David Cook Heads Back to the Road Plus David and Meat Loaf!

MJ
I’m trying to see the videos from SYTYCD and keep getting taken to a blog page with Jason Castro on it. Maybe my computer has a glitch in it tonight but I’m not seeing anything from Wed nights show except the elimination video. Is there a group dance video? sorry for posting here but i couldn’t post in the right place because it didn’t go to the right place. lol.

He’s going to be performing on opening day of the state fair on August 21st. I’m seriously thinking about going especially since tickets are pretty cheap. I know I wouldn’t be disappointed. He was the only one I really liked from last season. Well, I liked one other person but still I didn’t think it was worth the money to go to the idol tour but just Cookie I think it will be worth it.

He’s another one who is just adorable.

LMAO at the Meat Loaf videos :lol_tb:

So is Rob Cavallo’s house the place where the band hangs out now or something? Home of the Wayward EEB? They must really like his basketball court. And what is Meat Loaf doing there? Is Cavallo producing him too? It was kinda cute how Meat Loaf was bummed when he thought he missed his chance at getting a video shot with David.

Well….hot patootie, bless my soul!!! LOL

What made me laugh is that I have the same problem sometimes like Meatloaf, where I mix and match names, just like “Rob Cook.”

And honestly, David has to write down his skin regimen because his complexion is flawless.

LOL I’m glad they’re having fun!

OK, those Meatloaf videos (especially the 1st one) are seriously funny. I love cracking-up-Dave, and that 1st video is full of it.
So Rob Cavallo and David are friends, or something? LOL at the band playing basketball in his court.

Bwah! I looked at ML’s tweets. At least David got the thoroughly understandable “Rob Cook” misnaming. Poor Switchfoot got called Switchfat by ML.

When I was a little kid my grownup cool uncle adored Bat Out of Hell, I remember staring at the crazy cover. Before Cook was born!!

And then Rocky Horror Picture Show in college . . .

The Loaf is a legend. I love the total bizarreness of Idoldom.

Also, the Cook live show is awesome, it rocks out.

Is that what meatloaf looks like these days? Wow…Been a while since I last saw him anywhere

Hmm, I wonder if this means Cavallo will be producing the second album too. Hmm, about that….

That was so funny. Great song meatloaf. (lol)

All I can say is WOW!!!

“Dayyyyyyviiiiiiiid….yeow!” ROFLMAO!

Aw, Meat. My big brother loves him. At first, I was like, ew! But after he took me to the 3 Bats Live tour (yep, I lived to tell), the old dude can still hypnotise a rowdy audience. Nothing like howling ‘I would do aa-ny-thing for love, but I won’t.do.THAT.’ at 1 in the morning on the I-95. Fun times.

Segue-ing: David’s a leftie, so I wonder how he wraps his head around finding the right notes for a rightie. You can almost see that massive skull ticking as he figures it out.

Hmm, I wonder if this means Cavallo will be producing the second album too. Hmm, about thatà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ ¦.

Actually, I’m willing to give him a chance since I think he and David had their hands tied with the first album. I’d like to think that both would push their vision more since it’s not an Idol album anymore.

As one who, for the most part, really dug what Cavallo did on the first record, I certainly wouldn’t be upset to hear that they were collaborating again. But since Cook has said as recently as yesterday that they plan to tour on the back of this album at least through the end of 2009, I’m doubtful that basketball and Meatloaf at Cavallo’s house means anything more than Dave and Rob are buddies and the Cavallo compound has a sweet sport court. If they haven’t even started writing seriously, I can’t imagine they’ve made any kind of a decision on a producer.

MJ if you can get to a show you should do it. The band, they are tight. Never the same setlist. Cook’s voice is crazy-good. The crowds, aside from the ridiculous posterboard-wielding crazies, are high-energy in a good way. All in all a really solid rock show.

My issue (upon reflection– initially I was stoked about the choice just like everyone else) with Rob is not artistic. Artistically, it was an outstanding choice.

