We were there: David Cook at the Palladium Ballroom - article

12:24 AM Mon, Nov 09, 2009
Joy Tipping/Reporter

Those who worried that David Cook's status as an American Idol winner might soften his rock edge needn't have fretted. At Sunday's show at the Palladium Ballroom, Cook played and sang pounding, feel-it-in-every-cell-in-your-body rock that had the audience -- which, no doubt due to Idol, included a boomer contingent much larger than you'd normally see at that venue -- frenetically grooving for more than an hour. One song, the psychedelically addictive "Bar-ba-sol," gave me the pleasantly loopy feeling that I had somehow ingested large amounts of mind-altering drugs, even though I was stone-cold sober.

The singer-guitarist performed a hefty chunk from his platinum 2008 album David Cook: "Declaration," "Light On," "I Did It For You," the current single "Come Back to Me," and an especially blistering "Lie to Me."

Note to Palladium Ballroom: It'd be nice, since no one ever actually answers your box-office phone, if you'd post the start times of the opening acts on your Web site, along with the time the star performer is going on. The posted time for Sunday's concert was 6:30 p.m. Cook didn't go on till nearly 9:30, after opening acts the Script and Green River Ordinance. No one should have to stand for three or four hours (Palladium is SRO) before the act they came to see, just so the opening acts will have an audience. If you want to see them, fine; if not, you should have the option to show up just for the headliner. And the Palladium should have the courtesy to at least answer its box-office phones an hour or so before the stated start time of any concert.

For a full review of the concert, check here on Monday afternoon.

PHOTO by Joy Tipping

David Cook - Analog Heart and David Cook The Album (DCTA) comparison

I went to my itunes player and created a playlist with Analog Heart and DCTA (David Cook The Album), then listened to the songs on shuffle. I wanted to see how the old and new songs compared to one another, as if they were all put in one big giant album.

To be quite honest, the only ones that really, really stood out from the mix as being out of place are Light On and Time of My Life. Light On seems much more commercial than anything else David as done, including the rest of his new album. And Time of My Life is much sweeter, much cheesier than anything else he's done as well. Not to say I don't like those two songs - I actually really, really love them (yes, even the Magic Rainbow! It makes me smile), but I feel they don't really mix in with the rest of the songs. It's not too surprising, really, seeing as David was not involved in the writing of those. Curiously, Come Back To Me was another song that David had no hands in writing, but it feels more like "him" than Light On and Time of My Life, somehow.

Both albums have the same beautiful vocals from David. There are a few more bells and whistles in DCTA than in AH, and I could do without them, but all in all it really is not that bad. Both albums feature those typical glory notse, growly voice, softer, deeper voice... But one big difference on DCTA is that David explores even more his vocal capacities and talents. We find on the new album some really low tones, velvety whispers, gorgeous falsettos, straight up gravely rock voice and plain, unaffected tones, all of which are absent from AH. It also seems that David has perfected his vocal techniques for the new album. His voice is more on point, clearer, more elaborate. Could be due to the mixing and producing, but I suspect David worked on his voice in the last year and has discovered some new found talents. And I for one couldn't be happier! I absolutely adore all sides of David's voice.

I feel that there are a few new songs that carry the "THAT is David Cook!" stamps - Declaration, Mr. Sensitive, Lie, Avalanche, A Daily AntheM, Breath Tonight and Kiss On The Neck. All of them remind me of AH, except for Kiss On The Neck, which is totally reminiscent of the kind of music he did with Axium and even MWK. Lie is another "The Truth", full of passion, hurt, raw feelings that just need to come out. I feel so much on this one. I have not gotten as much into Permanent as some out there, and it is a conscious choice. That song is so full of angst, anger, raw emotions, sadness and I fear that if I let myself get into it I'll just completely loose it. So this might be another The Truth in the making for me. Or rather this is reminiscent of "AC" from DC's Axium days.

I've read many places that people are complaining about so many mid-tempo songs on the new album. I am not all that surprised. Yes, sure, David is a rocker, and he loves the gritty, raw power of his rock vocals and the electric guitar and all that. Analog is not all fast tempo rock songs, nor are his previous albums with Axium. So I am not really surprised he's got lots of mid-tempo songs on his new album. But I was happy to see the faster tempo, more rock based songs such as Bar-ba-sol, and Declaration and Heroes, A Daily AntheM even to an extend. They just plain ROCK!!!

