BMG Will Young - From Now on

Thankfully, Will Young's debut album From Now On wasn't subjected to the same fast-track production that the Pop Idol album suffered, so at least the show's 2002 winner has a fighting chance to prove himself as an album artist. It's all very slick and well produced, which suits the smooth crooner image of Will, but this methodical approach leaves it a little sanitised and flat with no room for the songs to breath. Rather than describe the album as 13 versions of the same song with different lyrics, it can be broken down into three main groups. There are the loungey, Andy Williams-style numbers such as "Love Struck", "Over You", the rather lovely "What's In Goodbye" and hit single "Light My Fire" (the Jose Feliciano arrangement, not the Doors one). There are acoustic, rhythm-based songs in a Ronan Keating vein, such as "Side by Side" and the title track, which smacks of Natalie Imbruglia's "Torn" (although less rocking). And of course, there is weak, soggy, cabaret-circuit pop such as first single "Evergreen" and "The Long and Winding Road", which although they are big sellers for Will, definitely aren't his greatest strength. It's doubtful Robbie Williams has anything to worry about, but at the very least, From Now On will provide light relief after the bingo for many years to come. --David Trueman

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