Full Version: David's Record Included In Nytimes Critic's Choice
David Cook > The Multimedia > Media and Appearances (Current & Upcoming) > Newspaper, Magazine & Internet Articles.
see this link: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/24/arts/mus...i.html?ref=arts
Declaration, empty song????!!!!c'mon, the writer must be kidding!
Here is the excerpt on David's Album
QUOTE
DAVID COOK
(19/RCA)
David Cook, the smug-grinned rocker who won the most recent season of “American Idol,” has exactly two settings to his voice: Regular Howl and Anguished Howl. The beauty of his “Idol” run was in the way he deployed them. When reworking modern pop classics — Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean,” Lionel Richie’s “Hello” — he’d begin with Regular, shift to Anguished for an unexpected line or three midsong, then retreat. In this way Mr. Cook managed to appear meaningful, restrained and at times even clever.
Some residual counterintuitive strokes remain on Mr. Cook’s self-titled major debut album. But largely he stakes firm and unusually appealing claim to territory few covet: middlebrow ’90s rock, one part hard and one part alternative, an unabashed mix of heft and melody. On “Idol” he covered bands like Our Lady Peace and Collective Soul, much to the distaste of Simon Cowell. But this is where Mr. Cook’s heart and vocal range live. (He wears his self-consciousness about his “Idol” win on his sleeve; his obligatory post-“Idol”-victory single, “The Time of My Life,” is buried as a bonus track a full 11 minutes after this album’s final song.)
No amount of rasp can obscure Mr. Cook’s essential geniality, though, a limitation that turns out to be an asset. Like the genre he loves, Mr. Cook is hampered here by dim, amorphous songwriting (much of it contributed by members of his beloved ’90s bands). It’s only his broad, capable voice that redeems empty songs like “Declaration” and “Heroes,” and adds shade and texture to “Permanent,” about Mr. Cook’s relationship with his brother, who has cancer.
On “Avalanche,” an otherwise punishing love song, Mr. Cook tries the opposite trick from his “Idol” playbook, slipping into dulcet mode for a few lines. It’s there too on parts of “Lie,” the album’s highlight, and also its best-written track. “Hold on to the past tense tonight,” he tells a lover on the verge of leaving. “Don’t say a word/I’m O.K. with the quiet.” Finally Mr. Cook has forgone the Howls for a third way, giving hope there could someday be a fourth, a fifth or even more. JON CARAMANICA
(19/RCA)
David Cook, the smug-grinned rocker who won the most recent season of “American Idol,” has exactly two settings to his voice: Regular Howl and Anguished Howl. The beauty of his “Idol” run was in the way he deployed them. When reworking modern pop classics — Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean,” Lionel Richie’s “Hello” — he’d begin with Regular, shift to Anguished for an unexpected line or three midsong, then retreat. In this way Mr. Cook managed to appear meaningful, restrained and at times even clever.
Some residual counterintuitive strokes remain on Mr. Cook’s self-titled major debut album. But largely he stakes firm and unusually appealing claim to territory few covet: middlebrow ’90s rock, one part hard and one part alternative, an unabashed mix of heft and melody. On “Idol” he covered bands like Our Lady Peace and Collective Soul, much to the distaste of Simon Cowell. But this is where Mr. Cook’s heart and vocal range live. (He wears his self-consciousness about his “Idol” win on his sleeve; his obligatory post-“Idol”-victory single, “The Time of My Life,” is buried as a bonus track a full 11 minutes after this album’s final song.)
No amount of rasp can obscure Mr. Cook’s essential geniality, though, a limitation that turns out to be an asset. Like the genre he loves, Mr. Cook is hampered here by dim, amorphous songwriting (much of it contributed by members of his beloved ’90s bands). It’s only his broad, capable voice that redeems empty songs like “Declaration” and “Heroes,” and adds shade and texture to “Permanent,” about Mr. Cook’s relationship with his brother, who has cancer.
On “Avalanche,” an otherwise punishing love song, Mr. Cook tries the opposite trick from his “Idol” playbook, slipping into dulcet mode for a few lines. It’s there too on parts of “Lie,” the album’s highlight, and also its best-written track. “Hold on to the past tense tonight,” he tells a lover on the verge of leaving. “Don’t say a word/I’m O.K. with the quiet.” Finally Mr. Cook has forgone the Howls for a third way, giving hope there could someday be a fourth, a fifth or even more. JON CARAMANICA
QUOTE (annette @ Nov 24 2008, 05:23 AM) 
Here is the excerpt on David's Album
What was that? The writer seems angry or something.
I actually see this as a pretty good review.
The guy CHOSE this album out of the tons of albums out..he wasn't forced to review the record
and I actually think that good (with no cons) reviews turn off readers from checking out the record..
The guy CHOSE this album out of the tons of albums out..he wasn't forced to review the record
and I actually think that good (with no cons) reviews turn off readers from checking out the record..
What the heck 
At least he said something postitive about Lie.
At least he said something postitive about Lie.
Music is so subjective and each person has their own opinion that is why very few reviewers were able to come to a mutual favourite or non favourite. I have never cared with reviewers think because I know my taste and what I like. Afterall who is a reviewer but a person unable to sing themselves.
