Review Summary: After two boring albums, Daughtry finally raises his voice.
Daughtry’s music has always disappointed. With his preference for playing the electric guitar, and his sexy, gritty voice, we wanted big things from his debut album. To no one’s surprise, however,
Daughtry was incredibly boring, the opposite of what we wanted. Clearly, his band was a part of the mainstream music machine that churned and spat out the next “big thing”. Any semblance of the edge he showed in American Idol had vanished; he had been replaced with a robot version of himself. His second album,
Leave This Town, wasn’t any better either, being consistent in its predictability, and once again lacking in the rock department. It would take a miracle for Daughtry to awaken from his slumber and at least sound like he cared about the music he made. It would take something like the breaking of a spell. Can you see where this is going?
Break the Spell is easily the band's best album. He’s still creating mainstream rock that’s easy on the ears, but this time it actually rocks. Opening the album with his edgiest, most guitar-driven song yet, ‘Renegade’ is clearly trying to say something. The song may not be representative of the album’s sound, but it’s certainly representative of its quality. The album has absolutely no filler. Every song is catchier, and more memorable than the last. Sure, it’s obviously geared to sell albums, but dang it if it isn’t well done.
I, at first, didn’t believe Daughtry’s statement when he said that this album was “nothing like the previous two”. It sounded like his normal stuff to me, but upon further listens his statement resonated.
Break the Spell is his most upbeat album yet, which means a few things. First of all, the message of the album is much cheerier, and with sparkling electric guitars crunching out compelling melodies, one can’t help liking it. This kind of arena rock with stadium-ready choruses is exactly what the doctor ordered. The album is also shamelessly poppier, with Daughtry giving some of his catchiest vocal lines yet. But the highlight of the album is something far greater than the melodies, the choruses, and even the catchy songwriting.
It is Daughtry’s voice that truly, and finally shines here. Since
Break the Spell consists of less restrained songs, he belts it out. Considering that the main appeal of his music is his voice, allowing him to finally break out of his shell is the best thing that could have possibly happened to this band. Forget about previous bores,
Break the Spell is the Daughtry album you should be listening to, and something that he should have made ages ago.
Break the Spell may not be a musical revolution, but as far as radio rock goes, it’s pretty solid stuff. Who would have thought?
