Elliott Yamin | Music | Denver | Denver Westword | The Leading Independent News Source in Denver, Colorado
Navigation

Elliott Yamin

When Elliott Yamin first appeared on American Idol, his snaggle-toothed grin and backwoods appearance recalled that O Brother, Where Art Thou? scene in which Tim Blake Nelson fears his escaped-convict buddies have been transformed into "horny toads!" By placing third in the contest, however, Yamin earned a pricey makeover that's...
Share this:
Carbonatix Pre-Player Loader

Audio By Carbonatix

When Elliott Yamin first appeared on American Idol, his snaggle-toothed grin and backwoods appearance recalled that O Brother, Where Art Thou? scene in which Tim Blake Nelson fears his escaped-convict buddies have been transformed into "horny toads!" By placing third in the contest, however, Yamin earned a pricey makeover that's turned him into something else, too: a curly haired, orthodontically superior crooner whose appearance is no longer likely to frighten small children or house pets. If only the renovation of his musical persona had been as successful. His best moment on Idol came when he emulated Donny Hathaway on "A Song for You," which was wisely included on Elliott Yamin, his debut for the Hickory imprint. Yet "Wait for You" and "Alright" trade soul for slickness that even Bill Clinton couldn't duplicate. The material is undeniably professional, but without the rough edges that initially endeared him to a nationwide audience, Yamin, who shares the Gothic stage with Josh Hoge, comes across as just another product. Maybe he should have left his choppers alone.
BEFORE YOU GO...
Can you help us continue to share our stories? Since the beginning, Westword has been defined as the free, independent voice of Denver — and we'd like to keep it that way. Our members allow us to continue offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food, and culture with no paywalls.