Customer Reviews

David Cook

5 star:		(236)
4 star:		(55)
3 star:		(30)
2 star:		(21)
1 star:		(15)

 

 

Being an American Idol winner brings with it the almost unattainable expectation of releasing a "perfect" record the first time out... what fourth season victor Carrie Underwood achieved would almost have to be considered a minor miracle. A fourth or fifth place finisher might actually have an advantage (case in point...Chris Daughtry)...more time, less pressure.
The super-intelligent, mature-for-his-age David Cook seems to be a better bet than most former winners...with musical direction not being an issue and plenty of writing and recording experience under his belt.

The one thing I admired most about Cook on AI was his ability to take a song, regardless of genre or how old it was, and turn it into something modern and original. He's also proved he has the voice to match his creativity. Even though David had to fulfill his duties and go on the Idol tour, he still managed to write or co-write almost the entire album, of which the majority was recorded while he was away. Grammy-winning producer Rob Cavallo took the reins and did an excellent job of crafting a very natural-sounding rock record, without feeling the need to "spice it up" with synthetic instrumentation & over-the-top special effects.

It's easy to hear how David's favorite bands, like Our Lady Peace and Collective Soul, have influenced his songwriting. There are songs here that reach both ends of the rock spectrum, from the almost-heavy-metal "Bar-ba-sol", to the stripped-down piano-based dirge "Permanent". Most of the rest of the songs are slight variations of a basic rock formula...sparse instrumentation at the beginning of the song with David singing in his lower register, a mid-tempo, right-on-the-beat, plodding bass line that drives the song to its heightened chorus section, where David sings at full throttle, backed by powerful guitars with your standard rock chord progressions...in other words, nothing ground-breaking and slightly cliche'...but does that mean the songs aren't that good? Absolutely not!! While these are mainstream radio rock songs, and I was hoping for something so unique and original it would blow me away, I must say I haven't heard the "norm" done this well in a very long time.

As I suspect there will be many comparisons to groups like Daughtry and Nickelback, IMO David betters both in terms of performance and delivery. As you go down the track list, it appears there may be only a couple of tunes that won't make the cut as a potential radio single.

One final note about a song that I do believe breaks new ground. The aforementioned "Permanent"...a song for his brother Adam who is battling cancer... that one hits me in the gut and in the heart...not just because I too am in a similar fight, but because this is a song sung with such amazing passion...I feel that so deeply in his voice and delivery every time I hear it; it's truly a song to make a grown man cry.

I think this album will do the same for millions more. It's melodic and catchy, with great lyrics and depth, and comes from a special man in terms of both talent and personality...he'll never be able to hide his smile behind that kind of album cover.

I'm "permanent"-ly attached to this one... A++

Yea, that's the voice we've been waiting to hear. David's voice--raspy, melodic, like hot bourbon poured over honey--comes on like strong medicine, reminding us of exactly why he was the winner of Idol. His voice stamps this music like a branding iron stamps leather, marking it with the power and charisma that never fails to impress every time he opens his mouth. The magnetism of this man's voice is impressive, and is perhaps the greatest draw to this album.

Cook's inclination towards guitar driven, mid-western style, straight-ahead rock and roll has been given full rein here. Guitars are loud, inclined towards power chords and crunchy distortion, and great solos. If you are looking for innovation, then you will be a little disappointed--there is nothing new or groundbreaking in terms of the style of music or composition. This is a rock album, get over it. But let's be honest, you aren't coming to David for innovation. You're here for the emotion, and in that you will be in no way disappointed. His heart is on his sleeve and he isn't ashamed to let you know what is on his mind, and it is actually quite refreshing to find someone who knows that they simply want to rock and who has the ability to do it.

It appears that David was able to maintain at least some degree of control over the album, at least as judged by the writing credits: something like 10 of the songs are of his own composition. The fact that Cook is such an excellent writer is definitely going to be one of his strengths.

But how about the songs themselves? Well, they are uniformly what one would have hoped after seeing David's best Idol performances. Light On, of course, is great. But other standout tracks include the first track, Declaration, I Did it For You, and Avalanche.

