Kris Allen (album)
Encyclopedia
Kris Allen is the major-label album debut (second overall) from the American Idol
season 8
winner Kris Allen
. The album was released on November 17, 2009 in the US. It was released in New Zealand on November 23, 2009.
In a break with American Idol
tradition, Allen's Idol "coronation song", "No Boundaries
", was not included on his major-label debut, becoming only the second Idol winner album to do so after Taylor Hicks
' self-titled album. Instead, a newly recorded version of "Heartless
", covered by Allen during his run on Idol, was included as a bonus track. There has been speculation that this was because "No Boundaries" was already included on the Walmart exclusive season 8 compilation album, which is the first time the winning single was included on the season's compilation since Kelly Clarkson in 2002 and is the first new compilation since season five. However, it has been included as part of the deluxe album version at iTunes
.
Allen previewed three songs from his album "Written All Over My Face", "Can't Stay Away," and "Before We Come Undone" at a Miami Dolphins
tailgate-party before their game against the New Orleans Saints
on October 25, 2009.
AOL Music began streaming the full album on November 9, 2009.
The album was released in the United Kingdom
on November 16, 2009 making its official release before that of the United States.
In general, the album has received mixed reviews, gathering a rating of 52 out of 100 on Metacritic, which assigns a rating for albums based on cumulative reviews.
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
season 8
American Idol (season 8)
The eighth season of American Idol premiered on January 13, 2009, and concluded on May 20, 2009. Judges Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, and Randy Jackson continued to judge the show's contestants, along with Ryan Seacrest as host. The season introduced Kara DioGuardi as the fourth judge on the Idol...
winner Kris Allen
Kris Allen
Kristopher Neil "Kris" Allen is an American musician and singer-songwriter from Conway, Arkansas, and the winner of the eighth season of American Idol...
. The album was released on November 17, 2009 in the US. It was released in New Zealand on November 23, 2009.
Album information
Allen has writing credits on 9 of the 12 tracks on the album, including one solo credit for "Red Guitar", a song that he wrote prior to participating in American Idol. "Is It Over" was written by Allen with Cale Mills, who is an Arkansas friend of the "Idol" champ. According to a preview of the album, the tracks areIn a break with American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
tradition, Allen's Idol "coronation song", "No Boundaries
No Boundaries (song)
"No Boundaries" is the 2009 winner's single of season 8 of the reality television show American Idol.It was co-written by American Idol judge Kara DioGuardi, along with Cathy Dennis, and Mitch Allan...
", was not included on his major-label debut, becoming only the second Idol winner album to do so after Taylor Hicks
Taylor Hicks
Taylor Reuben Hicks is an American singer who achieved fame in 2006, when he won the fifth season of American Idol. Hicks got his start as a professional musician in his late teens and performed around the Southeastern United States for well over the span of a decade, during which he also released...
' self-titled album. Instead, a newly recorded version of "Heartless
Heartless (Kanye West song)
"Heartless" is a song by American hip hop artist Kanye West, released on November 4, 2008 digitally as the second single for his fourth studio album, 808s & Heartbreak. It debuted at the number four spot on the Billboard Hot 100 where it eventually peaked at number two and reached number-one on the...
", covered by Allen during his run on Idol, was included as a bonus track. There has been speculation that this was because "No Boundaries" was already included on the Walmart exclusive season 8 compilation album, which is the first time the winning single was included on the season's compilation since Kelly Clarkson in 2002 and is the first new compilation since season five. However, it has been included as part of the deluxe album version at iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
.
Allen previewed three songs from his album "Written All Over My Face", "Can't Stay Away," and "Before We Come Undone" at a Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
tailgate-party before their game against the New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
on October 25, 2009.
AOL Music began streaming the full album on November 9, 2009.
The album was released in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
on November 16, 2009 making its official release before that of the United States.
In general, the album has received mixed reviews, gathering a rating of 52 out of 100 on Metacritic, which assigns a rating for albums based on cumulative reviews.
Singles
- "Live Like We're DyingLive Like We're Dying"Live Like We're Dying" is a song performed by American recording artist Kris Allen. The song serves as the lead single from his self-titled major label debut album. The song was originally recorded by Irish pop band The Script as a bonus track and B-side in select territories on their self titled...
", a cover of The Script's song, was released digitally via iTunesITunesiTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
on September 25, 2009. The music video for the single was released on November 6, 2009 on AOLAOLAOL Inc. is an American global Internet services and media company. AOL is headquartered at 770 Broadway in New York. Founded in 1983 as Control Video Corporation, it has franchised its services to companies in several nations around the world or set up international versions of its services...
's PopEater. The song peaked at #18 on the Billboard Hot 100, number ten on Pop Songs, twenty-one on Christian Songs, and other Billboard charts. It also charted internationally in Canada and New Zealand. - "The TruthThe Truth (Kris Allen song)"The Truth" is a song by American recording artist Kris Allen, from his self-titled debut album. The song was written by Train frontman Pat Monahan and its producer, Toby Gad...
", featuring Patrick MonahanPatrick MonahanPatrick Monahan is the lead singer and songwriter for the Grammy award winning band Train. He also has recorded a solo album, and has collaborated with multiple artists.-Life and career:...
, the lead singer of the Grammy award-winning rock band TrainTrain (band)Train is an American pop rock band from San Francisco, California, formed in 1994. The band currently comprises a core trio of Patrick Monahan , Jimmy Stafford and Scott Underwood ....
, was released as the CD's second single in May. - On October 6, 2010, Allen revealed on his TwitterTwitterTwitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
account that the third single of the album will be "Alright with Me". He posted an unofficial music video for the song on his website on November 18, 2010 to thank his fans for their support.
Track listing
Chart performance
| Chart (2009) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canadian Albums Chart | 50 |
| U.S. Billboard 200 | 11 |
Year-end charts
| Chart (2010) | Position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
115 |