David Cook: New Songs Will Have a Little More “Spit and Vinegar”

boy I’m hoping for this… I never bought his first album. I found it to be not as unique as I would have liked. He’s got a fab voice and I hope he can find a producer that will let that voice sound real. Music discussion around 2:45

Interesting that Cavallo is not a given. Maybe, since they’re going for a different vibe, they’re looking for a different producer. Or, of course, Cavallo just may not be available. Either way, I’m kind of glad.

Seriously– is this a midwest thing? Spit and vinegar? LOL. DC talks like a grampa more than any 27 year old I know! I don’t know how many such old farty idioms I’ve learned since following this dude. Hehe, it’s kind of adorable.

In other news, I’m nervous and excited too! Sometimes he says things that are so on target and self-aware that I truly wonder if he skims the fansites and blogs. It’s scary, but also reassuring for me to hear that he *knows* the previous album had a greater chance of selling well because of the show, and this time around is make or break. Also nice to hear that he’s not forcing a vibe or a direction just yet, and that he’s “just writing” first and seeing where things go. The tight timeline has me a bit nervous but I hope with the tour over now, he’ll give himself and the band plenty of time to let ideas marinate and percolate and evolve, etc. SO.EXCITED! WOOT!

Happy NYE everyone .

Interesting that Cavallo is not a given. Maybe, since they’re going for a different vibe, they’re looking for a different producer. Or, of course, Cavallo just may not be available. Either way, I’m kind of glad.

I thought so too but I’d be lying if I said didn’t still flove the album because I do. Of course, you won’t find me complaining about Cavallo’s absence, if it later turns out to be true, either.

You can find the songs from last night that have been uploaded so far HERE. Can’t wait to hear what’s in store for tonight.

Looking forward to it. I thought the first album was a little too much the same for me, almost all mid to downtempo. This is exciting!

can’t wait for the new album ….it’s refreshing to hear him talk about what the next album could do for him, he doesn’t take anything for granted….he’s one smart cookie.

Spit and vinegar. Awesome. Weird but awesome. I’m so excited! I feel like a 13 year old. Did I mention I’m excited? I like DCTR but I think I’ll love DCTR 2.

Seriously’“ is this a midwest thing? Spit and vinegar? LOL

I’m originally from the midwest (relocated to the west coast) and my daughter thought my “sayings” were quaint, she said her friends moms didn’t talk like that. Glad to see David is carrying on the traditions.

Also, am I the only one who thinks that he is looking more like Neal everyday? He has that big tattoo now, and that has to be Neal’s bandana. Neal must be influncing him. ROFL

Ooooh, I can’t wait for album #2.

And I like nice up-close videos even though his lips distract me (sorry, shallow, lol) and I have to go back and watch it twice to hear the rest.

I thought so too but I’d be lying if I said didn’t still flove the album because I do. Of course, you won’t find me complaining about Cavallo’s absence, if it later turns out to be true, either.

As I was reminded on DCO, Cavallo also has a new job which might make him unavailable, but I’m choosing to believe that David, his band, and his advisors have decided to take a different path.

Also, am I the only one who thinks that he is looking more like Neal everyday? He has that big tattoo now, and that has to be Neal’s bandana. Neal must be influncing him. ROFL

I swear, if either of these guys were a female, they’d be married by now — to each other. After all, Neal *is* a bottle blonde.

Yes, it does appear that Neal and Dave are more like twins everyday. It’s truly scary. Hee

Yeah, Cavallo is now a bigwig with Warner Music Group, a competitor of RCA – I don’t think they are going to want him working on an RCA record. (I know he helped finish up Adam Lambert’s record – but that was a project in the making before he was hired by Warner Music Group.)

My first post here…. I was DC’s biggest fan during the competition and the tour. He was natural, real, and interesting. I had hoped that this celebrity thing wouldn’t interfere with his ability to connect.
I find the current DC very vanilla, predictable, and dull. He is always looking cuteand selling music; and his lack of spontaneity is disappointing. I listened to this interview with its usual canned stuff, and wished that he would leave California and hibernate long enough for him to reconnect with himself, and with ex-fans such as me, who were taken with him in the past.

This one deserves a post all it’s own.
Boyband banter

Yes, that’s right folks, he’s singing NKOTB. The Right Stuff. Hee!

Also, am I the only one who thinks that he is looking more like Neal everyday? He has that big tattoo now, and that has to be Neal’s bandana. Neal must be influncing him. ROFL

Haha, NO, I had the same thought. He’s like… purty Cookie head on Neal’s body. Hee!

I find the current DC very vanilla, predictable, and dull. He is always looking cuteand selling music; and his lack of spontaneity is disappointing.

You should catch a live show. He is witty, spontaneous, and extremely charming. He gives interviews like he’s a politician.

Is it just me or did he also sound like he has a cold?

I think too much into these things.

David threw a cover of Oasis’ Champagne Supernova in the middle of Heroes.

So what do you guys think of Greg Wells as a producer? I liked what he did with Adams stuff and he seems to be a very creative and open person, giving room for improvs in the studio. I think he and Cook might mesh very well. Not really liking Dauhgtrys producer and Cavallo doesn’t seem right for David.

revcat, I think they’re quaint too . I like to poke fun, but I love DC’s way of talking and expressing himself. I love his creative word choices, use of old-fashioned phrases, and love that he always sounds so at ease in interviews, like he was a normal guy talking to any other normal person, but still articulating what he needs to well. <3

seriously, I'm guessing he and Neal have probably been influencing each other for 7 years now, to the point that it's hard to draw the line of who's affecting whom. Also, I think these two had a lot more in common at the outset that we fans can know– so perhaps it's not so much influencing each other as it is just liking the same things to begin with? There are really old DC pics of him doing that bandana thing, and he's been talking about wanting that sleeve for a while… but who knows.

Anywho, I'm torn about the tat. I wanted to see DC with *one* sleeve, but between The Eye and the 14, I expected it on his right arm… but now the poem on his left arm makes me think maybe he's planning it for BOTH arms. Which… I don't think I'll like as much (cuz it's all about me, haha!). On the other hand, I do think the Gaslight Anthem guys are totally hot with their sleeves: http://www.gaslightanthem.com/site/media/photos#5
http://www.gaslightanthem.com/site/media/photos#22
http://www.gaslightanthem.com/site/media/photos#39

wished that he would leave California and hibernate long enough for him to reconnect with himself, and with ex-fans such as me, who were taken with him in the past

I guess you don’t know much about him – because his new home is in Kansas City – and that’s where he spends his time when he is off tour.

