Crystal Aikin - Crystal Aikin (2009)

Review
In 2007, Tacoma emergency room nurse Crystal Aikin won on the American Idol-style TV talent show Sunday Best, broadcast by BET and searching for amateur gospel singers to turn into professionals. Her reward is this self-titled album, which certainly demonstrates that she has a good voice. It also finds her being used as the mouthpiece for a variety of producers who create contemporary R&B and hip-hop tracks that often don't give her very much to do. An exception is "Even Me," which has a more traditional gospel sound and gives a better sense of Aikin's abilities. It may be that this talented singer will develop into a gospel artist; on the evidence of her debut album, her voice is not in question, but she has not been allowed to express herself in a way that would allow her to make an individual mark.

© William Ruhlmann

Tracklist:
1-1 Crystal Aikin - I Desire More [4:18]
1-2 Crystal Aikin - What If [4:07]
1-3 Crystal Aikin - He's So Worthy [4:06]
1-4 Crystal Aikin - A Song About Jesus [5:25]
1-5 Crystal Aikin - Lord You Reign Forever [4:22]
1-6 Crystal Aikin - Love Him [3:52]
1-7 Crystal Aikin - The Clouds [4:13]
1-8 Crystal Aikin - Turn To Him [3:49]
1-9 Crystal Aikin - Even Me [4:37]
1-10 Crystal Aikin - Breathe On Me (with Natalie Grant) [5:48]