David Cook - An Emotional and Heartfelt Journey (David Cook - David Cook)

Member Name: Machair1

Product:	David Cook - David Cook
Date:	05/01/09 (85 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Meaningful lyrics and superb vocals.

Disadvantages: None

If you were following the last series of American idol you may have been aware of the success of David Cook as he took the title with grace and with enormous empathy for his very close friend and runner up David Archuleta. So as the sales of his first album simply called "David Cook" soars to over 700,000 (soon to go Platinum). I thought I would review my copy of this album, which in my opinion, is a masterpiece.

David Cook is a rock singer who sounds like a cross between Bryan Adams and Bon Jovi with a touch Of Snow Patrol. He is a rustic singer who has his own style and performs his own lyrics with enormous compassion and emotion. Born on December 20, 1982 in Texas but raised in Blue Springs Missouri he now lives in Oklahoma. David is the middle son of three brothers. In fact he only went to the auditions to keep his younger brother company and when he was unsuccessful David decided to audition himself. Finally it was all down to his younger brother that he put his modesty to one side.

I know that many people hate these reality TV shows dismissing artists who have made their careers in this way, but this guy is as genuine as you can get, and I feel he has been given a forum to perform songs which are intensely meaningful -it is a long time since I have heard anyone so talented.

The songs on the album are all based on personal experience and show tremendous insight into emotional situations.

The first track "Declaration" in the words of David Cook "likens to me standing on top of a building and declaring my intentions for this album-it introduces the themes and the hope for the album."

The songs are romantic and some portray the strength of a relationship which is challenged by distance. I can identify with this as my husband and I spent 3 years apart when at university and still saw the bond between us. There are songs which explain about the way his life has changed as a result of becoming famous and "Life On The Moon" is the description of a new life which feels strange and so different from the one he had before. It describes how you can feel so alone even when surrounded by people.

The highlight of the album for me is however the song called "Permanent" which is dedicated to his elder brother who is battling brain cancer. It isn't morose or one you want to blot out but is written so beautifully as an onlooker who sees and shares the pain. It is intensely moving and during the recording of this track David had to leave the room twice and all the artists were in tears. He felt that song was the culmination of 10 years of song writing when suddenly everything that was in his thoughts became a song, and it was born exactly as a portrayal of 11 years of inner feelings and emotions since his brother was diagnosed. Less than 3 minutes long it is a concise insight into exactly how you feel when you can only watch and hope. I know how that feels as I have watched my best friend go through the same pain these last 12 months and for me this song is something that puts into words my respect for her and does so exactly.

It is clear to me that David Cook is going to have a long career and it is a great asset to the music world.

Only one small point which is that I would have loved to have the lyrics in the album as I have had to search them out on the internet. That said however his diction is so clear and none of the music overshadows his voice which echoes from the heart of a man who means everything his says and performs.

Probably the most kind and modest man to come out of the music industry in a long time and the most talented.

Also posted on Ciao.com by myself under the user name Peachesonthetree.

Summary: An album which is written and performed from the heart.