Constantine Maroulis garnered enough attention for his performance in Broadway’s Rock of Ages to earn a Tony nomination (shocking many, including himself).  Unfortunately, the former American Idol finalist did not win but he did put on quite the show at the 63rd Annual Tony Awards (watch the video).

He’s that good in this musical and now you can relive the excitement (if you got to see it live) or hear it all for the first time (if you are like me and did not get to see it live)

The New York Times called the musical “absurdly enjoyable” so I really need to find out what all the fuss is about.  I’m very happy for Constantine and, after hearing him perform on the Tony Awards, I think he’s actually improved quite a bit since his days on Idol.

The Rock of Ages: Original Broadway Cast Recording includes 22 tracks (Constantine’s vocals are featured in 16 of the 22!), almost all of which you are sure to recognize since the musical is set in 1987 on the Sunset Strip.  It’s a love story where a small-town girl meets a big-city dreamer and fall for each other to some of the most memorable songs from the 80s.

Here’s the track listing:

1. Just Like Paradise / Nothin’ But A Good Time (Rock Of Ages Full Company)
2. Sister Christian (James Carpinello, Michele Mais, Constantine Maroulis, Amy Spanger & The Rock Of Ages Cast)
3. We Built This City / Too Much Time On My Hands (Paul Schoeffler, Lauren Molina, Wesley Taylor, Andre Ward, Adam Dannheisser, Mitchell Jarvis, Constantine Maroulis, James Carpinello & The Rock Of Ages Cast)
4. I Wanna Rock (Constantine Maroulis, Amy Spanger & Ensemble)
5. We’re Not Gonna Take It (Lauren Molina, Jeremy Wood, Savannah Wise & Ensemble)
6. Heaven / More Than Words / To Be With You (Amy Spanger, Constantine Maroulis, Savannah Wise & The Rock Of Ages Cast)
7. Waiting For A Girl Like You (Constantine Maroulis, Amy Spanger, James Carpinello & The Rock Of Ages Cast)
8. Wanted Dead Or Alive (James Carpinello, Amy Spanger & Ensemble)
9. I Want To Know What Love Is (James Carpinello, Amy Spanger, Constantine Maroulis & The Rock Of Ages Cast)
10. Cum On Feel The Noize / We’re Not Gonna Take It - Reprise (James Carpinello, Constantine Maroulis, Adam Dannheiser, Amy Spanger, Mitchell Jarvis, Lauren Molina, Andre Ward & The Rock Of Ages Cast)
11. Harden My Heart / Shadows Of The Night (Amy Spanger, Michael Mais, Mitchell Jarvis & Ensemble)
12. Here I Go Again (Rock Of Ages Full Company)
13. The Final Countdown (Paul Schoeffler, Wesley Taylor, Adam Dannheisser, Mitchell Jarvis, Lauren Molina & Ensemble)
14. Any Way You Want It / I Wanna Rock - Reprise (Michele Mais, Constantine Maroulis, Amy Spanger, Andre Ward, Mitchell Jarvis, Adam Dannheisser & Ensemble)
15. High Enough (Constantine Maroulis, Amy Spanger & The Rock Of Ages Cast)
16. I Hate Myself For Loving You / Heat Of The Moment (Amy Spanger, James Carpinello, Constantine Maroulis & Ensemble)
17. Hit Me With Your Best Shot (Wesley Taylor, Lauren Molina, Paul Schoeffler & Ensemble)
18. Can’t Fight This Feeling (Adam Dannheisser, Mitchell Jarvis & Ensemble)
19. Every Rose Has Its Thorn (Michele Mais, Amy Spanger, Constantine Maroulis, Wesley Taylor, Paul Schoeffler, James Carpinello & The Rock Of Ages Cast)
20. Oh Sherrie (Constantine Maroulis, Amy Spanger & The Rock Of Ages Cast)
21. The Search Is Over (Constantine Maroulis, Amy Spanger & The Rock Of Ages Cast)
22. Don’t Stop Believin’ (Rock Of Ages Full Company)

image: Amazon

Yesterday, People reported that American Idol Season 6 runner-up, Blake Lewis, will be releasing a dance-pop album to follow up his 2007 effort, Audio Day Dream. 

The new album, Heartbreak on Vinyl, is expected to be released by Tommy Boy Entertainment on October 6, 2009.  His new single “Sad Song” will make its debut on July 21, 2009.

Of the project, Blake said: “The music in the dance scene gets me out onto the dance floor to lose my inhibition.  The title is an ode to all the record stores that have been closing down due to my industry eating itself. These are the stores that brought inspiration to all of us music lovers and have led me to make the music I create today.”

