The strategy sessions over how to present Blake Lewis's post-American Idol debut must have been excruciating, as label-types scratched their heads, wondering: Is it possible to market a disc full of beat-boxing? If not, would the world warm to Blake Lewis, pop charmer? Or Blake Lewis, balladeer? The safest bet seems to have been to build a better post-prime time set by way of experimentation. Audio Day Dream unfolds much the way late-season American Idol shows do: It sets Lewis on a lot of platforms and lets him play up his charm, if not always his straight-outta-the-'80s musical predilections. Partially the brainchild of producer Ryan Tedder (One Republic), "Break Anotha" is pure beat-box Blake and, as such, it's demonically catchy. The same can be said for hip-hop and electro-tinged numbers such as "She's Makin' Me Lose It" and "Gots to Get To Her." Stabs at sentimentality surface, and they're not bad: "I Got U" may very well get you, if you like soft pop stylized with a nod in Adam Levine's direction. Overall, ADD demonstrates why Lewis blazed his way into AI's final round: He's out there, sure, but he's willing to reel it in enough to keep it real for the masses. -Tammy La Gorce
