for the time being and chose, instead, to issue the new five-song The Love Uncompromised EP.

Jason's still not yet burning up the Billboard 200 with the EP but -- my friend Gail, Jason's Number One Fan, is gonna love this -- I've come around a bit on the good-natured singer-songwriter.

Jason's EP works, in part, to its brevity. A little of Jason goes a long way. Too much of his light tenor verges on cloying, sappy, pick your adjective. As Gail knows, I was not into Jason on Idol.

But a major factor for why these sweet, simple tunes work as well as they do is that they are pure Jason. Jason uncompromised. If you were a fan of Jason's aw-shucks demeanor on Idol and fell for his charms on ukulele and acoustic guitar, Love Uncompromised sings your song.

All too often the Idols fail when they lose sight of who they are as artists. There is a reason the three most successful Idols in terms of CD sales are Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood and Chris Daughtry. What you saw on the program has been, more or less, what they delivered as artists. Kelly, the spunky pop/rocker. Carrie, the commercial country queen. Daughtry, the moody rocker. Adam Lambert, too, is a media sensation and Guest of Oprah because he's true to who he is off the show as well.

When Idols try to veer off course, the results tend to be disastrous. Kris Allen's middle of the road acoustic pop persona on TV hasn't been transferred to his debut album. Instead, its whitebread and forgettable Maroon 5 pastiches have been met with a yawn from consumers. The suddenly blond Katharine McPhee is even worse, a two-time loser on two major labels because she still hasn't figured out who she is and no one has the patience to wait for her to figure it out.

Jason, however, should be more pleasing to the fanbase. Amiable tunes like the EP highlight If I Were You ("If I were you/I would fall for me") and the mellow pop vibe of the title track ride a wave of Jason's considerable charm and serviceable voice. He also plays the role well of the understanding guy who will be there for the girl of his dreams in You Can Always Come Home. The production also is sympathetic to the music and doesn't compete with his singing.

If Atlantic promotes this properly and works the right single (not the dated Let's Just Fall in Love Again as they tried and failed with, but the delightful If I Were You,) Jason could wind up converting a few more people to his camp. I'm not a fan yet, Gail, but you may have been on to something all along.

Follow Howard Cohen on Twitter @HowardCohen

 

Comments

[Jay Lonewolf]

He has a good sound. Almost as if he is touching an inner pain and sugar coding it with a soft melody. He like most of the American idols shall one day find that inner sound and when they do, that is when the truest music and words shall echo from their soul.....

[gail]

All I wanted was for you to listen to the ep. You've surprised me the most. I can't thank you enough for giving the EP a chance and I think you nailed this review.

We all have our favorite musicians, Jason is mine, for all the reasons you mentioned. So glad you were open minded enough to listen and evaluate Jason's music in your honest direct way. He's young and needs to earn his place in the music world. I would not want everything to be to easy for him, I think he might get bored.

I believe he wrote, Love Uncompromised, Sweet Medicine and If I Were You. That's a tremendous leap for a kid that sang 5 or so times before trying out for Idol. He's far more talented then most give him credit for...and he's willing to work hard to prove it.

Thanks again for taking the time to check this out....as much as I am a fan of Jason...I think I am a bigger fan of you and your musical knowledge. I remember Chris telling me how much you knew about music in high school, hellava long time ago. Funny thing is if anybody were to ask you about anything about music you would have an answer. What a gift. Keep up the great work.
Gail

[Rose]

I think you nailed Jason too, and it is why we love him so much. He always stay true to who he is as an artist and we wouldn't want it any other way. "If I Were You", makes me smile from sunup to sunset, Jason's giddiness is contagious. "You Can Always Come Home", hits that place in our heart we've all been with jilted love. Jason sings songs we can all relate to from lives experience and makes us feel those emotions. Personally I think he's full of awesome.

[Rose]

oh Howard, as far as Billboard, just as a head up, http://www.billboard.com/events/idol-alum-jason-castro-plots-tour-1004016955.story#/charts/digital-albums
I like his company too. :-)

[Shelbytex]

Jason sings to my heart, and I hope the rest of the world will catch the fever some of us have felt since he sang Daydream so long ago.

[Winnie]

I don't agree with your comment about Katharine McPhee. Her new album is what she is. She even wrote some of the songs. You should not say things when you are not sure of what you are talking about.

[Shirley]

Howard...I was so glad to hear that you're giving Jason Castro a chance...and I really appreciate your honesty about your feelings on his music...But the fact that you're now listening to him and liking his music mean so much...I agree with you..I love "If I Were You"..as I do the rest of his new EP "Love Uncompromised" So glad you do too..Hope you continue to follow Jason's career...I think you'll be pleasantly surprised...if not blown away...Thanks