As for spontaneity – that’s a hallmark of his live shows – every show different – the banter never the same.

Speaking as a life-long midwesterner. . .the real saying is “piss and vinegar,” so I think he was Doing a David and inventing a more polite way to say it in public. I like it. I think I’ll start using it.

I love DCTR, and expect to like DCTR2 even more because of that promise of rude (spit), astringent (vinegar), witty (tongue-in-cheek), driving rock (urgent) music. Maybe he’ll take Concert David into the studio with him and blow us all away.

p.s. I want Neal to produce. Not gonna get this wish.

I’m looking forward to David’s next CD and the further away from nutcase AI fans the better for his career and his credibility in the music industry. He’s got mad skills and he’ll be doing music for years to come, long after American Idol is a distant memory, just like another favorite of mine.

I watched the video, It Might Get Loud, and the joy that Jimmy Page gets from music and playing the guitar is inspiring and amazing. The Edge and Jack White have that same passion. It’s all about the music!

Also, am I the only one who thinks that he is looking more like Neal everyday?

Yikes. That’s not a good thing, imo.

his lack of spontaneity is disappointing.

Beyond what everyone else has said, have you checked out his Twitter account? His responses to the Q&As are off the cuff and, IMO, pretty goofy. And even his daily stuff is pretty real…

RT @whatacatch @thedavidcook I had a dream once where you told me to kill a ninja. What’s up with that? / That ninja looked at me funny.
10:54 PM Dec 29th from web

Demoing up some song ideas while I do laundry. This wasn’t in the brochure…
7:24 PM Dec 26th from web

He’s pretty big on mirroring in interviews. When they goof around with him, he goofs back. If they are straightforward, so is he.

My dad said “piss and vinegar” all the time, and he was from Wyoming, so I always thought that was from his cowboy vernacular. I guess Kansas City is a cow town of sorts. Anyway, I wouldn’t blame the Midwest for that one necessarily.

I’m originally from the midwest (relocated to the west coast) and my daughter thought my ‘sayings’  were quaint, she said her friends moms didn’t talk like that.

Heh, I find it quaint as well. I love the way he talks. I love the creative word choices and the use of those old farty phrases. I also love how he’s at ease in interviews, and always acts like it’s just two normal people having a conversation, and yet he still manages to keep it professional and articulate well what he wants to say in response to interview questions.

He has that big tattoo now, and that has to be Neal’s bandana. Neal must be influncing him.

These two guys have known each other for 7 years now, so I think it’s hard to nail down who’s influencing whom anymore. They’re good friends who seem to be kindred spirits with a connection and lot more in common that fans don’t see, that have essentially grown into adulthood together. I’ve seen really old pictures with DC and a neck bandana, and DC seems to have been planning the sleeve for a long time. Maybe it’s Neal’s influence, or maybe it was in him all along. Who knows?

About the tats, I’m a bit torn. I kinda always wanted to see DC with *one* sleeve because that’s a little different, and I like me some assymetry. With the Eyeball and the 14, I had decided he was going for the right arm, but now that he has the huge poem verse on his left, I’m thinking may be going for both. Sigh. It’s all about me haha. I’ll live. Those Gaslight Anthem boys look pretty hot with their sleeves. Hee

http://allthesongs.files.wordpress.com/2008/03/the-gaslight-anthem.jpg

He’s pretty big on mirroring in interviews. When they goof around with him, he goofs back. If they are straightforward, so is he.

Well said, that’s so true.

He is always looking cuteand selling music

Hehe, it’s an *interview*. He’s answer questions about the album and the music. What do you expect? Let’s ignore the questions and shoot the shit about the holidays instead?

You can find the songs from last night that have been uploaded so far HERE.

Thanks for the link! I always troll Youtube on my own and forget that DCO has done it for me. Even though message board formats drive me mad, I’m always impressed when I visit how organized and thorough the fan-generated content at DCO is.

I see from the Heroes/Champagne Supernova mashup that a) the musical surprises keep on coming, which is a very good thing and b) Dave and Neal both have new guitars. I swear, those guys shop for guitars like my friends and I shop for shoes. Part necessity, part therapy.

In conclusion, I am very happy for all of us that the new year will bring new music from David and (I assume) the band. Keeping my fingers crossed that they put a lot of thought into picking a producer for DCTR2. The right one is going to be absolutely key to capturing — and not stifling — the tongue in cheek-ness and urgency that Dave says he’s going for. Hey, maybe they could entice Stevie van Zandt to produce… David could pay him in puppies.

I was DC’s biggest fan during the competition and the tour.

It’s interesting that every year there are fans who only liked the Idolumni when they were singing covers, and hope fondly they they will move *back* to however they saw that guy (or girl) on the Idol summer tour. But it never happens.

My theory is that during Idol the show and the tour, people can fantasize that one of these singers will be–whatever they want them to be. From the time they put out an album and go on tour, though, they become, well, themselves. With whatever actual strengths, weaknesses, flaws, appeal really belong to them.

Now, I’m hoping that Cookie’s second album is stronger then the first–more time to work on it, the presence of the band, 14 months of live shows–but I don’t think that will mean he suddenly turn into some other person with a totally different musical and personal style.

Which is okay by me, cause I’ve super enjoyed the stuff he did this last year. Segue into:

It’s scary, but also reassuring for me to hear that he *knows* the previous album had a greater chance of selling well because of the show, and this time around is make or break.

Yeah. However he goes forward, I think he’s going to go forward, and succeed or fall on his face by going for what he thinks works, knowing that
he will rely even more on radio play (if he can get it) without that enormous original Idol bump. But I cherish hopes that those hundred and fifty shows in so many endless towns planted a heck of a lot of seeds for willing listenters.

Great interview. I think he looks gorgeous in it. And I love that the new album is coming along and will have a different vibe. Can’t wait.

I am not seeing the Neal connection at all. So he has some tattoos and is wearing a bandana. That doesn’t mean he is trying to look like Neal.

He looks and sounds great as always. I am so looking forward to DCTR2 and getting to see DC&TA tour again. I miss them. Thanks for posting this, MJ. I needed a Cookie fix today.

Here is David’s new tat: http://i19.servimg.com/u/f19/12/59/60/30/42308811.jpg

I personally don’t care for tattoos, but I have to hand it to DC, he sure makes his personal. I had this thought about his tats. It looks like his left arm is being devoted to tats relating to his family (AC and poem related to Adam’s funeral) while his right arm is more about his friends/band/career. We’ll have to wait and see if my hunch is correct if/when future tats pop up.

