Artist:  Jason Castro
Title:  Jason Castro
Label:  Atlantic

Love is lost—and found—on the American Idol alum's eight-track introduction …

In the seventh season of American Idol, you know the year when the Davids ruled the roost (Cook and Archuleta, respectively), Jason Castro was a fan favorite for his easygoing, authentic demeanor. Coincidentally, those were the same qualities that made his performances shine, even if they weren't particularly showy.

And Castro's sheer lack of pretense definitely carries over into his major-label debut, too. In preparation for his proper introduction to the pop music scene, Castro teamed up with several industry heavyweights including Idol judge (and prominent Top-40 songwriter) Kara DioGuardi, Robbie Williams' collaborator Guy Chambers and Dave Lichens from The Heavy Steadies to up the ante.

With so many cooks in the proverbial kitchen, it could've been easy for Castro's musical identity to morph into something new altogether. But somehow, Castro managed to resist the temptation to switch things up too much, and that chill, laidback vibe that endeared him to his fans is still there, even if his voice has significantly more polish, thanks to the wonder of Pro Tools.

Whether he's belting out Leonard Cohen's sweet but somber "Hallelujah" (a song that every singer/songwriter worth his/her salt has covered at some point) or serving up memorable originals like his whimsical opening track "Let's Just Fall in Love Again" or bluesy ballad "Love Comprised" Castro's music is decidedly easy on the ears.

Those hoping for something more than yet another set of sweet, non-threatening love songs, however, might be a little disappointed in what the newly married singer/songwriter has to offer. Love lost, love found and love everywhere in between is well-covered terrain in pop music, and Castro doesn't exactly add anything new to the conversation.

But for anyone who's looking for nothing but a highly listenable, momentarily engaging soundtrack for rolling down your windows and making your way down the open highway on a sunny day, well, Castro's debut may be just the thing. And perhaps, with a little added life experience, future Castro projects will offer listeners even more…


**This review first posted on May 7, 2010.