Phil Stacey

Phil Stacey

If you're one of the millions of people who watch American Idol, the name Phil Stacey will be familiar. Stacey, a Kentucky-born singer, made it all the way to the top six during Idol's sixth season. After Idol, the Navy man landed in Nashville and signed on the dotted line with Lyric Street Records.

On his self-titled debut, Stacey cooks up a spicy collection of country-pop tunes that will appeal to both fans of Idol and contemporary country music. Produced by Grammy winner Wayne Kirkpatrick -- the man behind the boards on Little Big Town's last two albums -- Stacey's first album sounds anything but. There is no newbie awkwardness to be found on the 11-track disc, just solidly produced, performed, and crafted material.

Cut from the same cloth as Rascal Flatts and Keith Urban, Phil Stacey is as radio-friendly a disc as they come. The first single, the power pop cut "If You Didn't Love Me," was co-written by Flatts frontman Gary LeVox. The song's big chorus is an exercise in vocal histrionics. Stacey, who honed his vocal chops in church, has a soulful edge to his voice that makes it very pleasing to the ear. The Nashville transplant has all the curling and twirling down cold.

Stacey is all about faith and family, and it shows in his music. The songs here are optimistic and inspiring. Tracks like the meaty "It's Who You Know" and the sweetly fingered "You Are Mine" could be played on Christian radio. Stacey doesn't come right out and sing about God, but the lyrics could be interpreted that way. The organ and banjo chipped "Find You," a bassy love song with a pop sheen, wouldn't sound out of place on a Bon Jovi album.

Whether he's waxing philosophical, the gorgeous piano ballad "No Way Around A River," or patching up a broken heart, the steel and string smoked "Still Going Through," Stacey sells the songs on his debut (none of which he wrote) like he penned them. The former, an uplifting, stand firm in the midst of life's storms song, should be a single. "'Round Here," written by Kirkpatrick and Little Big Town, is a jacked tune with frenzied instrumentation. Imagine Stacey fronting LBT, and you get an idea of how the song plays out.

You can add Phil Stacey to the growing list of American Idol finalists who are turning the country music world on its ear.

By Todd Sterling