Guilty pleasures. We all have them but few of us are brave enough to admit to them. I’m going to confess right now and tell you that I am a huge Daughtry fan. After listening to “Break The Spell,” Daughtry’s latest release, it’s easy to see why. Native North Carolinian Chris Daughtry has put together a great band and has been able to transition well from his days on American Idol into mainstream pop-rock success. Both his self-titled debut album and the sophomore follow up “Leave This Town” went platinum , hitting number one on the charts and spawning several top forty hits. “Daughtry” also received a Grammy nomination as well as an American Music Award win. Daughry’s third album, “Break The Spell,” looks to continue this pattern.
Emotional vocals, great melodic hooks, and huge choruses are the things Daughtry does best and “Break The Spell” is full of them. Backing up Chris are guitarists Josh Steely and Brian Craddock, bassist Josh Paul, and drummer Robin Diaz. The band sounds polished and does a great job showcasing the powerful vocals of Chris. The band has collaborated with some great songwriters and “Break The Spell” is jampacked with potential hits. There is a little something for everyone ranging from slow ballads and pop-rock hits to fists in the air stadium rock. “Renegade” and “Crawling Back To You” show Daughtry’s harder side and are two of my favorites tracks on the album. The huge sing-a-long choruses of “We’re Not Gonna Fall” and “Louder Than Ever” will be live audience favorites. I especially like “Start Of Something Good” which is a powerful ballad and gives Chris’s vocals a chance to resonate and connect with fans on an emotional level. Daughtry’s “Break The Spell” is simply an outstanding pop-rock album and I am sure that the hits will continue to roll on. If you are in the market for a new guilty pleasure, be sure to check this one out.