My issue with him is on the commercial side. Cavallo is best known for his work with Green Day and MCR. Are those bands whose sounds hew closely to the market to which Idols are typically pushed? (On a side note, I have to laugh when I’ve read that fans want Cavallo to use his connection to get Cook an opening gig for Green Day. Apparently, they want him to be booed and have things thrown at him.)

I know Cavallo has worked with other artists besides GD and MCR, but, still, I think that part of the difficulty in locating singles on the album has to do with the “split the difference” approach he said he took to producing DC. It could have worked better (at being artistic yet producing big-hit- tracks) perhaps if they had more time, and so maybe if he’s on board again next time around it will work better. But, there is a certain bipolarity to the album that I think is a reflection of Rob’s fingerprints being on it, and that bipolarity has hamstrung the album’s radio-friendliness to an extent.

On the flip-side– the positive side, the record as a whole is a solid, highly-listenable-from-beginning-to-end rock/ pop rock album. And it’s a record, of course we can’t forget that has gone well-past platinum. I’m just saying that I understand why RCA has struggled in choosing singles.

Awesome. I hope DC and EEB add a another date in Florida. MJ aren’t you based in NYC? I think they have a show at the Nokia Theater in downtown NYC in August. I think it’s the day before the GMA-Armagedon concert?

Heehee, had to watch that again this morning – too cute. Meatloaf’s song rocks ;) .

“I have no idea, Meat, this is your stuff.” :lol_tb:

Oh, I loved that video. As somebody old enough to remember Meatloaf in his prime, I think he still looks–and sounds–great.

And I definitely want an mp3 of that new song he and David are working on: “David, David, David, oh David, ahhhhhhh, David Cook…”

Great videos! Meatloaf seems like such a nice man, in these. David is, as always, adorable.

Omigod that first video is hilarious! I could watch it again and again. Love seeing those behind-the-scenes unguarded and natural moments. Love seeing two artists at work (so to speak) and having fun. And Meatloaf, gotta love him too.

Meatloaf, with Cook strumming: We’re touring this way. What’s the first word of the song? (And of course, it’s Baby!)

ROTFL

^^ Actually, I think it was “David”. LOL

LMOA. Meatloaf and David FTW! That was hilarious. I another “pinch me” and random moment for DC. Heh.

And yeah, Dave’s album just dropped in November. Not sure if he’s thinking second album now since he just started the second leg of his Declaration. And Cavallo inviting Dave to hang and jam with his buddies? FTW. That’s cool.

Yahoo, just got 2 tix to see David at the Keswick in Philly on 7/31! Jeebus, it was insane though. Their circuits were already overwhelmed at 10:00 am when the tickets went on sale. Fortunately I already had an account with the theater and managed to get two decent seats. I guess the best ones were already sold out to their VIPs.

mj, if David doesn’t come to Boston, you should come down to Havertown to see your sister (do I remember that right?) and I’ll drive you to the show! ;-)

I’m thrilled that David is coming to the Birchmere in DC. I thought that a few months ago that he would be perfect there. (Or else the Patriot Center, which is larger, and maybe next time he will play there.)

Back in April Meatloaf singled DC out when talking about how excited he is to have a hot producer like Rob working with him

Still, couldn’t he get Steinman to throw one song on the album for old time’s sake? He said, “We’ll see. Not right now. I’m going into the studio with Rob Cavallo, we start June 1st, who produced the big albums for Goo Goo Dolls, Green Day, Alanis Morissette and David Cook from American Idol. I think so. Anyway, this guy’s really hot. I’m an old guy, and getting to be with a young, hot producer like that is exciting.”

I’m still laughing over his enthusiasm. David Cook! Here’s the evidence!!1
:laugh_tb: And I love even more than he and Rob remained tight.

As for whether or not the college tour won him any new fans, David told ABC News Radio,

Is there a link to listen to this radio interview, MJ?

