INTRODUCING STAN WALKER
Stan Walker, Sony
***
He's a worthy Australian Idol winner: a youthful charmer with talent to burn; a rough diamond with back story. Now his soaring voice leads the way on this shotgun debut. The two original tracks – made-for-radio single Black Box and Think Of Me – stand up surprisingly well against nine Idol-inspired covers, with raunchy takes on James Brown's It's A Man's Man's Man's World and Al Green's Let's Stay Together highlights that belie Walker's 19 years. It's just a pity the bigwigs were so hell-bent on rushing this out for Christmas, because the half-baked moments (the karaoke-styled We Will Rock You would have Freddie Mercury turning in his grave, while the Hallelujah baton should be buried with Jeff Buckley) could have been omitted, or enhanced – Opera House-style.
Key track: Think of Me – Soul compatriat and original Idol winner Guy Sebastian produces and lends backing vocals to this frisky, harmony-laden Motown moment.
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