Diana DeGarmo's is a voice--a big, melting, LeAnn Rimes-y kind of voice--in need of a sound, and on this, her debut disc, a team of experts including legendary producer Clive Davis attempts to find her one. The overall effect is a little like watching the baby faced would-be American Idol champ try on outfits at a department store: Half the time, she's riffling around the junior department, churning out angsty teen anthems (check lyrics like "I'm the one that you want/You know I'm heaven sent/I'm a little Lynyrd Skynyrd/A little 50 Cent" from "Then I Woke Up"), and the other half she's trying to find her size in the more grown-up misses racks (both "Blue Skies" and "Dreams" are drenched in an inspirational, Amy Grant-ish vibe best suited to lite FM radio). Luckily, DeGarmo's vocal derring-do saves her from seeming rudderless. The sweet, adult-leaning "Go On and Cry" proves for time eternal that 17-year-old pipes can soar, and the Idol showstopper "Don't Cry Out Loud," a cover of the Melissa Manchester classic, along with "Boy Like You" earn her instant access to the big-belter club. Blue Skies may run into clouds finding its audience, but it forecasts a clear career horizon for the talented DeGarmo. -Tammy La Gorce
