Kris Allen

Recording information: Conway Studios, Los Angeles, CA; Germano Studios, New York, NY; Glenwood Place Studios, Burbank, CA; Harmony Studios, West Hollywood, CA; Legacy Recording Studios, New York, NY; MIx One Studios, Boston, MA; Modern Dirt Laboratories, London, England; Modern Dirt Laboratories, London, UK; NRG Recording Studio, North Hollywood, CA; Olympic Studios, London, England; Olympic Studios, London, UK; Phantom Studios, Westlake Village, CA; Strawberrybee Studios, CA; Studio Elevator Nobody; Sunset Sound, Hollywood, CA; Sunset Sound, Los Angeles, CA; Swinghouse Studios, Los Angeles, CA; The Cookie Jar, CA; The Deathstar, Los Angeles, CA.
Photographer: Eric Ogden.
If you didn't pay close attention to American Idol Season 8, you can be forgiven for thinking that Kris Allen came in second to Adam Lambert. After all, Lambert is the one who grabbed all the headlines and magazine covers, while Allen plugged along as the cute, safe alternative to the self-styled glamazon, which was enough for him to take the crown, if not enough to create much excitement. Then again, Kris Allen isn't about excitement, he's about comfort, something that's plainly evident on his immaculate eponymous debut, an album every bit as unexpected as his name. Allen possess an easy touch, makign already pleasant surroundings a touch friendlier. Kris pens almost all of the 12 songs here (the exceptions being "Live Like We're Dying," "Written All Over My Face," "The Truth" ), which unifies the album. Unhip it may be by design, but at least Kris Allen delivers the goods: it's tuneful and likeable, melodic enough to merit a close listen