This album is exactly what the legions of fans that David made for himself on Idol have been hoping for. But, more than this, he has remained true to the David we heard on Analogue Heart, rocking hard and fiercely unapologetic. This is not a record that will change your life, but if you give it a chance, it will make you smile, make you sing along, and give you a great time. Five stars not for being wildly inventive or boldly out of the box, but rather for being precisely what (I suspect) he wanted his music to be--a thoroughly enjoyable rock declaration.

What is amazing about this album is that no two people can agree which song is their favorite! I have read many reviews of this album and even the music critics can not agree on which songs are good or not. That is what makes this album so great, its diversity, honesty, and thought provoking journey David takes us on.
The fact that his music appeals to a large group of people, spanning all ages, and crosses over from Rock to Pop demonstrates the versatility of this album. Highly recommend!

It's hard to hate on an American Idol winner when said winner is dyed-in-the-wool Midwestern rocker David Cook. He cruised to a fairly dominant victory over standard-pop crooner David Archuleta with his nicotine-stained, husky vocals, his bar-rocker good looks, and most importantly, his ability to actually play guitar and create some truly out-of-left-field arrangements of songs. Cook's first album after winning Idol, and his second overall, is what you would expect from his offerings on the show, a collection of modern-rock tunes that are carried mostly on Cook's strong voice and owe quite a lot to Cook's own idols. Alas, the creative ingenuity Cook showcased on Idol in covering pop classics has been overwhelmed here, replaced by radio-ready, meat-and-potatoes rock `n roll that is entertaining, solid, and, too often, surprisingly bland.

Unlike most of the champions who came before him, credit must be given to Cook for penning much of the material on his self-titled, and while he can at times wax sentimental like on the sappy "Heroes," his arrangements and lyrics are what you would expect from a new alt-rock hero with the ambition to become an "American Our Lady Peace." Single "Light On," co-written with that Seattle rock god Chris Cornell, is your typical late `90s power ballad, while opener "Declaration" is hook-y guitar-heavy grunge-pop, and Cook's voice is the driving engine behind each song, lending appropriate gravitas and pathos at times and just sounding like he's having a ton of fun at others. Just check out the gritty, thudding rock of "Bar-Ba-Sol," easily one of the best songs and vocal performances on the record.

Cook still has a ways to go when it comes to making smart creative decisions, as the embarrassing metaphorical conceit "Life On The Moon" shows, and some songs just end up sounding too much like generic Nickelback-esque contemporary rock, like the uninspired "Mr. Sensitive" and the corny "I Did It For You." The best songs are those that don't come off as sounding like they just rolled off the latest major-label rock assembly line, most notably the affecting "Permanent," which glides along on a haunting piano and strings line and Cook's intimate lyrics. And Cook's own "A Daily AntheM" ends out the album on a powerful note, a truly ripping guitar solo that I almost couldn't believe coming from the mild-mannered Cook closing out a fairly rockin' tune.

David Cook is easily one of the best debut albums to come out from the American Idol series, disdaining cookie-cutter pop and an anonymous hit team of writers, instead focusing the attention on its star's distinctive vocals and a rebellious image that Idol definitely needed. While much of the record still sounds a little too over-produced, a little too slick, and a little out-of-touch with progressive alt-rock, it bodes well for Cook's burgeoning career and a number of tracks give hope for a more original future beyond that of a Daughtry sound-a-like.

It's no secret that debut albums from American Idol winners (and runners-up) are typically assembly-line productions that are rushed to market with pre-processed hits and little to no input from the artists themselves. But 'David Cook' the album stands out (much as the man himself did on the show) as clearly the most introspective and eclectic debut ever to come from the Idol franchise.

Cook himself wrote or co-wrote 10 of the 12 tracks on the album, and the lyrics are extremely personal and raw, touching on the support of his family, dealing with loss, and the inner-conflict that comes with sudden fame.

