Daughtry Fires Off Some Fan Friendly Fare

Goes to show you what kind of career not winning American Idol can land you. Daughtry has been going skyward ever since that bout of rejection. The latest in the band's catalog is "Battleship". It certainly sounds loose and ready to go kick some ass. The pacing satisfies without hitting the sissy low water mark. Must admit the chorus is too dopey to be believed but you can't deny (it would appear) the sparks that go off when the band clicks as a unit. Namesake Chris Daughtry's mug never fails to be camera ready as the accompanying vid shows. He certainly has the playfulness card working for him in spades. Although "Battleship" lacks the intense heat of an "It's Not Over" this single encourages audiences to unwind to the fullest extent possible. Chris and guitar co-conspirators Josh Steely and Brian Craddock bounce of each other as if this sonic marriage had gone down the line for multiple decades. Elvio Fernandes jolts us to attention early on with keyboards that'll have you wondering whose grooves we're privy to exactly. Josh Paul serves in fine standing as support player on bass. The relationship joust once again takes the front and center spotlight. Chris leaves no doubt he comes to this war, romantic resolve fully loaded. "Bullets coming off our lips" is a new one on me, not to mention a fairly disturbing visual that nobody with a weak stomach should be subjected to. Two points anyway for having the stones to put that down on paper and dare to approach a recording studio bigwig with it. Love's course doesn't as they say run smooth. Not that he intended to by any means, but Chris accidentally channels his inner Katy Perry with lyrics like "We're high then we're low, first it's yes then it's now. Comparisons to "Hot 'N' Cold" would be forgivable if not flat out encouraged. I wouldn't be surprised if the sound design was meant to sound all stout hearted man as if we weren't dealing with hunks peddling another chapter in the winds of love and war. You'll have to fill in the sounds of seaworthy vessels sloshing about at the mercy of high tides. Chris gets my vote for being humorously candid about how Daughtry came into being as a band name. Alas Rainbow Butt Monkeys, Chris confesses, was already taken. Gonna have to file that away permanently under "lost opportunity". Any rock show worth its salt feeds off of copious doses of energy. "Battleship" gives the crowds what they paid to see. That chorus could put you off if you're new to Daughtry's corner of the rock universe. However, devoted fan boys and girls likely aren't going to flee screaming in horror. Chris commands a mike, pure and simple. He knows this is the magical power he wields and he displays it to great effect here. From stem to stern "Battleship" promises to have you and your buds raising a glass to love and how very much it's worth fighting for.