More high quality videos are popping up from last night. As someone posted earlier, DCO is very organized in compiling the links in one place. However, I want to highlight a complete video of Heroes with Champagne Supernova which has just been posted, even though a partial video was previously linked.

I’m impressed at how realistic he is about the importance of the next album. He’s got his head on straight, doesn’t he? I wish him much success.

As a side note, d’aww he looks so happy and rested. Guess he really needed those couple of weeks off. And that vid of Heroes/Champage Supernova was teh awesome.

Love his take on Champagne Supernova….well done !

LOL I know people who don’t even like his music but ended up following him on Twitter because of how hilariously random he is, I can count on one hand the amount of times he duplicated the same exact setlist. Not being spontanious isnt an issue for him.

I hate, hate, hate Neal’s whole look. Ugh I would never want him to start looking that much like him (and IMO Neal is not attractive at all) but the tatts, especially the new one, I just can’t find fault in it considering what it means. As long as he doesn’t mess with his face I’m good.

MollyAnnMay

Hey, maybe they could entice Stevie van Zandt to produce’ ¦ David could pay him in puppies.

lol! Just had to say I love this.

On the shallow side, I like the new tat (like a lot) but do not like the Howdy Doody-like kerchief. I know Neal wears a kerchief the same way sometimes and I thought it looked kinda odd on him too.

Sorta OT: Caught a Neal tweet the other day and he had just watched Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra on TV and lamented about how people didn’t dress as stylishly anymore. So, you never know. Neal may just be the sekrit resident stylist for DC & Band. But I still don’t like the kerchief.

ETA: Aww, Trina. I like the way Neal dresses — for Neal. I think Neal is very stylish — down to his random colored nail polish and tucked in ties, etc. I do not, however, want David to start dressing like Neal (except perhaps to get some pointers on the proper fit of pantz (because painted on = FTW!). Heh.

I hate, hate, hate Neal’s whole look. Ugh I would never want him to start looking that much like him (and IMO Neal is not attractive at all) but the tatts, especially the new one, I just can’t find fault in it considering what it means. As long as he doesn’t mess with his face I’m good.

Yeah, that is exactly what I was thinking, in reference to Neal. An although I am not a fan of tats either, I can’t be upset with David for getting them when they are so sentimental, just like he is.

Heh I never said David was trying to look like Neal. Clearly he’s not; he is missing the gauges and snakebites. heh

I know this is shallow, but dang his lips are gorgeous. Tierbee and I can’t be the only people that are totally distracted by this. =)

Okay so @AliveBesideYou from twitter made the following observation:

The new tat’s design matches the AC tattoo and all the tattoos on his left arm seem to be in honor of Adam. Left arm, the one he can write with.

Just watched the interview and aww, loved everything about it. He looks so good, he’s so warm and thoughtful and nice. Possibility of them playing a new song? Oh, boy, I hope so.

I do not, however, want David to start dressing like Neal (except perhaps to get some pointers on the proper fit of pantz (because painted on = FTW!). Heh.

Noooooo. I desperately wish for the skinny jean trend to GTFA already. For starters, it makes everyone look like they have elephantiasis of the knee.

And second, I’m already concerned about the fate of future mini-Tiemanns. I don’t wish to add my concern for future little Cooks to the equation.

Left arm, the one he can write with.

Okay. That I like.

Yeah, those gorgeous lips are very distracting, although the rest of his looks hot too. He is just so perty!!

seriously — you and Tierbee are definitely NOT the only ones that LOVE his lips….they are gorgeous

And second, I’m already concerned about the fate of future mini-Tiemanns. I don’t wish to add my concern for future little Cooks to the equation.

LMAO. It took me a second to get that, and then I laughed so hard I spit Pepsi all over my laptop. Great.

Yup tight pants don’t fathers make. LOL

I love the direction the discussion of this thread has taken. I’m just glad I don’t have any food or liquid in my mouth or this screen would be ruined and you ladies would owe me big time. Hee

And second, I’m already concerned about the fate of future mini-Tiemanns. I don’t wish to add my concern for future little Cooks to the equation.

LOL!! I just popped back in before heading out and I’m glad I did because that was good for a laugh. Hee! I swear Neal paints those pants on. I actually find Neal kinda adorable. But I do not want David to mess with his face, and if he sticks anything in/through his lips like those fang-things… *that* will make me unhappy. And I am ever so glad that I am not alone in being completely distracted by the lips, yay! And, oh, Mr. Cook – if you ever pop by and read about yourself – don’t go stick stuff through your lips just to be contrary, ‘k? Pllleeease?

Heh I never said David was trying to look like Neal. Clearly he’s not; he is missing the gauges and snakebites. heh

No, he’s just morphing into him. Just kidding, tattoos seem to be very, very popular these days. Shoot, even I was thinking about getting a discreetly hidden one and I’ve gone 36 years without. Seems like used to be you got a wild hair up your butt and pierced your belly button, now you get tattoos

Yup tight pants don’t fathers make. LOL

Fairly expensive form of (unreliable) birth control there.

I love how self-aware David is with the comments about the next album making or breaking his career. I really hope, whatever happens — and nobody can predict what the next critical or commercial success will be (which too often are mutually exclusive) — I hope he genuinely loves the final product. I know he was proud of “the record,” but I always felt there was a huge unspoken asterick attached to those comments, that included the disclaimer “given the time and label restrictions placed on me.”

And I always thought he held off on the tattoos because he knew they could be a hindrance if he ever had to finally break down and get a “real job.” Once he won Idol, he was free to go for it.

The new tat’s design matches the AC tattoo and all the tattoos on his left arm seem to be in honor of Adam. Left arm, the one he can write with.

And he told me he was just decorating.

seriously ‘” you and Tierbee are definitely NOT the only ones that LOVE his lips’ ¦.they are gorgeous

They’re bee stung lips. Women in hollywood (and I’m sure elsewhere) get their lips injected — ick — to have them look like David’s. He’s blessed with a natural attribute … like my curly hair which I never, ever appreciated as a child but now do, since I realized how much other women have paid to get something that came by birth to me.

I think he’s taken this whole thing being very aware that there’s no guarantee that it will continue. And hopefully he’s been able to enjoy it more because of that, he has always seemed to appreciate it. I am looking forward to album #2, and I agree, BootStar, I hope it is an album with his hands all over it and I hope he loves it.

Dear Dave, don’t listen to these women about the tight pants! You don’t need to be a father yet. Sincerely, Spritely

LOL, Spritely.

