The latest ‘Idol’ champ, David Cook, steps into his role as mainstream rocker on his self-titled debut major label album. Finally able to move on from his “magic rainbows,” Cook really nails the target with this album, produced by veteran Rob Cavallo.
Kicking things off with the fired-up rock anthem “Declaration,” Cook surely knows how to wet the appetites of his fans. “Declaration” would be the perfect follow-up single choice because it is practically designed with radio in mind.
Something that is extremely noticeable on ‘David Cook’ is the lyrics. Having wrote or co-wrote 10 of the songs, Cook’s songwriting talents were not wasted compared to what is found on most ‘Idol’ debuts. This is especially seen on “Heroes,” where Cook emphasizes his love by suggesting “all these heroes come and go / but you’re still standing.”
As for mid-tempos, “Life on the Moon” is perhaps the best track of this kind on the album, as it displays Cook’s aptitude for conveying emotion into his work. Although it is not half bad itself, the album’s first single, “Light On,” pales in comparison as a mid-tempo track.
On “Mr. Sensitive,” aspects of a major motion picture’s raising theme song come to mind, and would perhaps be a perfect fit on a superhero film’s soundtrack. The hard rock instrumentation meshes surprisingly well with Cook’s controlled vocals. In addition to “Mr. Sensitive,” Cook really digs into the grungy depths of rock on tracks like “Bar-ba-sol” and the hidden track “Kiss on the Neck” and does not come off sounding pretentious.
On “Come Back to Me,” Cook trades in authenticity for radio-friendly fare in the form of a Bo Bice-lite track that would be a perfect fit for Hot AC radio. While “Lie” would also be an ideal single due to its hook, it is able to retain validity in the context of the rest of the album’s tracks. But the weakest track is without a doubt “I Did It for You,” which has such generic lyrics and a bland sound that it is almost embarrassing to see it tacked onto the album.
Where Cook really comes into his own is on the album’s ballads, especially “Permanent” and “Avalanche.” On “Permanent,” a vulnerable Cook utilizes his reserved vocals in conjunction with piano and stringed accompaniment. This is a side of him his fans do not see as often as one might expect, so it is definitely a pleasant surprise. While a little more forgettable, “Avalanche” is another example of Cook’s ability to adapt musically to a more heartfelt persona.
The album’s final standout comes in the form of “A Daily AntheM,” which is a spirited, uplifting piece of work that gives hope to a brighter day. And then there’s the inescapable “The Time of My Life,” which Cook has little choice but to include to cap off an otherwise solid album.
Without a doubt, David Cook puts his best foot forward on ‘David Cook,’ and the result of his dedicated work and moving vocals is hard to deny. Expect big things from the ‘Idol’ alum in the future.
David Cook will be available to purchase in stores and online on Tues., Nov. 18.
Showing posts with label rob cavallo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label rob cavallo. Show all posts
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Album review: Cook's 'David Cook'
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Cook's "Light On" premieres on PopEater
Just days after being announced, David Cook's single "Light On" debuted on AOL's PopEater entertainment blog as reported earlier on Cook's Web site. The single, which was written by Soundgarden/Audioslave lead singer Chris Cornell and Brian Howes, was produced by Rob Cavallo. Listen to it below:
Lyrics for the single are posted below:
Never really said too much
Afraid it wouldn’t be enough
Just try to keep my spirits up
When there’s no point in grieving
Doesn’t matter anyway
Words could never make me stay
Words will never take my place
When you know I’m leaving
[CHORUS]
Try to leave a light on when I’m gone
Something I rely on to get home
One I can feel at night
A naked light, a fire to keep me warm
Try to leave a light on when I’m gone
Even in the daylight, shine on
And when it’s late at night you can look inside
You won’t feel so alone
You know we’ve been down that road
What seems a thousand times before
My back to a closing door and my eyes to the seasons
That roll out underneath my heels
And you don’t know how bad it feels
To leave the only one that I have ever believed in
[CHORUS]
Sometimes it feels like we’ve run out of luck
When the signal keeps on breaking up
When the wires cross in my brain
You’ll start my heart again
When I come along
[CHORUS]
"Light On" will be available to purchase on iTunes on Tues., Sept. 30.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
