Kris Allen
by Kris Allen
  • Record Label: Jive
  • Release Date: Nov 17, 2009
User Score
6.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 55 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 33 out of 55
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 55
  3. Negative: 17 out of 55

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  1. LarC
    Dec 7, 2009
    4
    Overproduced!!! This album is not Kris's style at all. He shines with simple acoustic accompaniment. Anything else upstages him.
  2. LM
    Nov 29, 2009
    5
    I like Kris Allen but he just swimming in bland music on this album. Acoustic Heartless would have been better than the poppy version on this album.
  3. Glitter
    Aug 31, 2013
    4
    Not as heartfelt as his initial debut, "Brand New Shoes", this self titled commercial debut still boasts some of a heart that Allen so strongly posses. The Script reject "Live Like We're Dying" works as the album opener, but doesn't work as the vessel to cater as a preview of the alternative rejects that litter the album. The album has cringe-worthy moments as a light tryhard tread inNot as heartfelt as his initial debut, "Brand New Shoes", this self titled commercial debut still boasts some of a heart that Allen so strongly posses. The Script reject "Live Like We're Dying" works as the album opener, but doesn't work as the vessel to cater as a preview of the alternative rejects that litter the album. The album has cringe-worthy moments as a light tryhard tread in adult top 40 with the Train lead written, "The Truth" and "Before We Come Undone". Other tracks such as "Let It Rain" and "Can't Stay Away" drag into a mindless drivel of noise, perhaps due to the low budget production.The album shines best with pop fodder, "Alright With Me", and the acoustic-like ballad, "I Need To Know". The lone confession of love, "Red Guitar", self penned by Allen himself, is the only other highlight, in an album where Allen struggles to find his own identity.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

74
#74 Most Discussed Album of 2009

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
52

Mixed or average reviews - based on 8 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 8
  3. Negative: 1 out of 8
  1. Boston Globe
    60
    It’s a polite mix of soft rock with hints of boundary jumping that, unfortunately, never truly come. There’s really nothing wrong with the set; it’s sweetly executed and produced.
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  2. Entertainment Weekly
    67
    Despite scoring writing credits on an impressive nine of these 13 tracks, Allen gets himself stylistically lost somewhere between Fly White Guy Avenue ('Can't Stay Away') and Bleeding Heart Boulevard ('The Truth'), while rarely visiting original territory.
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  3. Los Angeles Times
    37
    Most of the material, though, tends toward a flavorless pop-rock sound that doesn't even do much to flatter Allen's appealingly rumpled vocals.
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