Music reviews. CD reviews. Critically hip!

One has to admire the ambition of Randy Jackson’s first solo album Randy Jackson’s Music Club, Vol.1. It defies classification as its 12 songs span the gamut of musical genres from country to gospel to R&B to pop and back again. Additionally, the featured artists are a mish-mash of established stars (Keb’ Mo‘, Mariah Carey, Richie Sambora, Anthony Hamilton) and on-the-rise performers giving their all on each and every Jackson produced track. The results are mixed, to say the least.

By now most have heard/lampooned/embraced the album’s first single Dance Like There’s No Tomorrow sang by none other than Jacksons’ fellow American Idol host Paula Abdul. As far as dance songs go, its decent but not much else. Abdul vocals are over processed to a superlative degree and the synthesizers quickly overstay their welcome. The worst of it, however, would have to be Like A by Crunk Squad featuring Ghostface Killah. Think a distorted hip-hop delivery (a la T-Pain) spitting lyrics as common as “ I know you want me but you don’t want to admit it/ I’m ‘bout to take her to the crib so I can hit it like A.” Even Ghostface can’t redeem a track so insipid its sure to top the charts - the ringtone charts, that is.

It’s not all bad though. Highlights include the funky stomper Just Walk On By by Brit chanteuse Joss Stone. With lyrical references to the Dionne Warwick classic and marching band-inspired trumpets, Stone’s indignant vocals make for a perfect brush-off anthem. Classic soul star Sam Moore also shines alongside Keb’ Mo’ and Angie Stone on the jaunty bluegrass number Wang Dang Doodle. Full of harmonica solos and twangy guitars, it’s down home in the best possible way .

The whole album ends up being a few hits, a handful of misses, and a smattering of so-so collaborations that neither repulse or amaze. Take power-pop ballad Something to Believe In that features three unquestionably talented vocalists: neo-soul crooner Van Hunt, rising contemporary popster Jon McLaughlin and folky alt-rocker Jason Mraz (all personal favorites of mine). I fully expected greatness from the song, but somehow all three musicians weren’t enough to uplift the predicable melody and less than inspired lyrics.

If anything, the variety of Randy Jackson’s Music Club is its most attractive quality. With all the different types of songs featured there’s bound to be something for everyone. Hopefully by the time Jackson’s ready to release “Vol. 2” he’ll have a more uniformly enjoyable album on his hands.