Measure of a Man (CD - 2003)

Personnel includes: Clay Aiken (vocals); Clif Magness (acoustic & electric guitars, piano, keyboards, bass, programming, background vocals); Marcus Englof (acoustic guitar, keyboards, programming); Esbjern Ehrwall (acoustic guitar); Andreas Carlsson (guitar, background vocals); Dan Warner, Eric Bazilian (guitar); Doug Emery (piano); Samuel Waermo (keyboards, percussion, programming); Thomas Blindberg (bass); Lee Levin, Tim Klassen, Vinnie Colaiuta (drums); Chris Willis, Chris Braide (background vocals).

Producers include: Clif Magness, Desmond Child, Rick Knowles, Steve Morales.

Personnel: Clay Aiken (background vocals); Dan Warner (guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Andreas Carlsson (guitar, background vocals); Eric Bazilian, Borge Petersen-Overlier, Fridrik Karlsson, Tim Pierce, Eivind Aarset (guitar); Clif Magness (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, piano, keyboards, programming, background vocals); Rick Nowels (acoustic guitar, bouzouki, keyboards); Marcus Englof (acoustic guitar, keyboards, programming); Esbjern Ehrwall (acoustic guitar); Chris Glansdorp (cello); Doug Emery (piano, keyboards, programming); Samuel Waermo (keyboards, percussion, programming); David Siegel, Martin Sjolie, Greg Kurstin, Steve Mac, Dave Arch, Charles Judge (keyboards); Wayne Rodrigues (drums, programming); Tim Klaussen, Josh Freese, Lee Levin, Vinnie Colaiuta (drums); Frank Ricotti, Rune Arnesen (percussion); David Eriksen (keyboard programming, drum programming); Chris Braide, Danielle Brisebois, Mark Nelson, Heath Burgett, Håkon Iversen, Marian Lisland, Maria Vidal, Chris Willis (background vocals).

Audio Mixers: Manny Marroquin; Niklas Flyckt; Andy Zulla; Serban Ghenea; Bob Clearmountain.

Recording information: Blue Iron Gate Studio, Santa Monica, CA; Icon Sound Studios, Miami, FL; Master Mix, Minneapolis, MN; Metropolis Studio, London, England; NRG Recording Services; Red Door Recording Studios, St. David's, PA; Rokstone Studios, London, England; Stereo Studio 1, Oslo, Norway; Storm Studios, Stockholm, Sweden; The Chill Building, Santa Monica, CA; The Gallery, Miami, FL; The Gentlemen's Club, Miami Beach, FL; Westlake Audio, Hollywood, CA.

Editor: Cameron Webb.

Photographer: Kevin Scott Hees.

Arrangers: Clif Magness; David Eriksen; Rick Nowels; Steve Morales.

A genuine pop culture phenomenon who unexpectedly transcended the instant fame granted by his second-place finish in the AMERICAN IDOL competition, Clay Aiken made a decidedly un-hip media figure, often looking and sounding more like George Bush's nerdy, Andrew Lloyd Weber-loving nephew than a sexy or dangerous rocker. Perhaps not surprisingly, Aiken (with the help of uber-producer/record-company mogul Clive Davis), has crafted what sounds like the first-ever secular contemporary Christian album.

With an utter lack of pretense and genuine feel-good vibe worthy of the best work of Newsong or Steven Curtis Chapman, MEASURE OF A MAN is a pristinely produced, relaxed-sounding showcase for Aiken's gorgeously clear and unaffected vocal style. On solid pop songs like "Shine" and the McCartney-esque "Perfect Day," the retiring Southern singer communicates his songs in a pure, direct fashion that, by virtue of its appealing simplicity, manages in short order to project more soul than a CD rack full of gut-busting Michael Bolton histrionics. A defining moment in the mainstream pop genre, MEASURE OF A MAN bridges the generation gap between teens and their parents with comforting consistency and a refreshing lack of flash. minimize