I just want pants back like those Union Jacks… you know, the sweet a** and all that

IDIFY from last night: http://bit.ly/87P7Fs

Dear Dave, don’t listen to these women about the tight pants! You don’t need to be a father yet. Sincerely, Spritely

A-freaking-men!! Plus, these women were harshing on my shallow. Hmmph.

A-freaking-men!! Plus, these women were harshing on my shallow. Hmmph.

Yeah wear the pants! Who needs posterity? When the time comes he can adopt. That way he doesn’t have to worry about passing on the big head gene!

Yeah wear the pants! Who needs posterity? When the time comes he can adopt. That way he doesn’t have to worry about passing on the big head gene!

Nay on posterity. Yay on posterior!

Mr. Sensitive from last night: http://bit.ly/936eTv

And he told me he was just decorating.

Well, I guess they’re meaningful decorations. I don’t mind a few tattoos, I even find some attractive, but I intensely dislike sleeves when they’re mostly the old greenish ink, instead of the brighter new inks. Looks too reptilian to me, but, I’m resigned that David isn’t listening to me on this one, LOL!

My New England grandparents used “piss and vinegar” too- guess it’s just an early 20th century idiom. I think it’s cool that David has picked up all these old phrases- he must have always been very aware of and intrigued by language, true poet that he is. Kind of funny that he felt the need to edit the “piss” in a CASINO interview though! Anyway, more piss and vinegar in the music sounds good to me- that’s the Dave I’ve been wishing would get recorded again.

seriously, lol! We’re only thinking of the children.

eta: BootStar, also lol

They’re bee stung lips. Women in hollywood (and I’m sure elsewhere) get their lips injected ‘” ick ‘” to have them look like David’s. He’s blessed with a natural attribute ‘ ¦ like my curly hair which I never, ever appreciated as a child but now do, since I realized how much other women have paid to get something that came by birth to me.

I have big lips, but even if they were tiny I would NEVER get them injected. Gross. I have curly hair too but I still don’t appriciate it. It’s a pain. lol

Nay on posterity. Yay on posterior!

Honestly how long did it take you to come up with that? haha

Lie from last night: http://bit.ly/5O1TEm

Nay on posterity. Yay on posterior!

And I lasted this long without spitting out anything I was drinking but… there we go, Gatorade on the monitor. LOL!!

I have seen Cook and the Anthemic twice in concert, and I have to admit that Neal is not purdy, but hot dayem with those pants that boy can wear them as well as my purdy, purdy, Cook. I happen to like the way Neal dresses it up as a rocker. Don’t mind if Cook picks that up, and as far as piercings, Cook hasn’t even pierced any of his ears, I don’t thing we have to worry about that. Yes, long and very shallow post. Let me see…advice for the new year for Mr. Cook…continue with the tight pants. He has “attributes” that make most pants fit him tight anyway. He would have to wear MC Hammer pants to keep from any tightness around the “cough…”family jewels.
The music, the music…I can’t wait. The boy is a great musician.

And “spit and vinegar” is just the more polite form of “piss and vinegar.” David did not coin that one, LOL. [Kinda like the old "not worth a bucket of warm piss" comment made by John Nance Garner (FDR's VP) about being vice president, which was quickly "translated" to "spit."]

Honestly how long did it take you to come up with that? haha

Honestly, I misread the original comment the first time, so not very long, LOL. But my mind had been, er, primed by the previous comments.

I love the way Neal looks. . .for Neal. Even with the piercings, etc., there are times when he can look quite angelic.

I kind of like the idea of a black&white arm and a color arm. I wonder if that’s what he’ll do.

Yes, yes, the music.

When the time comes he can adopt. That way he doesn’t have to worry about passing on the big head gene!

Well yes, the massive alien skull gene needs to be eradicated for the safety of all women of childbearing age. (Beth needs to be congratulated for a lot of things in regards to David, including having the fortitude to deliver THAT gigantic head into this world.) However, there are also the gifts of the Voice, the sweet posterior, the bee stung lips and the size 13s that surely need to be passed on.

(Beth needs to be congratulated for a lot of things in regards to David, including having the fortitude to deliver THAT gigantic head into this world.) However, there are also the gifts of the Voice, the sweet posterior, the bee stung lips and the size 13s that surely need to be passed on.

And now I need the Heimlich. Long live size 13s! *cough*

I’m fine with Neal being Neal. I rather love him. I don’t think David is even trying to be Neal. Just look at the difference between their tweets and you’d discern a world of difference. Tattoos don’t, to me, make somebody emulating somebody else.

I rather like how David looks at his first album vs. his 2nd. He did his first while on the road with AI. I think he understood that it would never be his best (though I do love it, I’m not about to call it his best). I just think he understood the constraints he was under. I happen to be delighted with his understanding. In all actuality his first was years ago. I love his early work too. I hope that his next album will hold some of the promise that his early work does. I think he’ll get there.

I say promise because I believe each album should promise more…never be the end.

ETA: Massive skulls FTMFW! I’ve married one and given birth to one. They are so very intelligent beings. I value smarts over pretty each and every day.

Beth needs to be congratulated for a lot of things in regards to David, including having the fortitude to deliver THAT gigantic head into this world.) However, there are also the gifts of the Voice, the sweet posterior, the bee stung lips and the size 13s that surely need to be passed on.

I hate so many people stress on the head, I don’t notice it because of the big, big heart, big voice, his sense of humor and all of his talent. If you look at his lips, neck, arms, hands and feet they are all large to go with the head. He is beautiful , down to earth, thoughtful, and again that big, big heart

If you look at his lips, neck, arms, hands and feet they are all large to go with the head. He is beautiful ,down to earth, and again that big big heart

I gotta go wash my brain out now. As soon as you said large hands my mind went straight to the gutter. But I kind of like it here. Mwahaha.

I love the way Neal looks. . .for Neal. Even with the piercings, etc., there are times when he can look quite angelic.

Not quite sure about being angelic, I think Neal’s tat and piercings are probably the reason the members of the band are often hidden in the shadow on TV appearances. One reason why David Cook should be careful about having too many tattoos. To me tattoos are are fine as long as they are done well. I think Neal’s tattoos don’t look too good earlier on, but got better when they started filling up his arms so that the bad ones aren’t that conspicuous. The new David’s tattoo isn’t bad, I dislike the number more.

I think it’s good that David is aware that his next album is the one that will make or break his career. The first album relied a lot on Idol fans who will drift away when new idols come along, so he needs to find new fans out there. I for one thought the production on his first album rather underwhelming, so would be happy to see one or perhaps more different producers. I still can’t get over how cheesy the synthesizer sounded on his songs (the start of Light On is really bad), bands like Tangerine Dream already did great sounding stuff more than thirty years ago, so there isn’t an excuse for not doing it properly.

