CD Review: Curtis Peoples - Curtis Peoples

Curtis Peoples - Curtis Peoples
2008, The Control Group/Galt Line Music

Curtis Peoples has a knack for getting under your skin. Whether on-stage, on MTV's SCORE, or in his roles on One Tree Hill or Walk The Line, he has an ability to connect with the audience on a personal level. Peoples also happens to have a knack for writing hook-filled pop/rock songs that stick in your mind long after the music has stopped playing. Aside from being a favorite of L.A.'s musical literati, Curtis Peoples was named on of Music Connection magazine's "100 Unsigned Artists To Watch in 2008". With all of the hype, I imagine you're chomping at the bit to get a listen to Curtis Peoples -- you don't have long to wait. His debut eponymous CD will be released August 19th, 2008. Get ready to hear a lot of Curtis Peoples throughout the rest of the year.

Peoples mixes a sense for catchy melodies, great pop hooks and 1980's flavored guitar-driven choruses to create one of the best pure pop/rock albums of the year to date. Curtis Peoples opens with Back Where I Started, an Americana flavored rock tune with a chorus you won't be able to get out of your head. Holding Me Down displays People's rock guitar sound and transitions to Tell Me I'm Wrong, which opens with a riff that Lenny Kravitz would be proud of. This is a great pop tune, and was co-written by Tyler Hilton.

Heart Will Fall is a great acoustic rock tune with a funk bass opening that resolves into an arena-rock chorus. For my money, however, All I Want is the true hit of the bunch. This is the sort of song that could corner popular radio for the summer. The sound is a little reminiscent of Five For Fighting, but is 100% Peoples. Exit Scene closes out the album with just a touch of country/pop flavor.

What is clear throughout Curtis People's self-titled debut is that the man knows how to write songs that connect with his listeners. His easy voice, accessible melodies and soaring choruses draw in the listener in a way many pop artists have failed to learn. Don't be at all surprised if this is one of the top debut albums of 2008. I expect you'll be hearing several of these songs in TV show soundtracks throughout the 2008-2009 television season. Peoples just has a sound that fits in anywhere. Check out Curtis Peoples before he gets as hugely popular as he has every right to be.

Rating: 4.5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Curtis Peoples at www.curtispeoples.com. Curtis Peoples' self-titled debut will be released on August 19, 2008.