I saw this last night… and LMAO! Meat cracked me up as much as he cracked up DC.

Noctem, RE: DC’s next album, have you checked out Lyndsey Parker’s interview on her Yahoo music blog? He talks about it a little, both direction (Ben Folds and Avenged Sevenfold?! Awesome…) and timeline (he basically wants to tour to the end of the year, before working on it, of course, depending on how the record is doing at the time, etc.)

I think DCTR is a *great* album, and really believe in Rob Cavallo’s work (DMB’s new album is great), but I hear what you’re saying about the lack of *really* commercial singles and the schizophrenia from “splitting the difference”.

Hmm, I wonder if this means Cavallo will be producing the second album too. Hmm, about thatà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ ¦.

Humm, I have issues with the album production.. the main one is that David’s beautiful tone is not fully there, sort of washed away, smoothed out.
Not sure why, may be it was because of the production constraints at the time, but I have to admit that in the back of my mind, I have been blaming the producer..

I’ve always been a fan of Meatloaf, but he’s completely adorable as a person. Dave’s laugh/clap is just the best thing ever. What a hoot this vid is. And he called him “Meat”. ROTFLMAO.

Love that David “hangs” at Rob Cavallo’s house.

Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m just saying that I understand why RCA has struggled in choosing singles

It had nothing to do with Rob. LO or CBTM wouldn’t have done better with different production.

He needs better songs (and to stop shouting). It’s that simple. I hope he’s able to get some by the time the next era begins, or he won’t get a third chance.

Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m thrilled that David is coming to the Birchmere in DC. I thought that a few months ago that he would be perfect there. (Or else the Patriot Center, which is larger, and maybe next time he will play there.)

Me too!! I was hoping for a smaller venue like that (or 9:30 Club, though driving wise I’d rather go to Birchmere). If he ever wants to play the Patriot Center that’s ok too because that’s pretty much walking distance from my house ;) !!

His name is Robert Paulson… The serial bromancer strikes again. He’s a regular Tyler Durden, aint he. Cookmeat? :laugh_tb: About those twitters, though, someone should tell Mr. Loaf the first rule of Cook Club…

If you get that MP3, BootStar, I’m thinking ringtone.

Noctem, I don’t understand the bipolarity…you’re talking about what, exactly? The bipolarity between…? The stuff Dave had a hand in writing and the two singles? The ballads and the uptempos? Also not sure how it would be Rob’s fingerprints, or how it hamstrung the radio friendliness. I’ve always had the feeling RCA earmarked LO and CBTM early on as the first two singles, so I don’t know that they struggled as much as preselected singles based on a certain target demo rather than the best artistic representation of the album. If the target demo was the HAC pop rock digging crowd, they got what they wanted out of them. I read your post and thought Ahhh….Bach. I’m also the silly chick whose ultimate fantasy is the Cook/Green Day tour… :bye_tb: Actually, I think David once credited Rob with helping him establish a thread of continuity throughout the album despite the inherrently eclectic nature of jumping from, say Bar Ba Sol to Permanent and everything in between. I think they accomplished that, and in fact it’s slightly reminiscent of the way American Idiot presents a collective narrative that elevates the album as a whole. Dookie, American Idiot and Welcome To The Black Parade were among my favorite albums before I ever heard of David Cook, so I’m totes geeked out that Cook and Cavallo have apparently hit it off so well. I’ve added DCTR to that list, so if the relationship continues to be fruitfull artistically, I aint complainin, either. Also of note: Cavallo just finished working with DMB, who stylistically aren’t similar to GD or MCR.

And speaking of Birchmere, tickets go on sale today at noon, so of course I can’t get anything done lingering around waiting to buy tickets. Hehe.

Yeah I love the Birchmere, but it’s a bit small for a loud rock band. Doesn’t matter though, I’m thrilled and will get another chance to see him up close. Yes I’m going to get there early and wait in line for a number LOL.

