Review Summary: Don't listen to this, because you already know what this sounds like
Like it or not, there’s no denying that reality television has made a lasting impact on contemporary pop music. American Idol alone has yielded artists such as Chris Daughtry, David Cook, and Kelly Clarkson among others; each of them attaining superstardom through pure vocal aptitude and the affection of the network viewers. Ryan Star is actually the product of a lesser known show titled
Rock Star which had aired on CBS for two seasons between 2005 and 2006. Star was a contestant during the show’s second season, and was one of fifteen aspiring to become the lead vocalist of the featured super-group. The Long Island native Star placed only sixth in the challenge, but is still remembered for his electric performance of R.E.M.’s “Losing My Religion” and several other covers. Star received a great deal of recognition for his feats on the show, which were ultimately released as the live album
Dark Horse. This essentially jump started his career, for in 2009, Star landed a deal with Atlantic records, leaving
11:59 as his major label debut.
“I think it's confusing because I have a record label behind what I’m doing that wants to make sure it gets out there the right way. So as we were developing and getting out there and touring, we released an EP called The Last Train Home. And there are a few songs from 11:59 that are out there already, like one of the songs is the theme song to a TV show called Lie To Me, and one was on a soundtrack for P.S. I Love You. So the songs have all gotten out there in a way. And the ones that got out there, I started feeling like, man, my fans have been waiting for this album, they probably feel like I’m giving the record to Hollywood execs and screwing them. So I’m like, I gotta get these songs that they’ve heard out there at least.”
You’re right Ryan, you are screwing them. Just not in the way you expected.
Much like his reality show colleagues, Star has taken the fleeting route to commercial acclaim and identification; constructing a shallow and overproduced pop/rock record that does nothing but reiterate his vocal talent. Once you get past this latter statement there isn’t anything on
11:59 of artistic value, it’s just a collection of half-hearted tracks thrown together for the sole purpose of receiving a paycheck.
11:59 is littered with these A-B-A formatted pieces with monstrous choruses, featuring a backing band that is only present to conceal a certain legitimacy for Star’s career. That warm, overly clean sound seems perfectly suited for where the album is headed; where fireworks aren’t necessary and solid instrumentation doesn’t make a lick of a difference. Listening to the record, you just can’t help but think of Chris Daughtry; the man who had entered American Idol venerating Fuel, only to turn down his dream job of becoming their front man to bring home as much green as possible. Had Star been offered the same opportunity the outcome might have been different however, the comparisons between the two artists are inevitable.
Star had demonstrated a tremendous knack for performing other musician’s songs on
Rock Star, but his capabilities as a songwriter remained to be seen.
11:59 is a pristine depiction of Star’s lyrical ineptitude; relying on his polished vocals in order to disguise what is dismal songwriting. “Breathe, just breathe” sings Star in
11:59’s fourth track, “let the life that you lead be all that you need, let go of the fear, let go of the time, let go of the one.” “Breathe” is indicative of the entire record when it comes to lyricism, that pedestrian and seemingly uninspired work that has been beaten to a pulp by your “average joe” musicians. Lyrics are generally an aspect that we can excuse when some other facet is prevalent, but this is not the case.
It’s truly frustrating seeing shows such as
Rock Star and
American Idol breeding these artistically worthless musicians that appear capable of so much more. Ryan Star’s saga is especially depressing due to the fact that much of
11:59 could very well be inspired, but the means at which this is conveyed will never exposed. The worst part is that Star didn’t even win on
Rock Star. He never attained the glory that he had ultimately yearned for, and now, he’s losing in his career as well.
