Notes & Personnel Info |  | Personnel: Corbin Bleu (background vocals); Dez (various instruments); Don Fefie, Joe Belmaati, Eric Sanicola (guitar); Richie Cannata (saxophone); Marco Luciani, Jonas Jeberg, Matthew Gerrard (keyboards); Randy Cooke (drums); Mich Hedin Hansen (percussion); LeDon, Damon Sharpe, Lauren Evans, Robbie Nevil, Daniel James, Greg Lawson, Christopher Rojas, Windy Wagner, Jay Sean (background vocals). | | Additional personnel: Vanessa Hudgens, J King. | | Recording information: 2007. | | On his 2007 debut album, ANOTHER SIDE, Corbin Bleu joins the ranks of other Disney-affiliated singer/actors such as Hilary Duff and Raven Symone who have branched out into solo recording careers. Best known for his roles in the films HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL and JUMP IN! the Brooklyn-born performer allows his on-screen charm to translate into catchy R&B/pop numbers, most notably the energetic Justin Timberlake-like opener, "Deal with It," and the dance-oriented "Push It to the Limit," which was also featured on the JUMP IN! soundtrack. | | Straight off the success of another Disney movie (High School Musical followed by Jump In), teen heartthrob Corbin Bleu released his debut, Another Side, ostensibly to show that there's more to him than just his acting and his pretty face. However, what the album illustrates most of all is that Bleu has an impressive production and songwriting team and plenty of money to make a hit record rather than any particular immense talent of his own. The singer's voice is decent in its own right, though not spectacular, and fits the kind of pop/R&B that's being churned out in spades, but Bleu isn't able to give himself much of an identity or personality beyond that. The music itself doesn't help, either. The 12 tracks that make up Another Side don't distinguish themselves from any other of the teen pop songs out there. They are catchy, but only in the most generic of ways, with too many synthesized beats and other instruments that are processed beyond the point of recognition. Yes, there are moments when Bleu seems to find his voice -- the stalkerish "Homework," the Ne-Yo-penned "I Get Lonely" -- but more often than not the tracks all seem to be knock-offs of older Disney faves *NSYNC (and similarly, Justin Timberlake, who Bleu often seems to be mimicking) or even the Cheetah Girls; it's pure TV-channel-created pop, meant to support and reflect the tween dynasty they've created. Bleu and Co. are trying to appeal to a sense of fun, to singing along in the car with your friends (as your mom drives), but it's so generic and produced it doesn't even do that. And with that one objective failed, Another Side loses its own purpose completely. ~ Marisa Brown | | Straight off the success of another Disney movie (High School Musical followed by Jump In), teen heartthrob Corbin Bleu released his debut, Another Side, ostensibly to show that there's more to him than just his acting and his pretty face. However, what the album illustrates most of all is that Bleu has an impressive production and songwriting team and plenty of money to make a hit record rather than any particular immense talent of his own. The singer's voice is decent in its own right, though not spectacular, and fits the kind of pop/R&B that's being churned out in spades, but Bleu isn't able to give himself much of an identity or personality beyond that. The music itself doesn't help, either. The 12 tracks that make up Another Side don't distinguish themselves from any other of the teen pop songs out there. They are catchy, but only in the most generic of ways, with too many synthesized beats and other instruments that are processed beyond the point of recognition. Yes, there are moments when Bleu seems to find his voice -- the stalkerish "Homework," the Ne-Yo-penned "I Get Lonely" -- but more often than not the tracks all seem to be knock-offs of older Disney faves *NSYNC (and similarly, Justin Timberlake, who Bleu often seems to be mimicking) or even the Cheetah Girls; it's pure TV-channel-created pop, meant to support and reflect the tween dynasty they've created. Bleu and Co. are trying to appeal to a sense of fun, to singing along in the car with your friends (as your mom drives), but it's so generic and produced it doesn't even do that. And with that one objective failed, Another Side loses its own purpose completely. [A one-CD version was also released.] ~ Marisa Brown |
Producer: Damon Sharpe; Dez; Chris Rojas; The Stereo; David Kopatz; Matthew Gerrard; Greg Lawson; Jonas Jeberg; Ne-Yo; Brian Way; Heavyweights; Cutfather |
Engineer: Joe Belmaati; Chris Rojas; Brian Malouf; David Kopatz; Matthew Gerrard; Dan James; Jonas Jeberg; Justin Madrigal; Jose 'Harv Dent' Morales |
Musical Guests | | Vanessa Hudgens |
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