Sunchick, I share that same Green Day / DC fantasy. Heh, and total word on your post.

MJ please- Meat Loaf is two words. It is even in his contract ryder so clearly important to him.

Yeah I love the Birchmere, but ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s a bit small for a loud rock band.

I would not mind so much if they’d do an acoustic set… a girl can dream, right?

I never was a fan of Meat Loaf (thanks for the heads up on two words) except for my mom’s totally awesome meatloaf. I have to admit I’ve had dreams about her meatloaf but that’s a totally different subject. To me, he always seemed a bit (or more than a bit) stalkerish. I have a different view of him now. I think he’s awesome in his random funniness.

I’d not mind at all Rob Cavallo producing again. I think regarding the first album that both David and Rob had constraints…David by his touring schedule and Rob by tptb. I think ultimately they put together an amazing record. I’m also not one to bemoan the fact that his singles aren’t played on CHR every 17.5 minutes. He’s done fine without that and, honestly, I don’t even know that he’d want that. I do know, however, that I’d not necessarily want that for him. He fits well in HAC and HAC seems to love him. I’m good with that because it’s the only format I listen to when I listen to mainstream radio…which isn’t often. He’s selling albums. I can’t imagine that he isn’t delighted.

MJ please- Meat Loaf is two words. It is even in his contract ryder so clearly important to him.

Gosh. I changed it. I certainly wouldn’t want to make Mr. Loaf cry.

I would make a mental note of that, but I can’t imagine I’ll ever be blogging about him again.

My issue with him is on the commercial side. Cavallo is best known for his work with Green Day and MCR. Are those bands whose sounds hew closely to the market to which Idols are typically pushed? (On a side note, I have to laugh when Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ve read that fans want Cavallo to use his connection to get Cook an opening gig for Green Day. Apparently, they want him to be booed and have things thrown at him.)

Interesting. My daughter’s favorite band is Green Day. Has been since she was in utero. And we both voted like mad for Cook. I didn’t realize we would be expected to boo him and throw stuff at him were he to open for them when we see them in Aug ;)

Generalizations are fun :P

I wonder how M. L. came by that name anyway. Odd name. I’m not clear on what songs he sang. I always heard his name but never really knew who he was, until he appeared on Idol a couple of years ago singing with Kat McPhee I think it was. Now that was a surprising combination. Did he have a crush on her as I recall? He’s very shy onstage I think?

I love this video of ML and DC. BTW that yahoomusic.com interview with David on the golf course is really a good one. He talks at some length about Adam and Kris, as well as Chris Daughtry (they are on a first name basis now, which is kind of intriguing) and about the Idol stigma, also the direction he sees his music heading (somewhere between Ben Folds and Avenging Seven or something like that), very interesting and nice to see him unwinding on the golf course.

Wellà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ ¦.hot patootie, bless my soul!!! LOL

Heh I knew I couldn’t be the only one who saw that picture and immediately thought, “Eddie!”

Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m also the silly chick whose ultimate fantasy is the Cook/Green Day tourà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ ¦ :bye_tb:

Well, add me to the growing list of silly chickees! :-) Maybe it’s a guy thang, noctem. ;-P

And, I’ll note my wild jealousy of all you DCites who’ll see Cook at the Birchmere! I LOVE that place, but I’m no longer in the area. snif. But a bajillion years ago I saw Lyle Lovett there, also, Angie Aparo and some others that escape me! That’s a great venue with quite a historic run of artists!! Too much fun.

The Lyndsey Parker video interview was great! Thank you sma11ie! :)

I wonder how M. L. came by that name anyway. Odd name. Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m not clear on what songs he sang.

His birth name is Marvin Lee Aday, although he changed his first name in 2001 to Michael. There is no “official” story about how he got his nickname, although most of the unofficial stories say it was a childhood moniker most likely given to him by his high school football coach on whose foot the large-framed teenager stepped. The coach was said to yell “get off me you big lump of meatloaf” and the name stuck after his team mates wouldn’t let it die.