Cook has proven himself to be an extremely versatile vocalist, but the focus here seems to be on highlighting the arena-filling upper range of Cook's voice, which is so searing it can make the hair on your neck stand on end. But there are a few delicate moments where Cook is able to utilize the rich timbre that sets him apart from many other rock vocalists. One such song is the standout track "Permanent" (written for his brother who is fighting brain cancer) - it features just piano, strings, and a tender and wrenching vocal. He also moves effortlessly into his lovely falsetto for 'Avalanche,' one of the more straightforward love ballads on the record.

On the other end of the spectrum is the driving urgency of the heavy riff-rocker Bar-ba-Sol, which is probably the best track on the record. Cook is a born performer who commands the stage and knows how to work both the camera and the crowd. Bar-ba-Sol plays to this strength - it is a song that demands to be heard live with a beer in hand.

It's obvious that some compromises had to be made in order to satisfy the 30 million fans who watched him sing covers on Idol every week. There are a few fairly generic pop-rock tunes ('I Did it For You' and 'Come Back to Me' most notably) which may ultimately become big hits in the Daughtry mold. But produced by the highly-respected Rob Cavallo, the album is for the most part a cohesive rock record with several songs that are both representative of the artist as well as radio-friendly. In addition to those mentioned above, I particularly like 'Lie,' 'Declaration,' 'Life on the Moon,''Light On' (co-written by Chris Cornell), and the rough and sexy easter-egg track 'Kiss on the Neck' which appears after several minutes of silence following the strong closer 'A Daily AntheM'.

Under the circumstances (written and recorded in just 10 weeks while in the midst of a 53-city tour), the album is an imperfect but nonetheless impressive debut from the clearly talented Cook. I look forward to seeing him continue to break the Idol mold and stretch even further on his next record.

First let me say that there's not one song on this album that I would skip over. Every single track is radio-friendly and could be a hit single. And many will be hit singles. What amazes me is that this album remains a great rock album, filled with diverse songs that manage to come together as a cohesive album (kudos to Cook AND producer Rob Cavallo). From hard rocking "Bar-Ba-Sol" to the soft and melancholy "Permanent," this album is pure David Cook, a case-study in versatility. It remains Cook's vision, with his distinct musical point of view, his songwriting (all but 2 tracks), and best of all, his soaring vocals. Mid-tempo rock anthems "Declaration," "Come Back to Me," "Light On," and "A Daily AntheM" have hooks that will wrap around your brain for days. "Lie" could be the biggest hit single of all with it's waltz-like arrangement that can easily crossover on Rock, Hot Adult Contemporary, Top 40 and Adult Contemporary radio. His amazing vocals - "crushed velvet" tones that build to big glory notes - are on full display in "Avalanche," a song that could actually chart in the country format as well as pop. Cook promised a record that will stand the test of time. He delivered, and then some.

The typical Idol debut record is cranked out within 6 months of the end of the TV show to capitalize on the holidays and to mitigate the effects of the public's short-term memory and the impending next season of Idol.

As a result, the typical Idol debut record is fairly predictable (gotta keep the Idol stable of writers/producers busy!), safe (have to appeal to grammas and tweens who watch the shows) and engineered for maximum Top 40 single appeal (The Man gotta get paid!) Consumers get Another Idol Record - 2.5 Stars, good enough to tide over till next season's favorite, but nothing memorable.

This is not the typical Idol debut record, despite being subject to the same time and corporate strictures as previous Idol records. Firstly, David Cook was not handed a sheaf of prewritten songs to sing -- he has cowrites on 9 of the 12 tracks and a solo credit on the closing track. Secondly, the music is not the same old generic spun-sugar pop -- it's rock, it's big and epic, and omg there are actually a couple of sexy songs on there. Thirdly, the lyrics are heartfelt and intelligent, with some nice wordplay and music of their own going on with the sounds of the words.

The songs range from delicate piano/string ballad "Permanent", to 80s throwback powerballad "Light On", to high-energy bright "Declaration", but tying it all together is David's distinctive, strong voice and intuitive delivery. Credit should also go to producer Rob Cavallo for engineering a disc with a cohesive flow and identity.

