HEART FULL OF SOUL

Taylor Hicks may be a star today after winning AMERICAN IDOL, but he spent years on the road as a struggling singer before getting that chance. Hicks reads his life story with earnestness and a disarming dose of self-deprecating humor ("I was older, fatter, and I had gray hair") that will win over the casual listener. While hardcore Idol fans will enjoy hearing about his preparations for the show, his accounts of rehearsals and sound choices slow the story down for other listeners. The production is only about three hours long, not four, as stated on the CD cover. J.A.S. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC 07/ JAN 08]