Cannes Film Festival 2013

Listen: Kris Allen's self-titled album streamed in its entirety

Set comes ahead of a very busy release week

<p>"Kris Allen"</p>

"Kris Allen"


Among the major releases next Tuesday (Nov. 17), Kris Allen's may be one of the most anticipated. Obviously 19 Recordings/Jive want to sustain the excitement through at least this weekend, so they're currently letting AOL Music stream the album in full.

Click here to check it out.

I mean, HitFix would, like, totally stream it ourselves, but the powerful power of Allen's good-lookin' album cover blazed through one of our servers already.

Critic Melinda Newman will be reviewing the set on her blog as you return to weekday life on Monday, but in the meantime, we can at least tell you this: don't expect too much acoustic sweetness that may have strummed your heartstrings during Season 8 on "American Idol." Allen goes the electric power-pop-rock route on most of the album, his powerful voice keeping up with a lot of medium to medium-fast tempoed tracks.

"Kris Allen" leads off with the single "Live Like We're Dying." Click here to watch the video. Sad to see that the JC Chasez-penned "Build It Back" didn't make the cut. Of course his cover of Kanye West's "Heartless" is on there, with a chorus treatment that reminds us of Phil Collins' "In the Air Tonight."

This is Allen's second album, but his first for a major label and post-AI. He co-wrote nine of the set's 13 tracks and wrote one on his own, "Red Guitar."

Leona Lewis, John Mayer, OneRepublic, Norah Jones, Paul McCartney and more all have new albums out on Tuesday.

Katie-hasty-sm
Katie Hasty
Managing Editor
After five years as a columnist and editor at Billboard, Katie Hasty joined HitFix in 2009 for music and film reporting out of New York. The Midwest native has worked as a writer, music promoter and in A&R since 1999 and performs with her band Numbers And Letters.

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  • Default-avatar

    David

    I am really digging his whole cd. This is one of the best winner cds that has come out of Idol. I am liking it. Not just a couple of songs, but the majority of them. Good job.

    November 13, 2009 at 6:59PM EST Reply to Comment
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    Thuy

    I love all the songs on Kris's cd. I also love his new music video. His music is really radio friendly and crosses all genres. Love the music, love Kris.

    November 13, 2009 at 7:07PM EST Reply to Comment
  • Default-avatar

    Van

    Kris Allen is one of the most artistic singers/musicians to come off of Idol. Kris is going to appear on Conan O'Brien show tonight.

    November 13, 2009 at 7:29PM EST Reply to Comment
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    Sophia

    I'm very suprised at the kind of solid album this guy has put out. It really shows his strengths. aiaf his label does well with him, he's going to be amazing and they in turn will gain a lot from him. This is the best AI winner first album so far. Congrats to him.

    November 14, 2009 at 12:59AM EST Reply to Comment

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