One word comes to mind when you look at Ryan Cabrera?s new album, You Stand Watching: pretty. There is no mistaking who Cabrera?s follow-up record to last year?s Take It All Away is targeted towards ? girls, especially those who can?t resist the young blond singer-songwriter?s pretty boy looks. Those baby blues and handsome features are packaged neatly on the CD cover, where Cabrera poses like a perfect prom date.

Sadly, great pictures are about all you?re going to get out of this album. Sophomore albums are generally considered the make-it-or-break-it release for artists, and Cabrera has broken it. You Stand Watching was released only a year after his major label debut, and it?s obvious. The songs are weak and repetitive. Track after track, Cabrera whines torturously about how he so desperately needs a girl. Maybe you ? yes you! ? could be the one!

Musically, Cabrera is a decent songwriter. He co-wrote every song on the record and none are glaringly bad. Take It All Away is proof that he can write pop songs that stick, even if they are a little cheesy. On You Stand Watching, however, the cheese has remained but the tunes are easily forgotten, lacking in variety. The whole album sounds monotonously similar and makes you wish Cabrera would just get over it already.

There are a few standouts however, that showcase Cabrera?s smooth vocals and ability to come up with great hooks on his acoustic guitar. The first single off the album, ?Shine On,? is one example while ?From The Start? is a strong, upbeat opener for the record. ?Photo? is also destined to be a pop hit, and will probably be a Valentine?s Day favourite for at least a couple of years.

But the rest of the album, reminiscent of a boy band record released in the ?90s, goes by in a blur.

2*
Release Date: September 20, 2005
Atlantic/Wea

1. From The Start
2. Hit Me With Your Light
3. Shine On
4. Find Your Way
5. Photo
6. Our Story
7. Fall Baby Fall
8. Last Night
9. Walking On Water
10. With You Gone
11. It’s You






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