With his premature gray hair, his soulful yet against-the-grain sound and "crazy" dance moves, 29-year-old Birmingham, Ala. native Taylor Hicks was considered the underdog for the 2006 "American Idol" title. Yet he defied the odds, won over the fans with his charm, amazing range and unique style and took the title.

Now comes the next step in his rise in the music world: his debut CD. Mixing his soul roots with rock rhythm and pop melodies to create his own sound, he adds his strong vocal performances that carry him from the low to high range effortlessly and his gravelly accent that makes you feel the music down in your bones.

While his sound is a departure from past "Idol" winners, there are other difference in his debut release. First, while past winners included the song or songs on their single released right after the show, he chose not to-which means neither "Do I Make You Proud" or "Taking It To The Streets" is on this CD. Could it be the most unique "Idol" winner to date is trying to distance himself from the show that brought him to America's attention and make his own way?

It is also possible his reasoning may lean more towards trying not to wear out good songs (or covers) by not including them on too many CDs he is a part of. The other difference is Hicks co-wrote or wrote many of the songs, included instead of looking to other writers to create his sound. This could be seen as an expression of passionate thoughts and feelings that can only come out through writing.

Not only is this a good way to set yourself apart from the mainstream but also he seems to be giving part of himself to the fans and making the music truly his own. Hicks does this well with his debut and hopefully the fans will respect him for doing so.

Soul music is known for telling a story about the struggle to find your own voice. Hicks illustrates this tradition in "Gotta Move," which follows his journey from his hometown, through schooling, on to his time on "Idol" and beyond.

He talks about parents who told him not to reach for the "unattainable" and teachers who tried to silence his creative yet different expression through confining standards-and how after awhile he just had to move on towards his own voice. This song speaks to those looking to break free of the restrictions of everyday life and do something different.

His message is simple: go after and stick with your dreams no matter who tries to get in the way or tell you no. What a great message for those of us about to embark on life's journey after college.

His music also speaks to the romantic in all of us. In the song "The Deal" (which he wrote) he talks about looking for love and choosing when it's time to move on. The song paints a picture of someone looking for love in someone who doesn't love them back.

Though you don't want to deny your heart, sometimes you have to move on and see what else is there. In this case, the person makes one last plea for love before moving on. This is relatable for most people, as many of us have found ourselves in a one-sided love-fest. His words are encouraging in that they remind us that while letting go can be hard, you may find someone you truly love and who loves you back. This is an inspiring song with a great message.

Overall, this CD presents great messages with driving vocals and rhythms, making it a must for any soul fans or just fans of the Soul Patrol (the nickname for Hicks's fanbase).

To learn more about Hicks's music, and when you can see him live, check out his MySpace page at www.myspace.com/taylorhicks or his offical website at www.taylorhicks.com.