Claymates, rejoice! The crooner's fourth album is out.

By: CAROLYN RICHARDSON

Fresh off of his Broadway run in Monty Python's Spamalot, CLAY AIKEN just released his fourth studio album, On My Way Here. The album includes original songs, unlike the mostly cover tunes on his second and third albums, Merry Christmas with Love and A Thousand Different Ways, respectively.

In a recent interview with the Associated Press, of the album he says he's not trying to be like other artists: "I'm not trying to be JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE. Thank God we have him, but I'm not him. ... I'm not gonna bring anybody's sexy back."

In fact, the disc does lack the sex appeal that's so pervasive in a lot of music on the airwaves. It is yet to be determined how that will affect the multi-platinum artist's success. For the most part the songs seem part of a Broadway musical based on Aiken's whirlwind five-years since almost winning "American Idol." The result is a more grown-up sound that will do well with an older audience, but may lose some support at pop radio stations. "Claymates," as his fans are called, will definitely enthusiastically support his effort, even though the tone of the disc is largely lonesome and dramatic.

In the album's title track, "On My Way Here," Aiken croons: "My address has changed, almost every year. I've found that standing still, can quickly make a lifetime disappear." This line sums up the tone of most of the album. "Ashes," "Everything I Don't Need" and "Falling" all speak of losing love. The rest of the disc is yearning for and finding love. "The Real Me" is a defining moment on the CD and finds Clay singing in parts at a whimper, expressing his need to express himself fully. In summary, On My Way Here takes a journey down a heartbreaking road, and shows a depth of emotion that Clay has rarely revealed before.

1. On My Way Here 2. Ashes 3. Everything I Don't Need 4. Something About Us 5. Falling 6. Where I Draw The Line 7. The Real Me 8. Weight Of The World 9. As Long As We're Here 10. Sacrificial Love 11. Grace Of God 12. Lover All Alone 13. Forget I Ever Knew You