While I’m definitely looking forward to DCTR2 with great anticipation, I still love DCTR. It was the first CD played on my new car stereo I got for Christmas. However, his songs performed live on tour definitely blow the CD out of the water!

I guess I ultimately view each and every new David Cook tattoo as his furthering recognition that he will never have to work in a corporate office as a graphic artist. His first were rather hidden, but his newest are really out there. I don’t know that he aspires to or will ever have a sleeve. I absolutely don’t think he aspires to be nealfingtiemann (because, I think, only Neal can be himself). I don’t see any piercings on David. I don’t think I ever will. I don’t think it’s his thing. If he does decide sometime to do some piercings, I’ll never equate them with Neal.

I also don’t think that David needs to garner that elusive #1 CHR hit. Who fucking cares? He’s done so very well without it that I think he can flip it into the rubbish bin. I hope to think he understands the mechanics of that fact. It also pains me to think he understands that the elusive hit is the only thing that will impress some people. I honestly just hope he doesn’t give into the CHR crap.

While saying all that, I must admit that I’d be delighted if he never gets a CHR hit. I’d be totally delighted to see him next year in a not so grand space. It would be more comfortable for me and I seriously doubt he’d mind. I guess, ultimately, I seriously doubt David Cook’s definition of success is a CHR hit. While I know it’s the be all, end all, here, I don’t think it is for him. I think his thing is to be able to keep making music. I think it won’t take that much for him. He’s not a diva who needs millions to live. He’s a musician who can recognize where his songs intersect with others, who’s not afraid to point out the intersections….who honestly wants to put his music out there.

I’m probably not the first one to say this (sorry no time to read back) but it sounds like the next album will have more rock tunes and that makes me happy. I love his deeply sensitive stuff but I would gladly trade in the pablum of CBTM and IDIFY for some edgy screamy stuff.

I would agree, mrskiddens, with Come Back to Me, but I have a difficult time with I Did It for You, when you see the concert version. To me, it’s a sublime song. Honestly, I might have agreed with you on some others, but IDIFY concert version is amazing. That.is.all.

I love his deeply sensitive stuff but I would gladly trade in the pablum of CBTM and IDIFY for some edgy screamy stuff.

In my opinion, the problem isn’t that he needs more edgy screamy stuff, but that the ballads — CBTM and IDIFY, especially the album tracks — were just plain old, mediocre ballads. Compare them to Lie and Avalanche which were far superior ballads. I’d like to hear more Kiss on the Necks, frankly, in terms of his edgy stuff. Not Declaration and Heroes which are far too boy scout earnest and not interesting.

I hate so many people stress on the head

I don’t know if anyone is actually stressing on the head. I’m not! But it is massive and has been since childhood. Anyway, we snark only because we love. Hee.

Not Declaration and Heroes which are far too boy scout earnest and not interesting.

I agree with you on Heroes (which is still catchy as hell), but have to massively disagree on Declaration. I think it is musically interesting and very distinctly David, and the lyrics really reflect Dave’s matter-of-fact take on his career (“you stole my soul to set me free”; “when the light runs from the day, will the darkness be too much? will I ever be enough?”).

I’m with you on “Declaration” Keel — I think it’s underrated and the lyrics you quote are a good part of the reason why.

The other part is the music, which soars impressively and really conveys the message DC was trying to send, IMO. It was a great opening song for DCTR that truly reflected an artist who was in a pretty rare, if not unique, situation.

I know this horse is beaten, dead and buried, but I still think it would have made a great single — one that capitalized on DC’s Idol story in a way none of the other singles did (except, arguably, TOML, except, part 2, that TOML did it in an unfortunately cheezy, completely non-Dave-type way).

“Heroes,” OTOH, sounds great under a sports video, otherwise yeah. Too earnest is a good description, and I’ve never found it interesting musically at all — though the mashup with Champagne Supernova helped. A lot.

I have to admit that Heroes is my favorite on the album. Being that it’s also the only song he’s sung every concert performance, I sort of feel that it’s his favorite too. It’s for his family. It’s not for us. I appreciate it for that if nothing else. I also have to admit that I appreciate it for his singing in both his lowest and highest voice. That’s exactly what got me with All Right Now–the lows and the highs. It’s what made me a fan of his voice in the first place. I was a fan then, and I’m still now (and forever will be). I happen to think that David is an earnest boy scout coupled with whatever you decide he is. I find him to be an anomaly, a juxtaposition. He’s just not going to ever fit perfectly into anybody’s little pocket. I think that is one of the things I like most about him.

I find Declaration and Heroes too alike. Or, maybe that’s just because they are right next to each other on the CD which was a big mistake. Should’ve separated them.

I really like Declaration, it’s one of my favorites on the cd, for the same reasons Keel said, the lyrics are so David, and I love it muscially too. I think he really talks about himself in his music. Straight Ahead is another song like this to me. I really like Heroes too, like the lyrics, musically I like it live better, it really becomes alive to me, especially when he opens with it.

I think Kiss on the Neck could have been the huge breakout hit radio hit, mainly because so many female artists have songs that did well with that kind of vibe, like Katy Perry and Kelly Clarkson. It does sound like this is what he’s describing for the next cd. Though I wish they had released Declaration too.

I do agree that they should have been separated — I listen to DCTR in the car, and find myself perking up when “Declaration” comes on, enjoying it through the bridge, and then realizing 2 minutes later I’m in the middle of “Heroes” and never even noticed.

That’s another hope I have for DCTR2 — that they pay attention to the flow of the album. I love albums, but they’re tricky. All artists who have a coherent sound — and I do think DC does — can sound one-note if the songs aren’t placed well in relation to each other. Oddly, I think David’s “amateur” effort, AH, was much better at that aspect of albumology than the “professional” DCTR.

I’m really curious as to how much control say David is going to have on DCTR2 — as others mentioned, he’s obviously well aware that he won’t have as much Idol-generated good will this time around and I do think he responds well to pressure like that. I’m not convinced RCA responds quite as well though, nor how well they understand (or can be convinced to respond intelligently to) their own market research.

ETA: Massive skulls FTMFW! I’ve married one and given birth to one. They are so very intelligent beings. I value smarts over pretty each and every day.

Me too. I’ll never forget the pediatrician explaining succinctly: “Big head = big brain.” (He was born by c-section, FWIW!)

