Ruben Studdard — I Need An Angel

This velvet teddy bear is going to need a hell of a lot more than one angel to keep his career afloat. Instead of doing the requisite manufactured Idol pop on his second disc, Studdard tries his hand at gospel. "I Need An Angel," written by R. Kelly, is so saccharinely produced that it's downright forgettable and what should have been a monster cover of "Amazing Grace" sounds just as bland as the rest. The sole Studdard-penned track, "Don't You Give Up," borrows from the Jackson 5 and includes the most generic "life is hard, but you can do it" lyrics imaginable. There is some great gospel out there: The Caravans, The Staple Singers, so don't let Studdard's ill-advised release turn you off from the genre.