Luke Kennedy: A Time For Us (Album Review)

Luke Kennedy was a contestant on The Voice Australia season 2. In the Blinds Auditions round, he sang Un giorno per noi (A Time For Us) and had all four coaches turn their chairs for him. He then chose to be a part of Ricky Martin's team and came second in the competition. I personally don't know him until his lead single came out.

His album "A Time For Us" - named after his Blind Audition performance - was recently released.

He's 30. And this album represents it. At least according to my stereotype.
(He doesn't look 30 especially with a smile like that, I was so surprised to find that out)

I have always stereotyped people according to their music taste, I shouldn't do it, but I always do. Kennedy does not fall out my stereotype with this album. A Time For Us truly reflects his experience prior The Voice in theater productions and classical music. Stereotypically, these genres suit a person 30+ in age, which he actually is. However, I am sure people at all ages will just enjoy it like I do as the album is sweet and delight while Kennedy's voice is charming and appealing.

Luke Kennedy - A Time For Us (Universal)

The first eight songs were his recorded versions of all the songs he performed on The Voice Australia while the three last songs are his original songs.

Un Giorno Per Noi (A Time For Us). The title track gives me a taste of what to expect. I don't have enough credit to actually review this genre of music but I will do it anyway. With an opening track like this, he wants to introduce himself with an excellent opera singing skill. A Time For Us is powerful and delivering, his vocals goes right through me and it makes everything just haunting, in a good way, of course. 

Then comes I Dreamed a Dream. As a fan of Les Miserable myself, I have listened to a thousand (exaggerating) covers of this song. And because there are a million (again, exaggerating) covers of this song on the Internet, it's best to take it from a slightly different direction. Kennedy's rendition is crispy and his tenor quality makes it so effortless of a belting.

The opera mood still lingers with a pop-ballad twist in Please Don't Ask Me. This is the material that lead me to him, slow and emotionally powerful and the beauty in his voice. Please don't even ask me why I like it.

Then whoop, Freedom 90 changed the ambience of the album. Personally, I don't find this cover very satisfying simply because I had such an impression with Asian Idol Hady Mirza's funky rendition of this song. Kennedy's version is a bit plain but I guess it's not his kind of songs. Same thing with Overjoyed, or it's just the production is not up to par with the opera songs. Halfway through the album and it's at a low key.

With Caruso, I think it's safe to say Kennedy's strong point is definitely opera (and ballads). You really can feel it from inside your soul as his voice pierce through your mind. I just love what he's doing to me in a rainy summer night. Love Is Gone is an attempt at mid-tempo and it's just okay.

Stay For a Minute

(His VEVO account has less subscribers than my channel, what?)

Now it's time for his original songs, my favorite Stay For a Minute. Nice, slow, beautiful and full of emotions. The song is perfectly made for his voice range and make use of his theatrical quality. This song,  Goodbye Yellow Brick Road and In My Life all have a 90s feel to it, is there a term "vintage music"? These three songs can throw you all the way back to the past and make you nostalgic thanks to its smooth melody and crispy softness.

P.S.: I have never written a preview of any kind before, I'm extending my boundaries.