I, too, love Declaration but never cared all that much for Heroes, although I do like it for sports montages. And I have to agree that Kiss On the Neck was the big hit that nobody ever heard. My other large-headed kid (who’s an “Archie” and adopted, heh), is a demon at sniffing out pop hits, and he floves Kiss on the Neck. (He loved Kris Allen’s single too, and so far was right on the money with its potential to blow up on radio.) I actually secretly hope they re-release KOTN on the new album. I mean, honestly, now many people have ever even heard it? What a waste of a brilliant song.

It’s like they said, let’s take one of the best, rockin’ songs on the album and make it a hidden track so very few people will hear it and it will never be released as a single. And then, let’s take one of the blandest, uninteresting songs on the album — Come Back to Me — and make it the last and only single released for most of the album’s latter, shelf life. Hell, let’s make a video for it.

If they had set out to do the wrong thing with what they had, they couldn’t have done a better job at it. So, yeah, I hope Cook has a lot more control over this second album or mark my words, he won’t be going platinum again. And, maybe not gold.

Shallow note: Whoever said David looked rested and happy in this video was right on the money. He handles stress pretty well, but it’s still obvious when he’s had a bit of time to decompress how much good it does him. He’s very… shiny here. *g* And his hair looks very good!

Moderately serious note on big heads and big vocabularies and big… other things: I’ve always wondered if David’s sort of… disproportionate body had to do with whatever it was he had a a baby that kept him in the hospital for a while. I’ve forgotten the particulars, but have always thought he looked like someone who was meant to be taller, but had some sort of mild failure to thrive issue as a baby such that his torso never caught up to the rest of him.

There’s nothing wrong with the brain, though, that’s for sure. I know people who make surprising word choices like DC does and they are always great readers. I think he reads? A lot? That’s my guess, anyway. (I’m sure the cross words contribute to that vocabulary too.)

Very serious note on music: No one wants to play “Guess the DCTR2 producer?” I’m semi-serious about van Zandt, whether he’s paid in puppies or not. Springsteen has said SVZ had a lot to do with the sound of “Darkness on the Edge of Town” and “Born in the USA” and while those aren’t my favorite albums, you can’t argue with their popularity and success.

SVZ may be too classic rock-grounded for a 27 year old, though. Classic rock is such a petrified genre these days that even though that’s more David’s natural vibe, he’ll hopefully alt-rock it up a bit more on DCTR2. Bringing in Cavallo should have worked better than it did, since you can’t argue with Green Day’s alt-rock cred, but oh well. Still I do think more alt-rockish is the direction DC is probably going with “urgent” and “tongue-in-cheek.”

Who are the hot alt-rock producers these days? (And I still can’t wrap my head around where Claude Kelly fits into all of this.)

And now I must go get ready for New Year’s plans that do not include seeing David and the band live at Pechanga. Dammit.

I think he will definitely be going gold. I can’t comment on platinum, but I honestly feel he has garnered enough of a base with his touring to feel confident that gold is in his hands for the next album. During his tour, the comments I’ve seen are very positive by his fans. He’s gotten lots of new fans. The only people I’ve seen who went to his tour based on Idol and don’t like him are the ones who wanted him to sing TOML and MOTN. I happen to think he gained at least as many fans as he lost. The fans he gained, I think, are the ones he needs.

Looking at his year end chart and countdown numbers, shows me huge potential in his capability to sell. He’s obviously not a CHR artist. He won’t sell singles. Maybe that’s a good thing. Regardless, if he doesn’t sell gold or platinum, I’m not all that concerned. I’m convinced that he’s done well enough and will continue to do well enough for me to have the chance to see him live at least once or twice a year. That fact delights me.

And I have to agree that Kiss On the Neck was the big hit that nobody ever heard.

Have to disagree on Kiss On The Neck, in fact I’d go as far as saying none of the songs on the album screams big hit. The thing is that I think most of them will do moderately well, so whether they chose Heroes or Declaration instead of Light On, Avalanche or Mr Sensitive instead of Come Back To Me, they probably do about the same. That’s the problem with the album – there is simply no outstanding tract, and the reason why fans are always arguing which one makes the better single.

The one that could have been outstanding is Lie, but I think it wasn’t done the right way on the album. The version he did on the tour is closer to how it should have been done. Personally my favorite is Life On The Moon (though I wouldn’t choose it as a single), and I also like A Daily AntheM, and yes, Heroes (it’s not meant to be sophisticated, sometimes the best songs are simple). And I hate Declaration.

Very serious note on music: No one wants to play ‘Guess the DCTR2 producer?’ 

If they are not massively gunning for Butch Walker, I’ll eat my hat.

I’m not necessarily sure he’s the right fit, but he’s produced for everyone from Katy Perry to Dashboard Confessional, and Cook has liked him (at least as a writer) for a long time. They’re also friends-of-friends through the Bowling for Soup connection.

ETA: Well, there clearly was a critical consensus around BBS and Permanent. So I think “no outstanding tracks” is not the issue. The issue is whether the songs which were outstanding were also obvious singles. And I think Declaration, with a pinch less studio sweetening, could have worked EXTREMELY well. Still, I maintain that the strongest single was Breathe Tonight. And since that had some of the characteristics that he’s talking about now (uptempo, sense of urgency), I think maybe he thought so too.

(And I don’t have a problem with Heroes being simple. I have a problem with it being repetitive and lyrically unfocused.)

I’m gunning for David Cook to produce DCTR2. I think he did an absolutely standout job with Analog Heart. I may be the only one, but there’s my choice. I guess I don’t know that having a “name” producer means all that much.

I agree that as many copies of DCTR that sold, you’ll have as many favorites in whatever order. I just think it’s the nature of the beast. I don’t know that it says a word about the album. With Analog Heart, there’s as many who love The Truth as those who are enamored with Let Go. My favorite on that album happens to be Makeover. Some swear by Stitches. So there you go. I don’t know that it matters all that much.

I honestly don’t think David is a CHR artist, nor do I think he sees himself that way nor aspires to be such. To me, that doesn’t mean he won’t do well or make his voice heard. He may have one or two CHR songs that hit it big…or he may not. I just don’t think it matters to him being an artist. I only think it matters to AI fans.

Very serious note on music: No one wants to play ‘Guess the DCTR2 producer?’ 

Can’t play. Don’t know diddly squat about album producers.

standtotheright

Butch Walker

Hmm. Okay. I mean, I agree with you that he’s not necessarily the right fit, but I he’s certainly current. And successful. And I had forgotten about the Bowling for Soup thing, and that would put the kind of personal connection on the collaboration that DC seems either to seek out or create on all his projects.

