After the creeped out weirdness that was Scotty McCreary, just about anything would be an improvement and God knows Phillip Phillips, despite the worst name on Earth (he sounds like he flipped outta the pages of a Charles Dickens novel), is an improvement at least.
As is the song he sang to clinch the American Idol contest last year. "Home", which ties in nicely with his "small town boy" back story, was co-written by Drew Pearson and Drew has written quote a bi for American Idol due to his relationship with Jimmy Iovine.
Jimmy is an egotistical fuckface with a first rate set of ears and "Home", co-written for British singer Greg Holden, was an inspired choice. Drew has claimed his primary influence was Mumford And Sons, whom I don't hate as intensely now I've seen em live. Before I read that, I was thinking indie folk, though not necessarily Mumford, when I first heard it. It is an anthemic , take you back to my home, foot stomping hand clapper, with a catchy wordless bridge.
I am not surprised by its success and I would like to official crown the track the best American Idol song since Adam Lambert nailed "A Change Is Gonna Come", a couple of years ago.
Grade: B+