A note on the music - I can really hear Neal's influence all over this album. There are a few songs that remind me of MWK, others of AH. Knowing how involved Neal was in those albums, it only makes sense that I can hear him on DCTA. Also, the production and mix is much better on DCTA - not that AH was bad.... Whoever did it did a great, great job. But the better studio and better equipment can be heard in the production on DCTA, and that is a huge plus. Although I have to be honest and say that I love this raw aspect of AH - I wouldn't want that album to be re-recorded in a better studio and better produced. It would take away so much for me.

So to me, this new album really is David Cook, much more than the first single Light On led us to believe. I cannot for the life of me say which album I prefer - I love them both for different reasons. One thing is for sure, those new songs ARE David Cook. I love all the songs, old and new!

David Cook - Self Titled Album Lyrics

1. Declaration

I'll take you just the way you are
imperfect words inside the perfect song
I feel you closer than you are
and I've been waiting far too long,
too long

It's my declaration
to anyone whose listening
You're my inspiration
as I stand alone against the world
cause you love,
and you bleed,
and you stole my soul to set me free
It's my declaration

Do you care what I believe
('cause I'm still breathing)
or that I wear a heart upon my sleeve
sometimes I think you never knew
the only truth I see is-you
It's you

It's my declaration
to anyone whose listening
You're my inspiration
as I stand alone against the world
cause you love,
and you bleed,
and you stole my soul to set me free
It's my declaration

and are there any words to say
that I would ever mean enough
when the light runs from the day
Will the darkness be too much?
Will I ever be enough?

It's my declaration
to anyone whose listening
You're my inspiration
as I stand alone against the world
cause you love,
and you bleed,
and you stole my soul to set me free

It's my declaration
so tell me you can hear these words tonight

It's my declaration


2. Heroes

As the sun goes down in front of me
It reminds of me of where I want to be
With you and you alone
Hold me in like you were made for me
I'm losing faith in gravity
I just need to let you know
And I just need to let you know

I'm not going to come down
Down off of these clouds
All these heroes come and go
But you're still standing
You teach me to rise up
To open my eyes up
All these heroes come and go
But you're still standing

You're still standing

You know the world's confusing
I don't care
I crawl into your atmosphere
I know you'll make it right
You're all I need to know

I'm not going to come down
Down off of these clouds
All these heroes come and go
But you're still standing
You teach me to rise up
To open my eyes up
All these heroes come and go
But you're still sanding

I believe that you can save me
And you'll never let me fall
I'm not going to come down
I believe in what you've shown me
There's ahero in us all

I'm not going to come down
Down off of these clouds
All these heroes come and go
You teach me to rise up
To open my eyes up


3. Light On

Never really said too much
Afraid it wouldn’t be enough
Just try to keep my spirits up
When there’s no point in grieving
Doesn’t matter anyway
Words could never make me stay
Words will never take my place
When you know I’m leaving

(Chorus)
Try to leave a light on when I’m gone
Something I rely on to get home
One I can feel at night
A naked light, a fire to keep me warm
Try to leave a light on when I’m gone
Even in the daylight, shine on
And when it’s late at night you can look inside
You won’t feel so alone

You know we’ve been down that road
What seems a thousand times before
My back to a closing door and my eyes to the seasons
That roll out underneath my heels
And you don’t know how bad it feels
To leave the only one that I have ever believed in

[Chorus]

Sometimes it feels like we’ve run out of luck
When the signal keeps on breaking up
When the wires cross in my brain
You’ll start my heart again
When I come along

[Chorus]


4. Come Back To Me

You say you gotta go and find yourself
You say that you're becoming someone else
Don't recognize the face in the mirror looking back at you
You say you're leaving as you look away
I know there's really nothing left to say
Just know I'm here whenever you need me, I will wait for you

So I'll let you go, I'll set you free
And when you've seen what you need to see
When you find you...come back to me

Take your time, I won't go anywhere
Picture you with the wind in your hair
I'll keep your things right where you left 'em, I'll be here for you.