This really isn't a bad review.
The album doesn't seem to meet the writer's expections, but on the other hand he doesn't hate it. It seems like the problems he has with it are not with David, but with the songwriting collaberations. He also seems confident that this is just a warm-up to the next record. Much of his review has been echoed many times by some fans on other DC boards, including DCO. Not everyone got what they expected or wanted.
One thing that does kind of bother me about these reviews is that people who don't know his music really do pay attention, more than I realized. Case and point. My hair stylist has known from the beginning about my DC obsession. She knows who he is, likes TOML and LO and agrees that he's hot, lol. I went to get my hair done last Thursday and she asked about the new record. She said "he's been getting alot of bad reviews on the album, what's going on?" I told her that there were a lot of good reviews too and proceeded to hand her the CD. I said "listen for yourself, if you don't like it, please give it to someone who might like it." She said, "oh, I'm sure I'll like it." The thing is, I don't think she would have gone out and bought it on her own, because of the reviews.
This tells me not to expect a quick rise to the top for this record, but the more songs make it to the radio, there will be a steady climb for David. This is also what he has said, he'll be happy to hit #1 four months from now. It could possibly take some time, but personally I don't think it will take that long.
The album doesn't seem to meet the writer's expections, but on the other hand he doesn't hate it. It seems like the problems he has with it are not with David, but with the songwriting collaberations. He also seems confident that this is just a warm-up to the next record. Much of his review has been echoed many times by some fans on other DC boards, including DCO. Not everyone got what they expected or wanted.
One thing that does kind of bother me about these reviews is that people who don't know his music really do pay attention, more than I realized. Case and point. My hair stylist has known from the beginning about my DC obsession. She knows who he is, likes TOML and LO and agrees that he's hot, lol. I went to get my hair done last Thursday and she asked about the new record. She said "he's been getting alot of bad reviews on the album, what's going on?" I told her that there were a lot of good reviews too and proceeded to hand her the CD. I said "listen for yourself, if you don't like it, please give it to someone who might like it." She said, "oh, I'm sure I'll like it." The thing is, I don't think she would have gone out and bought it on her own, because of the reviews.
This tells me not to expect a quick rise to the top for this record, but the more songs make it to the radio, there will be a steady climb for David. This is also what he has said, he'll be happy to hit #1 four months from now. It could possibly take some time, but personally I don't think it will take that long.
I agree that this isn't a negative review. Although he had criticisms, the undertone for me was that he feels David is talented and thinks he has the potential to deliver even more in the future.
If he listened to the album a few more times I think he'd like it even better. That even works for us cookified ones!
If he listened to the album a few more times I think he'd like it even better. That even works for us cookified ones!
I actually saw it as a positive review. Maybe I read it wrong?
QUOTE (artofz @ Nov 24 2008, 08:31 AM)
I actually saw it as a positive review. Maybe I read it wrong?
No, I don't think you read it wrong. Reviewers are a snarky bunch, and if there are any compliments in a view, like there were in this one, then it's a good review!
In terms of how David does over the long term, it's encouraging when reviewers acknowledge his talent even if they don't like every song on the album. He seems to really have liked "Lie", which is my favorite too.
I did not read this review as negative. I think us obsessed David Cook fans want everything written about our guy to be ALL FABULOUS, because DC can do no wrong in our eyes. However, this interviewer did say, at least what I perceive, some positive things:
and...
So, while this reviewer may not have liked every song on the CD, I got the impression he thinks DC is talented and will be around for a while.
Anyway, this is just my take, but I am admittedly lacking in knowledge regarding the music business and its critics. All I know is, I LOVE DAVID COOK and, in my eyes, he can do no wrong.
QUOTE
he stakes firm and unusually appealing claim to territory few covet: middlebrow ’90s rock, one part hard and one part alternative, an unabashed mix of heft and melody.
and...
QUOTE
No amount of rasp can obscure Mr. Cook’s essential geniality, though, a limitation that turns out to be an asset.
and... QUOTE
It’s only his broad, capable voice
So, while this reviewer may not have liked every song on the CD, I got the impression he thinks DC is talented and will be around for a while.
Anyway, this is just my take, but I am admittedly lacking in knowledge regarding the music business and its critics. All I know is, I LOVE DAVID COOK and, in my eyes, he can do no wrong.
I actually really like this review. It's hard to win respect from a NY critic, but this is an intelligent review and he gives David some positive strokes. I like what he says about the geniality and the dulcet tones. I know exactly what he means, I love that about David too. Of course I see David through the eyes of love and I love every song on the cd, pretty much, and give him more credit than the reviewer does, but overall I think it's an intelligent review with hard-won and well-deserved praise scattered in there.
QUOTE (anne @ Nov 24 2008, 05:57 AM)
see this link: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/24/arts/mus...i.html?ref=arts
Hey, This was a very positive review. Compared to some I've read like Ken Barnes, (USA TODAY), this is very reflective and doesn't make comparisons with David A and Daughtry. I've certainly seen enough of that stuff and it gets a little old. Actually - yes, DC's music is probably middlebrow.
I actually thought it was a pretty good review.
Jeannine
Jeannine
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