Doolittle’s latest offers little for teens

When it was announced -- after nearly two years since she came in third on "American Idol" -- that Melinda Doolittle would release an album in early '09, I was excited and greatly anticipated the album to come.

What I expected was an upbeat album featuring Doolittle's outstanding vocals paired with catchy beats and memorable lyrics.

What I got was an album that deserves a more suitable name; instead of "Coming Back to You," they should have gone with the more forthright "Blast from the Past."

Indeed, sounds of the early '60s were coming back to me, but not necessarily in the way the producers had hoped.

Before my first run-through on the CD, nearly every review I read about it praised her sound and style, saying it was well worth the wait.

What I experienced was a soundtrack fit for baby boomers, not teenagers, with Doolittle taking on the role of a woman fighting for women's rights. She growls through each song, at times distracting from the mood intended, keeping the same tone in her voice across the album.

But, what can you expect? The "Idol" contestant remained in her comfort zone and genre her entire time on the show, so it is no surprise that her album offers the exact same thing.

Though the effort put out by Doolittle is one deserving of recognition -- her voice is definitely unique -- and her debut album certainly stands out among others, I do not expect it to appeal to a wide range of listeners.

This will be just another failed album, joining the stockpile of wannabes along with fellow "Idols" Taylor Hicks and Kristy Lee Cook.