Review - david Archuleta - No Matter How Far

Though he’s only 22, David Archuleta has just released his sixth album (if we’re including his 2012 set ‘Nevermore’, an album that was only released in the Phillippines, where Archuleta has an oddly powerful following). Sadly though, he has only charted one top ten hit (2008’s “Crush”, which reached a teasing number two), and the same can be said for albums.

‘No Matter How Far’ follows quickly after last year’s ‘Begin’, a set of covers, not many of which are terribly wonderful. Less than a year later, Archuleta has graced his still-intact fanbase with a set of original tracks. If you haven’t heard much of David since his first two albums, this isn’t quite what you’re expecting.

Where “Crush” and much of his first (and doomed-from-the-start) and second album were radio-ready pop, it seems that for one reason or another, Archuleta has changed course. ‘Begin’ and ‘No Matter How Far’ are still pop, but now we’re playing the adult contemporary game. David has always been very clean and parent-approved, but now he just sounds…old? Nothing on his new album plays to his youth (he’s actually younger than me), instead reaching for the ears of those double his age.

‘No Matter…’ plays like the album of a fallen pop star from decades ago – one who keeps making music for the sake of making music, even though no one will hear. Light ballads and entirely missing any bass or oomph, Archuleta has aligned himself with the present-day Backstreet Boys, or if Donny Osmond made an album. I won’t call it bad (it is nice to the ears), but the album has no teeth, and it isn’t the most believable sell either.

While every 22 year old can sing about love and heartbreak, very few (if any) can pull of such songs written by forty year old songwriters.

Listen to: “Don’t Run Away”, the album’s lead single.

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