Oh, and I'll let you go, I'll set you free
And when you've seen what you need to see
When you find you...come back to me

And I hope you find everything that you need
I'll be right here, waiting to see
You find you...come back to me

And I can't get close if you're not there
I can't get inside if there's no soul there
I can't fix you, I can't save you
It's something you'll have to do.

So I'll let you go, I'll set you free
And when you've seen what you need to see
When you find you...come back to me
Come back to me

So I'll let you go, I'll set you free
And when you've seen what you need to see
When you find you...come back to me

And I hope you find everything that you need.
I'll be right here, waiting to see.
You find you...come back to me

When you find you...come back to me
When you find you...come back to me
You find you...come back to me


5. Life On The Moon

Here in this crowd I'm feeling all alone
turn me around and point me back to home
I'm getting lost more everyday
and I can't tear myself away
from the stars in my eyes with no light

Here are my thoughs, have some faith in me
and I'll let you be who you need to be

[CHORUS:]
Life on the moon, could it be that stranger?
life on the moon, would it feel this far away?
the life that I knew is trough
and I'm gonna need you more than ever
I'm alone in this crowded room
is the life on the moon

Flown off the ground my head's up in the air
so counsiouns to the fault with all the pople everywhere
is getting harder everynight, to take the punches left and right
just to know that you are here by my side

Here are my thoughs, have some faith in me
and I'll let you be who you need to be

[CHORUS]

Getting lost in my own atmosphere
stars in the sky all the stars in my eyes
is the cost of getting out of here alive

[CHORUS]


6. Bar-ba-sol

When I woke up I could see
the daylight had already passed me
It was such a fight to fade away to sleep
It's a fuge, i'm on it
from the chase down the dawn
well I fell every night as it turns into light
when my eyes just shut tight

Sailing all alone I thought I made it home but I threw it all away
oh where i've been sold in spite again
long before me like a dream
falling in between
I feel sick, I feel nervous
I know just what I did to deserve this
oh i know it's not a dream

keeping quiet, laying low
holding on to what I dont want to know
till the daylight turns to ash and goes away
missing keys, bloody nose
consequences of what i chose
keep running, answer me
don't want my memory
it all comes so deeply

Sailing all alone
I thought I made it home
but I threw it all away

Oh where I've been sold
in spite again
long before me like a dream
falling in beteen
I feel sick, I feel nervous
I know jsut what I did to deserve this
oh I know it's not a dream

Oh, where I've been sold in spite of

oh, where I've been sold in spite of you
before me like a dream
I know just what I did to deserve this
oh I know its not a dream
falling in between
I feel sick, I feel nervous
oh I know its not a dream


7. Mr. Sensitive

Day in and day out
watch him scream, watch him shout
through the silence
through the silence
give him ears
give him eyes
give some point to the cries and the violence
oh, the violence
hear him scream your name

I would like to introduce Mr. Sensitive
the one who never let the worst get the best of him
get the best of him

This city feels low against the gleam and the glow of his diligence
to their elegance
just feel anger, feel pain
feel the sun and the rain
just feel something
oh, feel something
hear him scream your name

I would like to introduce Mr. Sensitive
the one who never let the worst get the best of him

They throw the stones and bricks and bones
he didn't stand a chance
they said
come little boy the world is so
but ignorance is bliss

I would like to introduce Mr. Sensitive
the one who never let the worst get the best of him

I would like to introduce Mr. Sensitive
the one who never let the worst get the best of him
get the best of him


8. Lie

You whisper that you are getting tired
got a look in you're eye
looks a lot like goodbye
hold on to your secrets tonight
don't want to know i'm okay with this silence
it's the truth that i dont want to hear

You're hiding regret in your smile
there's a story in your eyes I've seen coming for a while
hang on to the past tense tonight
don't say a word
I'm okay with the quiet
the truth is gonna change everything

(chorus)
So lie to me and tell me that it's gonna be alright
so lie to me and tell me that we'll make it through the night
I don't mind if you wait before you tear me apart
look me in the eye lie, lie, lie
lie, lie, lie

I know that theres no turning back
if we put too much light on this we'll see through all the cracks
let's stay in the dark one more night
don't want to know
I'm okay with this silence
it's truth that I dont want hear

