A modestly humble yet musically ferocious singer,
Billy Klippert was the favorite to win the first season of Canadian Idol, the televised program that set Canada ablaze as a spin-off of the ever-so-popular American Idol. However,
Klippert was obviously not destined to take home the title, as he was eliminated in the penultimate round, finishing in a strong third place.
Klippert really owes it to his fans, though, because had he been the winner of the show, he would've been forced to produce an album that appealed to his safe producers. No, luckily for
Klippert, he did not win. Shortly after he was eliminated from the show,
Klippert signed to independent label Orange Records, and with creative control, delivered his first album, a self-titled gem of fleshed-out love rock.
Klippert's raw-edged vocals simply dazzle as he purrs and roars over this collection of warm rock songs. On mainstream pop/rock hits like "Waited" and "Life #9," just enough pop influence kicks in to the gritty beats to weave an angry masterpiece of radio-ready tunes. Meanwhile, on gorgeous slowed down love songs like "Lindsay,"
Klippert croons his way into the heart of the listener as he bares his soul and lets the musical tears flow (how many more clichéd lines can be fit in here?). Yet the true artistic masterpiece is the album's only cover piece, a remixed rock version of
Elton John's ballad "Levon." Glorious, majestic, and tear-jerking, the rendition earnestly delivers, as
Klippert manages to control his roaring talent and simply shine as an artist. Truly making the song his own, he shimmers. One small flaw in the album is the consistency: because there are no truly weak moments here, the gems don't shine out as much. Therefore, listening to the whole album in one sitting borders on repetitive, but every track in its individual right is solid, thought out, and enrapturing with emotional lyrics, ripping vocals, and one truly fascinating artist, who using his innate instrument, audibly soothes the spirit. It's truly wonderful that
Klippert didn't win Canadian Idol, because, like
Ryan Malcolm's debut
Home,
Klippert would have had an album of mainstream mush.
Billy Klippert is a great showing of what can come from a rock artist with more than a smidge of artistic individuality. ~ Matthew Chisling