Rise and Fall (Bonus Version)

We've watched thousands of talented and not-so-talented hopefuls try to be the last contestant standing on American Idol. Many competitors have managed to beat the 15 minutes of fame cliché to win esteemed awards like the Grammy and the ever-so-coveted Academy Award. Although contestant Tim Halperin from Fort Worth didn’t make it to the top 10 last season, the local superstar will try his hand at the fame game with the release of his debut record, Rise and Fall. When Halperin won the chance to appear on Idol back in the summer of 2010, he had to sign an agreement that prevented him from releasing music for a year. This Tuesday marks the release of his first album since then. (To celebrate the occasion, Halperin will be “freed” from a self-imposed jail he's been living in since Monday morning, signifying his exoneration from the restricting contract he signed for Idol.) Rise and Fall was recorded right here in Dallas at Third Orbit Studios and is a piano pop record full of catchy songs about hope, love, and heartbreak. You only need to listen to a few lines from each track to appreciate its singalong quality. And you will. Sing along, that is. Although nearly half of the album is full of songs about the trials and tribulations of love, Halperin does demonstrate in tracks like “I Wanna Fall in Love,” and “She Sets Me Free” his cute, cheesy side. If his lyrics are to believed, he’s a big softie for the right kind of gal. What is impressive about Rise and Fall is that Halperin actually wrote each lyric. Most of those who grace the American Idol stage rarely have the ability to play an instrument, let alone write coherent lyrics. Halperin does both and manages to remain cohesive and deliciously catchy. Just take a listen to the album’s opener “All You Got,” as well as “I Believe” and the biggest ballad on the record, “American Fame,” which sounds like it could have been written for Christina Aguilera. The piano melody sounds eerily similar to Aguilera’s smash anthem “Beautiful.” This Texas Christian University alum may not have gotten as far as he would have liked on the show, but he has won the hearts of many, including the nationally syndicated morning radio host from North Texas Kidd Kraddick, who sings Halperin's praises so much that it's reached man-crush status. But after listening to Halperin's new album, it makes sense. Halperin has what it takes to make his own mark on the pop music world.