Review: Kris Allen's Single "The Vision of Love"

Some of you may remember Kris Allen as the season eight winner of American Idol: the shy, unassuming boy-next-door with a guitar who shocked everyone when he beat the judges' favorite, Adam Lambert. Allen's 2008 debut album did fairly well and his first single "Live Like We're Dying" spent a brief period on both the Top 40 charts and the Christian charts.

We haven't heard from him in awhile, but now Allen's back with his new single, "The Vision of Love." The song, co-written by Allen, is full of musical traits we tend to associate with Allen's music: soulful vocals, soft piano and guitar accompaniment, and passionate, yet tender falsettos. When he sings about being a friend to the lonely ("Lonely/needs a friend/ask him where he's been...") or offering a compliment to the insecure ("Come on someone tell this girl she's beautiful"), we believe him and we want to do as he suggests. That, my readers, is one of the true definitions of a singer/songwriter.

Check out the video for "The Vision of Love" below and let me know what you think. The single is available for download via Amazon now, and the entire album, "Thank You, Camelia" (an ode to his street address) drops May 22nd.

Review: Hunger Games Soundtrack

Soundtrack from The Hunger Games

Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games has become a phenomenon during the past three years, prompting a cult-like following similar to the Twilight series. This past weekend, the long-awaited film hit theaters, spurring the release of the film's soundtrack: The Hunger Games: Songs from District 12 and Beyond.

The books, themselves, are packed full of energy, excitement, and suspense, but the overall mood of the novels is one of despair, hopelessness, longing, and melancholy. So how does the soundtrack compare?

It captures the mood and atmosphere of the novels brilliantly, seamlessly weaving somber music with soulful and somewhat folksy vocals.

With a host of award-winning artists including Taylor Swift, Maroon 5, and the Civil Wars, the soundtrack effortlessly blends story with music. 

This reviewer's favorite picks? Safe and Sound and Eyes Open - both by the country artist Taylor Swift (of whom I am not usually a fan). Swift's soulful and vulnerable rendering of the songs captures the spirit, strength and tireless resolve of Katniss Everdeen (the main character in the series). 

Check out Swift's Safe and Sound below, and tell me what you think.