Sorry if I bored you with that bit of trivia, but I am a huge Meat Loaf fan, as well as a fan of David Cook. I also like Green Day. I was excited to see The Loaf and Cook together, and I would be happy to see Cook and Green Day tour together.

“Bat out of Hell” is still and will always be a classic album – I’ve always liked Meat’s Joe Cocker meets Rock Opera singing style however I think the strongest songs especially in terms of lyrics were on that one album and he’s never quite reached that level again – that album was such a smash because it stood out from the pack. “Two out of Three Ain”t Bad” still gets me verklempt and ah, “Paradise by the Dashboard Light” – brings back such, uh, memories of my youth. He is actually a pretty good actor too. Loved his stint in Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Glad to see he’s looking healthy and Cookie has some cool friends.

I wonder how M. L. came by that name anyway. Odd name. Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m not clear on what songs he sang. I always heard his name but never really knew who he was, until he appeared on Idol a couple of years ago singing with Kat McPhee I think it was. Now that was a surprising combination. Did he have a crush on her as I recall? Heà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s very shy onstage I think?

Do yourself a favor and look into his catalog, especially if you like big, dramatic, powerful (critics would say bombastic) songs with lots of soaring instrumentation. His songs (most penned by Jim Steinman, a partnership conceived in heaven and now tragically past) always tell a story and are full of imagery- one of the original “too theatrical” vocalists.
He is epic.

Not shy onstage but suffers from severe stage fright. Once he gets going though he gives it every drop of energy and sweat he has. I’ve been front row at many a Meat show and just adore him.

I would make a mental note of that, but I canà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t imagine Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ll ever be blogging about him again.

LOL, MJ- I just know Meat Loaf and David will tour together now!

Here’s another radio interview Cook did with San Diego’s Star 94.1 . He has some nice stuff to say about Archie and just his tour updates.

Cookie’s Cookies FTW!

Although I really like Cook’s album, my one criticism of it would be that the backing instrumentals (rather than the vocals) are “too smooth.” I think that was the inevitable product of the fact that the record was recorded with session musicians, on the run in the short breaks between the Idol tour and then during the month after the tour ended. Cook has said repeatedly that the record is the recorded he wanted to make — because what else is he going to say — but I also suspect that TPTB had more influence over it than he would have preferred. I am also sure that TPTB decided which singles to release. Certainly the Yahoo interview suggests that he wants to experiment a bit more on the next one.

I don’t think the record lacks for potential singles, frankly, I just think that TPTB chose the wrong ones. I would have had Declaration out as the first single, with Heroes, Lie or Avalanche as the second. But the album is platinum (and went platinum pretty quickly), and Light On will go platinum very shortly. So by any measure the big label debut has been a success. As such, I’d be happy to have Cavallo produce the next album.

As for Meat Loaf, I adored his stuff when I was young, and then lost track of what he was doing. The video of David teaching him how to play guitar was FTW.

Add me to the group that would love to see David tour with Green Day. I think it’s great that he’s been able to headline on his first tour, but in terms of “expanding the fanbase” I think touring with a more established act would be very positive.

I would have had Declaration out as the first single, with Heroes, Lie or Avalanche as the second.

Ditto, but I must admit I really have no concrete concept of radio friendly. Here’s my reasoning…I think a debut single should say something about the artist and the album. Declaration says three things, as a debut single:

1) Here’s my debut song, I helped write it, and my album, thematically, will be a personal statement that I had a heavy hand in crafting….
2) Here’s my debut song, and yeah, it’s commerical, but I still intend to honor my rock roots…
3) Here’s my debut song, I can sing the shit outta anything.

