The Dreamer sets out to prove that the uproar over Tamyra Gray's too-early American Idol dismissal was justified, and mostly it succeeds. Several of these 13 tracks sound radio-ready--especially the sultry "Legend" and the show-offy, booty-shaking opener "Star"--while others simply underscore what millions of armchair talent scouts already know: even saddled with an ill-fitting genre, like the cliche-studded rocker "Faces," Tamyra will sing her way out of it. The record is in no way perfect--its surf through the musical-styles spectrum leaves listeners with the impression they're the subjects of an at-home experiment, albeit a pleasant one, and its lyrics could use a hearty shakedown from the trite police--but all told Tamyra nails a neat trick here, and that is to exalt the degree to which all ex-Idol hopefuls ought to be taken seriously. She pulls up the pack by dint of pure vocals and a poured-dry heart, and for that even Simon should shower her with props. --Tammy La Gorce
