Constantine Maroulis - Constantine - Alternative - CD

The dastardly Simon of American Idol has probably produced more record sales than anybody since Murray The K. The latest is a self-titled CD from Constantine Maroulis, who had the misfortune to be up against the unstoppable Carrie Underwood. Maroulis is a sort of dark Fabio with a Broadway voice. Co-produced by guitarists Jim Boggia and Marc Copely, the overall sound of Constantine is professional and poppy. Maroulis has an impressive voice and earnest appeal.

He kicks off the CD with an Angie Aparo tune that evokes Billy Joel and Joe Jackson. It's vaguely retro, and highlights Maroulis' greatest strength and weakness: his flexibility and imitative abilities. He's clever and effective, but not terribly deep. It's pop music, so that may not be a liability. "I Thought It Was Something" has a whole Linkin Park feel. It's part punk and part grunge. Maroulis' vocal is hard hitting and in tune, but emotionally light. He's been on The Bold And The Beautiful for a while, and you can't help but imagine him as an actor playing a singer on TV. He actually did just that, on Broadway in The Wedding Singer. It's too harsh to suggest the comparison, but the record doesn't lock into a groove. It's all very good, make no mistake. The inconsistency isn't in musical or production quality, it's a lack of stylistic vision that's missing. It's not that the record tries too hard, it's more a matter of depth of concept. Taken as individual tracks, it all works. Strung together as an album, it seems strung together.

Taken as singles, tunes like "Everybody Loves" has a nice, light Steven Bishop kind of vibe. There's no doubt that Maroulis can sing, and he would be ideal if he had more tunes like this. The mix is punchy and clean, and the vocal is spot on. This is an independent release, and very cleanly done. It makes you wish for a really clever A&R guy to put him in front of material. Those days are gone, but that's not Constantine's fault. He's making an effort. While playing to the sex symbol side of his persona, he can't hide the pipes. On "Favorite T-Shirt" the emotional content is sophomoric, but it's not definitive. Maroulis has a few tunes that hit the nail on the head. He closes the record with an Elton John kind of thing called "Midnight Radio" that works really well.

In fact lots of this CD works. The material is diverse, to the point of vagueness, but the musicianship and energy is focused. Maroulis is obviously serious about developing a musical career. He could easily have consistent success on the Broadway stage. While he's no major songwriter, he surrounds himself with excellent talent. In many ways this record sounds like an old school Chappell or Brill Building showcase package. If so, Constantine would surely be discovered on the backs of the tunes. Unfortunately, this is meant as a singer's record. While it showcases the talents of the star, it doesn't shine any bright lights on the property. Constantine Maroulis has all the equipment necessary to be a big star; he just needs a team of writers.

By Dave Morgan