Soulful (Ruben Studdard album)
Soulful is the debut studio album from second-season "American Idol" winner Ruben Studdard, released on December 9, 2003 by J Records. The record received mixed reviews from critics divided over the quality of the track listing and Ruben's vocal performance. "Soulful" debuted at number one on the "Billboard" 200 and spawned two singles: "Sorry 2004" and "What If". Critical reception. "Soulful" garnered mixed reviews from music critics divided over the track listing and Studdard's vocal performance. A writer for "People" said that "Soulful" does "a good job of translating to record the cuddly  Velvet Teddy Bear charm that won over "Idol" fans, resulting in a likable if unspectacular set." David Browne, writing for "Entertainment Weekly", commended the "penthouse R&B and mild hip-hop" tracks by Swizz Beatz and Irv Gotti for providing versatility in Studdard's performance but found his vocals on the ballads to be "raw and unpolished," filled with mediocrity whenever he "either strains or sings flat." "The A.V. Club"s Keith Phipps said that the show favorite ballads were the highlights compared to more uptempo tracks like "No Ruben" and "What Is Sexy", concluding that following in this direction shows that  even the most obviously talented contestant to walk the Idol" stage seems fated to be forever a glorified karaoke champ." Sal Cinquemani of "Slant Magazine" also found the ballads Studdard performed on the show showcase his strengths more than tracks like "Don't Quit On Me" and "Take the Shot" that are "insufferably repetitive and tuneless", calling the overall record "a painfully predictable mix of traditional R&B glop and comparatively forced contemporary hip-hop." Barry Walters from "Rolling Stone" heavily criticized the songwriters and producers for crafting material that sounds like "Broadway ripoffs of hip-hop-inspired R&B", concluding that  Studdard does the best he can, but the people behind him and the other Idols simply aren't trying. Commercial performance. The album debuted at number one on the "Billboard" 200, selling over 417,000 copies in its first week, and was certified Platinum by the RIAA in January 2004. In the U.S. the album sold an estimated 1,779,000 copies. Personnel. Adapted from AllMusic.