Bo Bice talks about the latest Idol label "drops"

CNN's Denise Quan sits down with Billboard Magazine's Chart Expert, Geoff Mayfield to get his scoop on why certain "American Idol" runner-ups got dropped from Sony/BMG. Also an exclusive soundbite from Bo Bice who was also dropped from the Sony/BMG group. Edited by award-winning CNN editor, Ernie Muraoka.

Bo says: "It's not really let go as much as contracts are up, You either decide to renew a contract or you don't." "Two weeks after or three weeks after we parted ways with RCA, I was up here in New York getting a gold album from them for 'The Real Thing'". Bo has released his second album independently through Wal-Mart. "A lot of this stuff has to be bankrolled by my pockets, and I don't have deep pockets." "It's the equivilant almost of being a free agent in the sports industry"

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"See The Light" on iTunes
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"Bice spends "See the Light" concentrating on what he does best, which is the kind of soulful, vaguely funky Southern rock the Black Crowes used to churn out by the bucket load." *** 3 of 4 stars.
Mikael Wood, LA Times, October 19, 2007

"See the Light is a bluesy, Southern rock effort steeped in gospel, featuring a handful of songs about whiskey, sinners and redemption. "Witness" is a blistering blues rock number that brings to mind Lenny Kravitz at his most Hendrix, while "I'm Gone" evokes shades of "Feel Like Makin' Love."
Linda Ryan, Rhapsody Online, October 2007

"This indie effort, letting him indulge his passion for southern rock, feels like a labor of love."
People Magazine, November 2007
 
"[Bice has] parted ways with major labels and has crafted a potent, 10-track sophomore effort steeped in the sass and grime of down-'n'-dirty Southern rock. It's the Black Crowes without the fraternal squabbles, or Lynyrd Skynyrd minus the redneck fan base. Throw it on and feel free to scream "Free Bird!" at nobody in particular."
Preston Jones, Fort-Worth Star Telegram, October 24, 2007
 
"It's a challenge to take Bice seriously as a Southern-fried post-"American Idol" rocker […] But then he goes and cooks up something like "I'm Gone" or "This Train," two hard-to-resist radio rockers that find him effectively channeling late Skynyrd front man Ronnie Van Zant, and suddenly you believe in him."
Christopher John Treacy, The Boston Herald, October 26, 2007

"These allegiances are evident from the first notes of first track "Witness." "Notes" is probably too formal a word for what these are. Overdriven electric guitars seem to be spitting fireballs at us, and as Bice tears into gutty vocals the mix of Saturday-night jam and Sunday-morning gospel recalls the Black Crowes and Skynyrd. The singer sounds utterly liberated — this is why he got into the biz to begin with."
Jake Blaine, Wal-Mart.com, October, 2007

"'Witness' the first and best track immediately reminded me of Lenny Kravitz. A strong soulful voice full of funk and rock is backed up by kick ass crunchy guitar with the just the right amount of distortion. You know, it's 'rockin' not 'make your ears bleed' annoying."
Nathalie Vanderheyden, Blogcritics, October 2007