Julian Lennon

Julian Lennon's Grammy-winning debut is a respectable collection of strong songs; it garnered no less than four hit singles. Lennon tried his best to minimize the obvious comparisons to his father but his uncannily similar voice didn't help matters. With Valotte, however, the singer-songwriter proves himself an artist in his own right.

Yes, he sounds and often thinks like his father. That's probably what accounts for Julian
Lennon's label push and radio exposure. What's ironic is that Valotte, the debut album of a
familiar sort of singer/songwriter, is exciting and irritating in just the ways debut records
used to be – back in the days when raw talent was more frequently let through without
being lawyered, A&Red and marketed into freeze-dried format fodder. His best s... More >

I'd hoped to let this one die in dignified silence--figured you couldn't blame the boy for trying. But as it's now sold over 500,000 RIAA-certified copies, discretion is useless. Anyway, I do blame him for trying. Aside from the eerie vocal resemblance, this is bland professional pop of little distinction and less necessity--tuneful at times, tastefully produced of course, and with no discernible reason for being, more Frank Sinatra Jr. than (even) Hank Williams Jr. Julian seems well brought up, a credit to his long-suffering mom. I suggest he invest his royalties in medical school--or else, if he's so keen on not wasting his genetic heritage, launch a career in the visual arts. (Grade - C)