Future idol
For those of you who don’t know, David Cook shot to fame (in the USA anyway) after winning the seventh season of American Idol. For people like me who have followed this higher standard of reality show (especially when compared to UK’s X Factor), its great to have someone who can play, write songs and actually sing LIVE!
But DC was no overnight sensation, he has been plying his trade for years and has a couple of bands under his belt. Firstly DC was singer and guitarist of Axium from 1999-2006, after which he then produced a solo independent album called 'Analog Heart'. For someone like DC to win American Idol, it’s a great plus over the standard ‘puppets’ that the show has churned out for the past few years, with only Carrie Underwood and Kelly Clarkson being the only winners to break free of the shackles. In David Cook, American Idol has come up with a huge talent that can have a long and successful life after American Idol has long since bit the dust.
Similar to the previous seasons surprise act, Chris Daughtry (finished 4th but outsold the actual winner by shitloads), David Cook has chosen his own path and has had a hand in writing most of the songs, and choosing his own creative direction.
But will the songs cut the mustard? Thankfully I am (very) please to say ‘yes’, Hell-yeah! Even though I think he will struggle to sell many units outside of the US (he probably doesn't give a toss) this should be a huge hit for him on the other side of the Atlantic (from us in the UK) as it feeds into the US type of rock from the 80’s that they lap up in droves
Seeing that I am a lover of the US stadium school of rock, the album hit all my nerves also. The album produced by Rob Cavallo, has hit the mark. Looking back through his producing credits, he really has worked with some pop/rock drivel (Lavigne, My Chemical Romance, Kid Rock). Only the recent Shinedown album (due for a UK release early 09) regains him his Brownie points and makes him currently a ‘hot’ producer.
DC is a fine affair indeed, all songs have star quality written all over them. Practically all could be served up as singles should the album take off. There’s not a single ‘non-radio friendly’ track on offer. ‘Light On’, the first single to be taken from the album only managed to hit 17 in the US. It was written by Chris Cornell and Brian Howes and has ‘hit’ written all over it. Dumb-ass Americans, this deserves to be huge! The young pretender who came second, David Archuleta at least went to No.2, but this is usually the case in these ‘car crash’ TV shows.
All in all I can not find a fault in the strength of the songs, from the opener 'Declaration' a post grunge, rawk out number, to the gritty Bar-ba-sol, and the positively balladic 'Permanent'. DC’s gritty, almost growling vocal style is a fine highlight indeed. As recent winners of the crown go, DC stands out above the recent drivel we’ve had thrust upon us. The cream always rises to the top, for my sake I hope he stays there