I’m pretty excited about this news.  I love dance music and I think that he could do a good job.  He’s been working with producers Rodney Jerkins and Dave Aube who have had a lot of success creating music with Britney Spears, Lady Gaga and the Pussycat Dolls.

I can’t wait to hear “Sad Song.”  I could use some new music for my iPod-fuelled workouts!

image: Amazon

Last night when I was looking through Twitter before I went to bed, I noticed this Tweet from American Idol winner, Jordin Sparks: “Hey everyone! Please go pre-order my new album BATTLEFIELD on iTunes now! If you do you get my new song VERTIGO! RT please! Looove you! :)”

The album details on Amazon don’t include previews of the songs yet, but you can check out the tracklisting below:

1. Walking On Snow
2. Battlefield
3. Don’t Let It Go To Your Head
4. S.O.S. (Let The Music Play)
5. It Takes More
6. Watch You Go
7. No Parade
8. Let It Rain
9. Emergency (911)
10. Was I The Only One
11. Faith
12. The Cure

Have you pre-ordered the album?  I’ve noticed that the first single “Battlefield” (watch her perform it live with the Jonas Brothers) is getting more and more airplay (I can’t go shopping without hearing it).  I’m happy for her and I hope this album is a huge success.  It seems like she’s matured as an artist so I’m very interested in hearing the whole thing.

Jordin Sparks sophomore album, Battlefield, becomes available on July 21, 2009.

image: Amazon

Wilshire Records, the independent label that released the pre-American Idol music of this year’s runner-up, Adam Lambert, is trying to defend their decision.  Adam voiced his disapproval and 19 Entertainment issued the following statement on his behalf: "The work I did back then in no way reflects the music I am currently in the studio working on."

It’s unfortunate because I can understand how having those songs released could be damaging to his career.  He’s obviously grown as an artist and, after being on the world’s most popular talent show, he wants to craft his image to be aligned with who he is today.  When you’ve got old stuff mixing with new material, it can confuse and even disappoint your audience. 

Wilshire teamed up with Hi Fi Recordings to release, On With the Show, an album that will feature 11 songs that were recorded by Adam before he appeared on American Idol.  Of course, Hi Fi has a different take on the situation.  They told Usmagazine.com the following:  "Adam is now enjoying the success that he and Wilshire Records hoped for.  However, he is now represented by high-profile companies who released a statement in Adam’s name saying the songs on On With the Show were recorded four years ago and Adam only contributed vocals. This is simply not true.

The songs were recorded in a professional recording studio with top notch musicians and producers since the music was always meant to be released. Of the 11 songs that will appear on the album, On With the Show, Adam co-wrote eight with Monte Pittman (Madonna’s guitar player).  As co-writer and performer, Adam will receive significant royalties just as any superstar artist would. He has the chance, finally, to make a fortune for his work — definitely more with this album than through a major label deal.

This pre-Idol work is a fantastic representation of who Adam is and what inspired him during the months before he became famous. We intend to see that Adam will still benefit from the success of ‘Want’ (on iTunes now), and from the sale of On With the Show, even though he is now part of a major franchise that only wants fans to hear the music Adam records for them."

That was a slightly snotty statement, if you ask me.  Clearly, they don’t respect how former contestants are treated by 19 Entertainment but they shouldn’t assume to know what arrangements Adam has made. 

Will you buy Adam’s pre-Idol music?

image © 2009 FOX BROADCASTING CR: Ray Mickshaw / FOX

Like his fellow season 7 alum, Brooke White, former American Idol finalist, Michael Johns, is releasing some music today and I’ve got to say that I’ve had the chance to preview his Hold Back My Heart album and it’s soooooo much better than I was expecting. 

Michael definitely has a great voice but my impression of his was slightly marred by the end of the competition since I think the theme weeks didn’t agree with him.  It’s clear now, however, that he’s very talented and has put out a collection of songs that are reminiscent of music from the 1960s up until today and I can definitely see myself putting this CD on and having a BBQ or heading on a fun road trip.