It’s just… he’s kind of… I don’t know. Current, but so five minutes ago. I’d like DC to hook up with someone who’s current but also more, say, five minutes into the future. I think he’s going to very much need to produce music that won’t be easily dismissed as sounding like everything else out there. He’s already got the sophomore curse, the Idol curse and the first album was good but not as great as expected curse to battle.

On another note, odd you should bring up “Breathe Tonight,” as I put it on my iPod shuffle last week on a whim because I hadn’t listened to it for a while, and I agree with you. It’s a damned good song and a complete mystery to me why it didn’t make the main album. This is such a freaking mysterious business.

I’d like DC to hook up with someone who’s current but also more, say, five minutes into the future.

I would like this too, but I wonder how much flexibility RCA would give him on not getting a “known quantity.” And “relatively unknown” is what the “five minutes into the future” people tend to be, at least outside of hip-hop.

I’m not the world’s biggest Dirty Projectors fan, but damn if SITM hasn’t been rattling around in my head for months. And that’s certainly “riff-based.” But I don’t know that anyone at RCA would respond to “David Longstreth” with anything other than “Who?”

I like that he has a clear headed view of where he is and what’s at stake. I also think that it’s impossible to say what he should do next. Looking back, how many people would have told Kelly to completely change direction from pop r&b sassy girl next door to pop/rock angry ex girlfriend?

Also, I think maturin is dead on about Idol fan expectations being all over the place. There is so much room to project with these guys it is not even funny.

I think David needs to keep looking for a sound that fits him, whatever HE thinks that is. He can keep an eye on business of course, but in the end he has to make the record that best represents who he is and let the chips fall where they may, IMO. We know I will likely be radio friendly rock. I think that is all we can know right now.

I like Breathe Tonight too and don’t know why it wasn’t included either. I also think Souvenier is a very good song and I would have liked that on the album, but hopefully it will be on the next one. I think that on tour, he did a better balance of the more upbeat rock songs than the cd did.

I hope RCA’s A&R peeps are doing what they need to do behind the scenes to get an awesome producer and interesting co-writes. Claude Kelley was interesting if a little unexpected.

I am a fan of the idea of spit and vinegar lyrics. David has shown he is capable of writing about many different themes. I liked DCTR but I felt it was somewhat one note with the exception of Mr. S, BBS, Lie and KOTN.

David’s lips are……..well, ummmm……yeah.

It’s all about the music…and the lips.

I like Breathe Tonight too and don’t know why it wasn’t included either. I also think Souvenier is a very good song and I would have liked that on the album, but hopefully it will be on the next one.

Yeah who called that? It should have been Souvenir instead of I Did It For You. I hope it makes the next album, but in the back of my head I don’t think he wants anything we’ve already heard on the album. Y’know, like not Souvenir, Make Believe, or Were Only Honest When We’re Sleeping.

Yeah who called that? It should have been Souvenir instead of I Did It For You. I hope it makes the next album, but in the back of my head I don’t think he wants anything we’ve already heard on the album. Y’know, like not Souvenir, Make Believe, or Were Only Honest When We’re Sleeping.

I’m glad. I honestly want to hear all new music. Plus, I’m not real fond of any of those you’ve listed.

It’s all about the music’ ¦and the lips.

That right there is the truth. LOL!

I hope it makes the next album, but in the back of my head I don’t think he wants anything we’ve already heard on the album.

Yeah, he tends to keep moving forward. He’s Mr. Progression

I don’t know, he keeps teasing while introducing Souvenir, saying “you never know where this might pop up”, no clue what he means by that, though.

I don’t see it making DCTR2, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Make Believe does. He wrote it as the tour was winding down, I’m assuming with the intent of putting it on the second album (if it fits, obviously). Why else would he write it? It’s not like it’s an old demo he resurrected, it’s a new song.

I don’t know, he keeps teasing while introducing Souvenir, saying ‘you never know where this might pop up’ , no clue what he means by that, though.

I keep waiting to hear it on TV or a movie soundtrack or something. He’s such a tease!

I don’t see it making DCTR2, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Make Believe does.

Now that one is a maybe, I think, it sure seemed to be new and he was testing it out. Maybe he’ll play another new one tonight…

Now that one is a maybe, I think, it sure seemed to be new and he was testing it out. Maybe he’ll play another new one tonight

Maybe I’m just being selfish and just wanting to hear all new music from him. O.o
I just don’t see hime putting any of them on DCTR2.

I bet he will play a new one. Unless we got it yesterday with the first half of “Champagne Supernova”. Which I love Oasis and admit he sang it better. Chaaammmpagne Supernoveeerrrr in the skyyyyyy.

The venue tweeted it was a sellout tonight, two nights in a row. Sweet.

Happy New Year from my happy little corner of Cookistan !!! Sure wish I was at the Cookie show!

I have nothing controversial or interesting to add. Just want to say that this whole interview was made of win. David looked absolutely adorable and sexy in his understated “twinkly” way which absolutely slays me. Then, he is charming, articulate and intelligent. He also totally gets what his challenges are muscially and career wise. He may never absolutely achieve the super-stardom he and his die-hard fans crave (and we would like to brag about on Idol boards). However, I fully believe that he will always be a winner at life, and be able to support himself making music. In my book this spells success.

Did I mention how attractive he looked in this video?

I am looking forward to DCTR2. I just love his voice. Have fun all you lucky people at the show tonight.

I think he’s hiding a hickey under that bandanna. Could be another tattoo, mmmm just thinking out loud. He does look really good, got happy eyes.

Yep – he looks relaxed, happy and beautiful. can’t wait to hear more music from him.

He does look really good, got happy eyes.

He does have that happy, twinkly look about him – I love it. Plus we get a laugh… have I mentioned I love his laugh?

Ah, hell. I am trying to listen to the cellcast before I go into Cookie withdrawal again but I’m…so…tired.

Love that spit and vinegar teaser for the lyrics – and love the sound of the direction the music is taking…and love his realistic assessment of DCTR’s success post-idol and what DCTR2 means for his career.

Good interview.

And yes – don’t like the bandanna thing – but otherwise he’s looking pretty good.

Re: songs…

It’s interesting that generally those who love Declaration don’t like Heroes and those who like Heroes don’t much like Declaration…but everyone loves Kiss On The Neck :lol

Me too…me too.

Love KOTN…don’t like Declaration…Heroes is a bit simplistic, but for some reason I do like it.

Also ITA with whoever said that there wasn’t a stand out single on DCTR. The fact that pretty much every song is a good one is fine for me (I’m just going to ignore CBTM and, to a lesser extent LO). But the album did miss out on that knock out song that would blow up huge on the radio.