The two critiques I have are that some songs suffer from overproduction (10 guitars is not always better than 2) and that a string of midtempo songs make the CD sag near the end. Apparently the label was insecure about preserving what they thought Idol viewers wanted. I think they should've just let David and Rob Cavallo loose. The fun hidden track "Kiss On The Neck" (12 minutes into track 12) and swagger-rock track "Bar-ba-sol" hint that there's harder stuff waiting in the wings, once we cut this silly Idol umbilical cord. Let's make a date for the sophomore album, yes?

I have been a David Cook fan since his first apperance on American Idol. I was disheartened to hear from the critics that his album was going to be a disappointment. I prepared myself for the worst. Then what happened? I heard it, and am glad to say the critics were wrong,I am pleasantly unsurprised at how good it is. This album fulfills all my hopes for his first album. Engaging, varied and thoughtful. Was "Light On" the best choice for a first single? Maybe not, other cuts are by far better. Do want some rock "Bar-ba-sol" is the song for you. Need something soulful to make you cry "Permanent" fits the bill. And I could go on. Do yourself a favor and explore it yourself.It just gets better the more I listen to it.

I must be honest that I might not be able to express myself as well as Lance, from the Midwest did. That review was beautifully written, and speaks for many of us, so thank you.

Cook, for lack of a better word..conquered me when I first saw him on Idol. His fierce intensity, infectious smile, warm spirit, and ferocious voice knocked me right off my feet. It was quite honestly, instant devastation.

I went right into investigation mode trying to find everything that this man had ever done. Finding Analog Heart, the amazing albums created with Axium, along with other songs not found on these albums..I became completed addicted to this man. (Also MWK, although, the solo endeavor and the work with Axium spoke to me much more)

I was amazed how this man and his enrapturing voice could both excite and move me. From heart pounding rock songs, to soft soulful ballads, it was as if there was a song for every mood.

David has delivered this feeling yet again. This album is amazing.
"Bar-Ba-Sol" takes me back to the feeling that I got when I heard "Thought You Knew", the live version from "Alive in Tulsa". A pulse racing, blood boiling effort that literally had me rolling down the windows of my car blaring it at maximum volume.

Then to "Mr. Sensitive" and "Lie", which had me quietly savoring each word. Each song had something that grabbed me in some way.

David does show his heart in this effort. Often in his lyrics, in several songs over the years he has spoken about wearing his "heart on his sleeve". We see his heart on his album as well. Powerful ballads that speak to us all, it's as if he has a song for every human emotion. Whether he is writing, co-writing, or singing someone else's words, in the end, it is HIS voice that will have to deliver the song.

I love this album. Some may say that the album is uneven, that some songs may not fit..I disagree. There is a song for every emotion. As people we have ups, downs, times when we feel strong, and when we feel weak. This album covers it all. It dips us into a full sink of emotion, and wrings us out at the same time.

I found myself in tears listening to "Permanent". While it's been 2 years since I lost my Mother to Cancer, it feels like yesterday. Being closer to her than anyone else in my life, and being the one who cared for her during the last few months, the pain is not felt just with the person who has the disease within their body. It is a fight shared by all those who love that person. And even if you are not in the room at one moment, your loved one should never feel alone..for you are always there with them. This song, without any childish exaggeration, is one of the most beautiful things I have ever heard. Perfectly crafted, piano, strings, and a passionate voice.

I find myself emotionally, and physically exhausted after listening to this album. I laughed, singing catchy lyrics, I closed my eyes, savoring, and quietly wept while listening.

This is only the beginning. We have only been given a taste of what David Cook is capable of. Rockstar..goofball..poet. Thank you for bringing music back to life for this chick. I can't wait to see what you do next.

If you're expecting the usual pop songs and cliche lyrics that tend to come out of American Idol, then this album will surprise you!

Produced by Rob Cavallo, the album encompasses all sides of Rock, from the anthemic 'Declaration' and 'Heroes', to the softer 'Come back to Me' and 'Lie', to the poigantly personal, introspective 'Permanent', to the metallic crunching 'Bar-ba-sol'.

A strong album full of rich lyrics, strong vocals and catchy tunes, this debut definitely shows David Cook's Star is firmly on the rise!