Here’s the tracklisting:

1. Heart on My Sleeve (download for FREE)
2. To Love Somebody 
3. Feeling Alright 
4. Little Bear 
5. Fools Gold 
6. Mountains 
7. Fire 
8. Hold Back My Heart 
9. This Is Goodbye 
10. It’s Too Late 
11. Heart Is Weak 
12. Turn To You

My favorite tracks are “Heart on My Sleeve,” “Fools Gold,” “Mountains” and “Turn to You” although I have to admit that the second half of this disc doesn’t seem as good as the first.  It’s still a pretty decent effort so I hope it does well!  Have you heard it?  What do you think?

image: Amazon

Reigning American Idol champion, Kris Allen, has revealed that he will be working with some great talents on his debut album.  Along with songwriter, Claude Kelly (who penned Kelly Clarkson’s “My Life Would Suck Without You” and Britney Spears’ “Circus”), producer Salaam Remi (Amy Winehouse, Nas) and former Evanescence keyboardist David Hodges and Joe King of the Fray. 

In an interview with Billboard, he said: “I’ve been writing a lot with a lot of different people, and it’s going well.  Each writing session has been a learning experience. I think that we are trying to figure it out and that it’s going the right way and I’m really excited about it. I can’t wait.”

I love that he refers to it as a “learning experience” because too many people go into the studio with the attitude that they already know it all.  The whole benefit of working with others is to get as much from the collaboration as you possibly can and it sounds like he’s doing that.

It hasn’t been all work and no play for the Idol winner, though.  He was recently spotted taking his wife, Katy, out to dinner at Madeo in Beverly Hills.  The photographers asked him how he felt when runner-up, Adam Lambert, revealed that he had a crush on Kris during the competition.  Kris retorted by saying Katy had a crush on Lambert!  What a good sport.  Some people would be so freaked out.

American Idol season 7 finalist, Brooke White, will be releasing her first post-Idol album, High Hopes & Heartbreak on July 21, 2009.  She released the first single “Hold Up My Heart” back in February but now returns to the airwaves with “Radio Radio.”

The song is basically what you would expect from Brooke who is very much a folksy pop/indie singer.  I like her tone but, for some reason, I envisioned this song sounding a little different.  Either way, I think fans will love it.

Download it now from Amazon and tell me what you think!

image: Amazon

American Idol season 7 finalist, Carly Smithson, is reportedly working with Grammy Award-winning group, Evanescence on a new album called The Fallen.  The band’s guitarist, Ben Moody, told Idol Tracker: “We began looking for our soulmate, which we were scared was going to take a long, long time.”

Carly seems very happy with the offer to work with the group and said: “I’m excited to be able to completely jump out of the box.  The Idol thing, you know, was very PG, it was for a family audience … I’ve never been more happy than being in this band.”

I know some people have compared Carly to Amy Lee (lead singer of Evanescence) but I’m not sure I always agree with that.  I think I would need to see what they come up with together before I could make a real judgment about whether this works but Amy is notoriously picky so there must be something to it.  I think that both women have powerful voices so it could be amazing to hear them harmonizing and working off of each other’s vocals.

Tell me what you think about this and give me some ideas about what you think they might do together (if you have any).

*UPDATE*  I misread the original report.  Carly will be working with former members of Evanescence to create the new group “The Fallen.”  Sorry about any confusion.  I think this makes more sense and could be really awesome.

image © 2008 FOX BROADCASTING CR: Michael Becker / FOX

I read on E! Online that American Idol Season 8 runner-up, Adam Lambert, will be working with RedOne, the producer behind Lady Gaga’s hugely successful singles “Just Dance” and “Poker Face.”  As the article mentions, it’s starting to feel like glam rock is about to make a HUGE comeback – with a modern spin, of course.

Apparently, Adam spent much of this past weekend working in a Los Angeles recording studio with the producer who has also worked with Akon, Enrique Iglesias and Michael Jackson.  Who knows what kind of tracks he laid down with Adam?  A label source simply said that it will be “a new sound that goes beyond what he did on Idol."

Glambert will be dropping his debut album this fall on RCA Recordings.

image © 2009 FOX BROADCASTING CR: Ray Mickshaw / FOX

There was all sorts of news yesterday about the contracts given to this year’s American Idol finalists.  I wrote about Kris Allen and Adam Lambert and now I’m happy to report that Allison Iraheta has also been signed to 19 Records. 

Like Kris, Allison has been licensed to Jive Records (Adam is with RCA).  All three albums are expected to drop some time this fall.  “I think I’m still in shock that this is happening — getting to record my first album and this whole awesome experience is a dream come true!” Allison said in a statement. 

Okay, so that takes care of the winner, runner-up and fourth place finisher but what about Danny Gokey, who finished in third place?  So far, I haven’t heard anything about him being signed and I think it’s too bad.  Surely, there is a place for Danny even in the gospel industry.  He has a good look and a great voice so I hope he gets some sort of deal soon!

image © 2009 FOX BROADCASTING CR: Ray Mickshaw / FOX