Hopefully, next time.

I’m majorly looking forward to the new cd. I still feel bad about the songs that weren’t singles and should have been. I like Declaration and Heroes both, love KOTN and Breathe Tonight, and I loved IDIFY since the first time I heard it on the cd. It makes me feel good that the band loves it too, at least they perform it a lot and nobody’s forcing them to : ) I actually like IDIFY better than Lie, I’m way in the minority on that I know. Lie is too smooth for my tastes, and plus, I don’t like people to lie to me, I want the truth, so maybe I’m biased against it for that reason. Lie seems like an AC song to me, but that’s just me, I know. If it had followed LO and CBTM, it would have been one more generic slow ballad, imo. I don’t hear IDIFY as a boring ballad, it is a real rock song to me and I feel that it comes straight from David’s heart, though I’d love to know who he’s singing it to and what it means to him.

By the way here is a place to find the Analog Heart lyrics, for anyone who hasn’t heard them:

http://www.lyricsmania.com/lyrics/david_cook_lyrics_43488/analog_heart_lyrics_83601/

Though I love DCTR, in many ways I prefer Analog Heart. I hope someday David re-records these songs and puts them out for the masses. : ) I wish he wouldn’t say this is the past and he has moved on, because these songs are excellent, and show what a true songwriter he is.

I’m not convinced RCA responds quite as well though, nor how well they understand (or can be convinced to respond intelligently to) their own market research.

I think they picked those two songs because of the songwriters and the deals they made with the songwriters. That’s the best theory I’ve heard. And I think it stinks. I think they missed the boat.

I disagree about there not being one standout single. There are several songs that could have been radio hits, thus not one song stands out. There were plenty of potential hits on the cd, but the label didn’t put them out.

Not every cd has only one standout single on it. Take Daughtry, or the Fray, they had several hit singles on their cds, Daughtry had at least 5 on his first cd, the Fray has several on their cds. Take a song like You Found Me by the Fray, it’s not an obvious hit single, yet it became one, same with the other hits they’ve had.

I agree with Ginger about Analog Heart and I would love David to produce his next cd. Of course that won’t happen but I hope they focus on him as a songwriter and a rock singer, and not put out singles that he didn’t write next time or only ballads.

People having different favorite songs on the cd just means there were a lot of pleasing songs on it that fans loved. It doesn’t mean there was no outstanding single. I think there were several, but two of them were bonus songs, which to me was a waste.

I guess, ultimately, I seriously doubt David Cook’s definition of success is a CHR hit. While I know it’s the be all, end all, here, I don’t think it is for him.

I disagree. I think that David would love to have a huge hit song. Why wouldn’t he? He had medium hits, now he says he wants to “dwarf” the last cd. From everything he has said, I believe he wants to be a big star with big hits. He wants to make good music, first, but I think he also wants the big success that he believes he can achieve.

I guess we’re each going to interpret him differently. Only he knows what he wants, but he does make statements about it that we can speculate on. For many artists I would agree that they don’t need a top 40 hit, however with someone as talented as David is, I think he deserves one, several in fact, and it’s only a matter of time. I would love his music regardless, but talent like that shouldn’t be shortchanged or underestimated, as I think has happened to some extent so far because of the singles that were chosen, and the way the cd was made, perhaps. I see that fire in his belly and his eagerness to make an even better album, I think he’s down to earth and yet ambitious, he has big dreams, I really believe that.

Whatever he looks like, whatever subject he is talking about, he is always genuine and I think that’s what I admire most about him, maybe even more than his music.

As far as the songs David is currently writing for his next album, he says to expect tunes that are a little more uptempo and musically urgent with lyrics that are tongue in cheek’“with a little more ‘spit and vinegar.’ 

Sounds good

Maybe I’m just being selfish and just wanting to hear all new music from him. O.o
I just don’t see hime putting any of them on DCTR2.

Seriously, seriously: For most people Make Believe IS “all new music.” He’s performed it at, what, 9 shows? Even if you figure every US show before Pechanga was peformed to 2,000 unique people, and there was no overlap at the Pechanga shows, I’m back-of-the-enveloping that 15,000 Americans heard it, plus a few thousand Canadians. Add in the Youtube vids and you get, MAYBE, another 10,000 (but I think most of those were repeat viewers).

So, for an album that will hopefully sell to hundreds of thousands (if not much more), 25K (most of whom only heard the song once and would still find it fresh) is a drop in the bucket.

And I kinda thought the point of bringing out songs on tour was to tweak them in front of an audience. The tracks on the first one didn’t have that luxury, and were clearly improved for it when they did. I think MB has also improved somewhat.

Now, the larger issue is that Make Believe, to me, is right in the David Cook sonic wheelhouse (otherwise people wouldn’t be so readily comparing it to SA, Souvenir, and even BNTL). If he’s trying to branch out from that particular sound, then it might not fit with the other tracks. But I don’t expect a radical reinvention, so it might, still.

I just care that they put out the best album that they possibly can, and if that means going back into the vault, more power to ‘em.

Bootstar, you made my day. Anyway, I think that there were definitely potential hit singles on Cook’s album. I thought Light On was a decent song, but I knew from the start that CBTM was a poor choice. Both Lie and LOTM would have done extremely well, especially if they had altered the arrangements, but maybe they thought it wasn’t worth the cost. Futhermore, even if the studio version of Lie wasn’t perfect, if Cook had had the chance to perform Lie at all the venues that he performed Light On or CBTM (like SNL of American Idol), I think the impact on viewers would have been huge (similar to what one performance of Permanent did).

I do hope Cook’s new album continues to have the eclectic mix that the current one did (with better production). I know some people didn’t like the ballads, but he’s one of the few male artists I know who can make a ballad sound very masculine, gritty and beautiful all at once. It’s a unique gift and I actually think a lot of guys like that about him. And I also love his more mid-tempo or angsty songs like Silver, Makeover, Mr. Sensitive, ADAM or Life On the Moon. Strangely, the only songs I am not entirely sold on are his more “rocking” ones (excluding the covers). I used to love 90s rock, but in terms of new music, I’m more drawn to the harder rock/metal sound ….particularly the ones that have that hit-you-in-the-gut tempo that make it impossible to sit still when you hear them. So I’m really hoping that more “spit and vinegar” means songs in the direction of Let Go, Barbasol (the first verse, not the chorus) or his cover of IJDIYAT. However, if it means more songs like Breathe Tonight, Heroes and Straight Ahead, which all seemed a bit generic….I will probably continue to favor his slower songs.