LO, OTOH, was a good tune and people obvs dug it, but artistically, as a debut, as a statement, it hits number three, and maybe number two, but really says little about all the work that went into making sure the album wasn’t just a collection of songs given to him by 19 or RCA or whoever. Plus, how do you write a song called “Declaration” and not make it a debut single? Srsly, RCA. Srsly. Hell, I think they should have named the album Declaration, too. Bridge, water, yada yada…

I love that Meatloaf video. They were both hilarious!

my one criticism of it would be that the backing instrumentals (rather than the vocals) are à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“too smooth.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  I think that was the inevitable product of the fact that the record was recorded with session musicians, on the run in the short breaks between the Idol tour.

Sybil T…I completely agree with your whole post. The improvement in the live performances over studio performances has a lot to do with the band (even though they do sometimes drown out Cook’s vocals). Dookie was one of my favorite albums when I was in my teens and I have no problem with Rob producing Cook’s next album. I think that if they do plan to release Lie, they should make a new recording for radio. Same goes for Permanent (but only because of the difference in endings..the studio recording is actually very good).

Sybil and sunchick,

Very good points from both of you about the single selection process. I can’t argue with any of it.

I kept silent and out of the way when all of the angst about CBTM began. I felt I didn’t need to say anything because all of my feelings about this choice were already being voiced here and elsewhere. LOL IMO, the best bet would have been Declaration although I would have been ok with Lie too but with Declaration being the best choice of the 3 that we had to pick from. One thing I’m curious about is what the callout score for CBTM was for CHR/Pop because we never saw it (or at least I didn’t).

I do agree with the majority that have said that LOTM would be a good choice next time around. That thought has been in the back of my mind for some time. Yes, HAC does seem to be the one format where DC shines in terms of airplay of singles and probably the majoirty of the singles on the album probably fit better there actually than they do on CHR/Pop when you consider how much that format is constantly changing.

Love the vid with Meatloaf and DC. :lol_tb:

mj,

You really should go to a show when you get a chance. You won’t regret it. :)

Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m also the silly chick whose ultimate fantasy is the Cook/Green Day tourà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ ¦

That would be a great fantasy lineup… in a fantsy world where the words “American” and “Idol” in sequence aren’t met with heaps of scorn and derision by a significant portion of Green Day’s audience. It is true that Green Day broadened its base after American Idiot and attracted a large following of social and music progressives. And many within this contingent might be “progressive” enough to accept that an AI-birthed star could be a legitimate musical artist.

But, Green Day also retains their sizeable, original core audience from their days as pure-pop-punksters and even pre-Dookie when they were a fixture in the Bay Area punk scene. Trust me, people, you do not want this pairing for DC. It would not be pretty.

I donà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t understand the bipolarityà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ ¦youà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢re talking about what, exactly? The bipolarity betweenà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ ¦?

Here’s my description of DCTR– it’s essentially twelve pop songs that have been grunged over to varying degrees. There is not a single track that does not have a poppy melody. That’s good for me. I like poppy melodies!

The trickiness comes in with the grunge. First, of all grunge (as opposed to post-grunge) is a dated (but awesome!) musical style. So you take these songs that almost all have single-ready melodies and you grungify them a little, alot, or in between, and you end up with a mixed bag.

Declaration should be in line to be Cook’s big hit– his four-on-the-floor male-flavored SUBG. But, it can’t be. The chorus vocals are screamy and distorted. I don’t know if they could have made it sound different, and I’ve tried to imagine how that might sound, but, regardless, that’s how it came out on the CD.

Heroes is the poppiest song on the record. But, the vocals near the end are so distorted you could barely make out the words if you didn’t know them.

LO, CBTM, and LOTM (good candidate for next single) are as radio-friendly as it gets (BBS and Mr. S. are pure rock songs) until we get to Lie, the beautiful ballad… which for some reason has been dipped in grunge too. Permanent is the only song that I’d say is not grunged up at all, but it’s too short and depressing to be a single.

Anyway, this is what I mean by “bipolar”– the grunging up of these uniformly very radio-friendly melodies. Or what Cavallo called “splitting the difference”. The result is a parcel of songs that tease you with the prospect of radio-readiness, but the grunge they’ve been treated with makes all of their potential viabilities as singles a giant crapshoot.

