Rollercoaster (Jim Verraros album)

After placing ninth on American Idol's first season, Jim Verraros moved to Los Angeles, where he was cast in the LGBT independent comedy film Eating Out. Around the same time, he connected with Gabe Lopez, a singer-songwriter and music producer based in that area. Lopez had heard American Idol: Greatest Moments, a compilation album that Verraros had been featured on, and wanted to begin a collaboration. The two of them worked out of Lopez's home studio. As the first, and at that point, only American Idol finalist to be out publicly, Verraros had already been the recipient of significant media attention from the LGBT press; Out magazine had named him as one of "2002's Most Intriguing People". When Unsaid and Understood was released, The Advocate's Adam B. Vary named it as one of his favorite new indie albums in the LGBT music scene. and one of the album's songs, "I Want You", was featured on Bi the People, a 2003 compilation album of "bisexual artists and friends", which was released to raise money for the Bisexual Foundation. Unsaid and Understood won the 2004 Out Music Award for Outstanding New Recording – Debut Male and was supported through a tour of gay clubs. Despite the traction that Verraros was gaining within the LGBT community – the Chicago Sun-Times called him a "gay icon" in 2004 – he was unable to convince any major labels, either in the United States or in the United Kingdom, to release Unsaid and Understood. Struggling financially, Verraros continued working at a tanning salon, where he had found employment shortly after moving to LA. Over the summer of 2004, he learned that Koch Records, an indie label based out of New York, was preparing a compilation album of music by American Idol finalists. Koch Records wanted to know whether Verraros had anything to contribute to the planned album, and Verraros sent in a demo tape. He received a record deal within a week. Unsaid and Understood was then retooled as Rollercoaster. Several of the same songs are featured on both albums, although Rollercoaster also features new material. ==Writing and recording==

Verraros first began working on the album that would become Rollercoaster in June 2003 and finished it about a year and a half later. while Lopez received writing credits on all of the tracks (Verraros is credited as a co-writer on seven tracks). Lopez played several instruments on the album and is credited as the producer. He also provided backing vocals. Verraros explained that the title Rollercoaster is a reference to the emotional highs and lows that he had experienced throughout his life. Lyrics were written without the use of pronouns, so as to appeal to both gay and straight listeners. Verraros called "Outside" the most personal song on Rollercoaster, as well as one of his favorites, and explained that the lyrics are about gay bashing. Another song on the album, "Welcome to Hollywood", was described by The Advocate as "[documenting Verarros'] post-Idol reality check". When asked about the song, Verraros described Hollywood as a "seedy" place, filled with people trying to "get ahead in life". In a separate interview, he said that he had "to constantly question other people's motives" while living in Los Angeles. "You're Getting Crazy" and "Hold On" were also singled out by Verraros as two of his favorite songs on the album, the former for its "beat" and the latter for its romantic qualities. ==Release==

Rollercoaster was initially scheduled for a March 2005 release, although the date was postponed to April 26 of that year. The album's release date was chosen to roughly coincide with the theatrical premiere of Eating Out. A release party for Rollercoaster was held on April 27, 2005 at the Roxy Theatre in Hollywood. ==Singles==

Rollercoaster's first single, "You Turn It On", and peaked in early June at number twenty-one. Remixes were created for the song. The album's second single, "You're Getting Crazy (Estas Enloqueciendo)", was released in October. Mike Cruz and L.E.X each created remixes of the song, which were called "as slick, upbeat and professional as anything else currently climbing the charts" by Edgemedianetwork.com. and the album's second single failed to chart. ==Reception==

Rollercoaster received positive comments from several publications. Adam B. Vary and Dennis Hensley of The Advocate called the album "surprisingly assured" and noted similarities to George Michael's music, and Ben Katner of TV Guide considered the album's lead single, "You Turn It On", to be an "infectious club hit". Katner also called the entire album "unrelentingly catchy". A less positive review of Rollercoaster came from Jonathan Takiff of the Philadelphia Daily News, who gave the album a C and called it "cheezy". AllMusic did not review the album, but gave it two-and-a-half stars out of five. ==Track listing==

Credits adapted from AllMusic. • Jim Verraros – vocals Additional vocals • Noelle Benny – background vocals • Gabe Lopez – background vocals • Jerry Minnerly – background vocals • Angela Peel – background vocals Additional musicians • Norm Antonini – drums • Barnaby Hitzig – guitar • Gabe Lopez – acoustic guitar, bass guitar, drum programming, electric guitar, harmonica, keyboards, grand piano, synthesizer bass Technical personnel • Mike Houge – engineering • Gabe Lopez – Engineering, mixing, production Miscellaneous • Blaire Brodar – styling • Jeff Chenault – Art direction, design • Dan O'Leary – product management ==Footnotes==