Track Listing

1. Evergreen
2. Anything Is Possible
3. Light My Fire
4. Lover Won't You Stay
5. Lovestruck
6. The Long & Winding Road
7. You & I
8. Side By Side
9. What's In Goodbye
10. Cruel To Be Kind
11. Over You
12. From Now On
13. Fine Line

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4889 in Music
• Released on: 2002-10-05
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Extra tracks
• Dimensions: .21 pounds

Amazon.co.uk Review
Thankfully, Will Young's debut album From Now On wasn't subjected to the same fast-track production that the Pop Idol album suffered, so at least the show's 2002 winner has a fighting chance to prove himself as an album artist. It's all very slick and well produced, which suits the smooth crooner image of Will, but this methodical approach leaves it a little sanitised and flat with no room for the songs to breath.

Rather than describe the album as 13 versions of the same song with different lyrics, it can be broken down into three main groups. There are the loungey, Andy Williams-style numbers such as "Love Struck", "Over You", the rather lovely "What's In Goodbye" and hit single "Light My Fire" (the Jose Feliciano arrangement, not the Doors one). There are acoustic, rhythm-based songs in a Ronan Keating vein, such as "Side by Side" and the title track, which smacks of Natalie Imbruglia's "Torn" (although less rocking). And of course, there is weak, soggy, cabaret-circuit pop such as first single "Evergreen" and "The Long and Winding Road", which although they are big sellers for Will, definitely aren't his greatest strength.

It's doubtful Robbie Williams has anything to worry about, but at the very least, From Now On will provide light relief after the bingo for many years to come. --David Trueman

CD Description
'From Now On' is the debut album by the Arts Educational School musical theatre student who won ITV's Pop Idol competition, Will Young. Included are the singles 'Evergreen', 'Light My Fire' and his duet with Gareth Gates, 'The Long And Winding Road'.

Customer Reviews

Glorious Voice, Gorgeous Style
I learned of Will on the World Idol show, and was just blown away by his vocal gifts. In reverse order I bought "Friday's Child" first, and then this CD. On both CDs he proves just how absolutely stunning a song stylist he is. He uses his voice like a musical instrument, at times sounding almost like a flute or oboe with his awesome falsetto. #4 "Lover won't you stay" is drop dead gorgeous. #7 "You and I", the way he styles this song and lavishes his delivery with riveting passion knocks me out. He performs this song on his "Will Young Live" DVD and when he kneels before the audience and pours his heart out it is a heartstopping moment. When he sings backup harmonies it adds so many more dimensions in his naturally layered voice. Will's vocal harmonics are just astonishing.

#10 "Cruel to be Kind" offers some tasty, subtle percussive and instrumental treats, and Will's writing skills and styling makes this song dazzling. #11 "Over You" is a way sexy groove, and it cooks! MmHmm. #12 "From Now On" to my ears has a southern USA vibe to it, sort of a jazz-bluesy/country/bluegrass and it is all good.

#13 "Fine Line" Dramatic, majestic instrumental wizardry weaves a tapestry of mood and visual imagary that supports Will's glorious, deeply emotional vocals. It evokes chills. This song alone gives the CD the seal of a true Masterpiece.

A bit of a mixed bag
At last the long wait is over. Frankly I am a bit disappointed. I suppose I expected too much. Will has, by far, the most unique voice around. It's such a shame that it has been shoehorned into such a strange mix of material. There are echoes of songs you have heard before and some really inane lyrics.

First off we have the stuff we know. Two singles that force his voice too high and 2 great cover versions, though its odd that Gareth gets no mention anywhere on the sleeve notes.

Then the 9 'original' songs. Marks out of ten.

Lover Won't You Stay - The Mick Hucknall tribute. The same inflection and tone. Disturbing at first. 'Girl you're the one'. Hmm 6/10

Lovestruck - a nice song 7/10. Strangely old fashioned and cosy.

You and I - a good song. A potential single. 8/10

Side by Side 7/10 - Nice orchestration. Lets his voice run free a bit. 7/10

What's In Goodbye - a Burt Bacharach co-written number, which sounds like every other Burt Bacharach single ever produced. This will please everyone over 40. That's me then. Retro. 7/10

Cruel to be Kind. Oops its girls again. Has our Wills gone straight then? (Stay non-gender specific Will, it's a lot safer) - 6/10

Over You - Nice, jazzy and smoochy. Another potential single 8/10

From Now On - the title track, good sound, the blending of Wills voice and the chorus does go on a bit. Still it's not like any single heard before, so I will be generous 8/10.

Finally, the last track, Fine Line - easily and by far the best. Moody, atmospheric, stripped down, fabulous really. It would be a brave single to produce, but a stormer none the less. 9/10

He needs to let his voice run free more. He works best with jazz, improvisation type material. Big band classics would have been better than some of this stuff. Where is La Mer? One of his best so far. Oops, showing my age (44).

Still - what do I know? The album will sell by the shed loads and take over the charts and set records all over the place. Ho Hum.

An amazing debut
From Now On is one of the most mature debut albums I have heard. It starts with the familiar Evergreen and Anything Is Possible before sliding into the very cool Light My Fire.

Lover Won't You Stay - the first original track on the album - was written by Guy Chambers and Cathy Dennis. It's a very sexy song and contrasts nicely with the dreamy Lovestruck, written by Young and Dennis.

Next comes the duet of Long And Winding Road with Gareth Gates. A shame to hear his voice on Will's debut album. One to skip. Luckily, we move on to another original track - You And I. This is to be on his next single and is an excellent song. Quite moody and seductive. The mood changes for Side By Side - a poppier, more guitar-based track. Think Ronan Keating or Darius Danesh's Colourblind - only much, much better.

Next is What's In Goodbye - a beautiful song written by Burt Bacharach and Cathy Dennis specifically for Will. Cruel To Be Kind is next and is one of the strongest tracks on the album. It's quite jazzy with a really catchy chorus.

Now we move onto the amazing Over You - a very sexy, jazzy song. Something you can't help dancing to! From Now On, the title track, is another guitar-based pop song with a fantastic chorus and it's very uplifting - a definite contrast with the final track, Fine Line, which is just Will singing accompanied by strings. It's one of the most hauntingly beautiful songs I've heard.

In all, this album is excellent, although the duet with Gareth takes the place of what could have been another excellent original track. There's something for everyone on this album - a definite must-have!