Plus, how do you write a song called à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Declarationà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  and not make it a debut single? Srsly, RCA. Srsly. Hell, I think they should have named the album Declaration, too. Bridge, water, yada yadaà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ ¦

Sigh, alternate universe. I also think if they were to go with a rock ballad, LOTM would’ve resonated well for point #1. I think part of the reason Daughtry’s first two singles (particularly the 2nd) did well is because he had a hand in writing the first one, sole credit in the second, and the lyrics/themes to It’s Not Over and Home clearly pointed to his backstory. LO and CBTM, cool enough song that they may be, don’t drive home point #1. For better or worst, DC won Idol because he was more than a pretty voice– people connected with DC the person, and the story which translated to his performances… all that appeal was lost with LO and CBTM as single choices. But yeah, bridge, water. I hope CBTM hits top HAC 10 already, after which I’m eager to see how the next single plays out.

MJ, What happened to the videos? thanks.

Sasha B. thank you for the radio interview link!

Noctem, muchas gracias for the in depth explanation. I am not one for the brevity. Now I get what you were going for even if I don’t totally agree. I actually don’t hear the screamy you’re talking about in the chorus of Declaration, but maybe my ear is tuned differently. I am that GD core audience….Dookie was the soundtrack of my transition from HS to college…and I also listen to a bunch of pop punk-ish stuff and sometimes even some screamo. If anything I think the album version could be pumped up a bit harder to mirror the live version, but always figured that might make it a wee bit less CHR friendly. Anyway, thanks as always for the interesting discussion.

Excellent points smallie. LOTM would have been another interesting way to go. Double sigh, alternate universe.

If anything I think the album version could be pumped up a bit harder to mirror the live version, but always figured that might make it a wee bit less CHR friendly.

I absolutely wish almost every studio track on the record conformed more to the live version. The enhancements the band has made to just about every one of the songs brings so much more out of them.

Perhaps I was unclear in what I was trying to say earlier. I’m not saying the “rock” should be stripped away so all you have left is a dozen pop ditties. When I said grunge– and here’s where I failed to communicate my meaning properly– I wasn’t referring only to that music style but everything about the music production that was a hallmark of the grunge era. Grunge was very LO-FI, heavy on distortion and effects, etc. That’s what I’m talking about– all the grungish production that was applied, particularly to Cook’s voice.

For some reason it works on LO (for me, anyway) and certain other songs like ADA. But, it doesn’t work for me at all on Declaration and Heroes.

Of course, maybe I’m blaming the wrong culprit in fingering Cavallo. Cook professes to love anthemic rock, and maybe he just went overkill with it. Dragging out the word “de-cla-ra-tion” anthemically definitely creates a screamy quality on that chorus.

Also, I think the song is just sung in too high of a key to translate well to a studio recording. However, I’m not sure if that song could be sung in any lower of a key.

Noctem, I think I understand what you are saying and agree. I found the CD over produced. My favorite song on the entire CD was Permanent because it was stripped down and primarily just David and the piano. I love him live in concert and the band sounds better to me live, too. Don’t get me wrong. I love David Cook and couldn’t wait for his CD to come out. I’ve probably listened to every song on it hundreds of times. Lie is one of my favorites as is Avalanche. It is funny that the ones they chose to release singles of are some of my least favorite on the CD. I wasn’t crazy about Light On, but loved the video of it because David looked so great. He still is the best idol contestant ever about using the camera to his advantage. He perfected the Constantine look only made it less campy and more sincere. You would swear that he is singing to you alone. Regarding Declaration, when the band did it on SNL I loved it because it was so much easier for him to sing live than Light On which was really a stretch and didn’t give him time to breath when he did it live. I also love Bar Ba Sol live, but don’t really care for it on the CD as much as many of the others.