(chorus)
So lie to me and tell me that it's gonna be alright
so lie to me and tell me that we'll make it through the night
I don't mind if you wait before you tear me apart
so look me in the eye
and lie, lie, lie

Don't want to believe in this ending
let the cameras role on keep pretending
tomorrow's all wrong
if you walk away
just stay

(chorus)
So lie to me and tell me that it's gonna be alright
so lie to me and tell me that we'll make it through the night
I dont mind if you wait before you tear me apart
look me in the eye and lie, lie ,lie

So lie to me and tell me that we're gonna be okay
so lie to me and tell me that we'll make it through the day
I dont mind if you wait before you tear me apart
to look me in the eye and lie, lie, lie


9. I Did It For You

Today's not the same
as every day
it's far from ordinary
The pain I endure
You're my cure
but my mistakes have led me
far away from you...


You turn away
from all those things
that I've been trying to say
and all those promises
I shouldn't have made
I did it for you


My open mind
feelings I just can't reconcile
my heart's on a string
these broken wings
you knew I'd be so fragile
Far away from you...


You turn away
from all those things
that I've been trying to say
and all those promises
I shouldn't have made
I did it for you

I searched my soul
and all these feelings
that I can't control
and you're the one thing
that can make me whole
I did it for you


Try to let you know
Try to let you know
Try to let you know...


Today is not the same
as everyday
it's far from ordinary...


You turn away
from all those things
that I've been trying to say
and all those promises
I shouldn't have made
I did it for you

Oh I searched my soul
and all these feelings
that I can't control
and you're the one thing
that can make me whole
I did it for you...
I did it for you...
I did it for you...

You're the one thing that can make me whole
I did it for you...


10. Avalanche

I feel alive beside you
and all at once
I am whole again.
We fall into each other
Your atmosphere
is all I'm breathing in
and in this rush
we are crushed.

Carry me down
roll it in your arms
'cause I can't remember
ever falling this hard
Tell me tonight,
all that we have been
Was it nothin' more
than a noise inside my head
crashing down, crashing down,
in your avalanche
in your avalanche.

These scars we wear remind us
the more we change
the more we're all the same
swept up in this emotion
we fumble through and make the same mistakes
'cause we are led
to the edge

carry me down
roll it in your arms
'cause I can't remember
ever falling this hard
Tell me tonight
all that we have been
was it nothin' more
than a noise inside my head
crashing down, crashing down,
in your avalanche
crashing down, crashing down,

carry me down
roll it in your arms
cause I can't remember
ever falling this hard
tell me tonight
all that we have been
was it nothin' more
than a noise inside my head

carry me down
roll it in your arms
cause I can't remember
ever falling this hard
tell me tonight
all that we have been
was it nothin more
than a noise inside our heads
crashing down, crashing down...

was it nothing more
than a noise inside our heads
crashing down
crashing down

I feel alive beside you
than all at once I am whole again...


11. Permanent

Is this the moment where
I look you in the eye?
Forgive my
broken promise that you`ll never see me cry
And everything
It will surely change
Even if I tell you I won`t go away today

Will you think that you`re all alone
When no one`s there to hold your hand?
And all you know seems so far away
And everything is temporary
Rest your head
I`m permanent

I know he`s living in hell
Every single day
And so I ask, oh God
Is there some way for me to take his place?
And when they say it`s all touch and go
I wish I could make it go away

But still you say
Will you think that you`re all alone
When no one`s there to hold your hand?
When all you know seems so far away
And everything is temporary
Rest your head
I`m permanent
I`m permanent

Is the moment where I look you in the eye?
Forgive my promise that you`ll never see me cry...


12. A Daily AntheM

Break your neck for some substance
This is temporary sanity, an exercise in vanity
So long to the ordinary day wrought with fictitious tales
of how there's any other way
Hold on to anything at all
It's a long way down between the summer and the fall
If I told you that you're everything,
Would you sing along?
Would you sing along?

It's a daily anthem
Would you sing my song,
At the top of your lungs?
And we'll all sing along,
We'll all sing along

It's a half-faith blessing
For the lessons I've learned,
Never deserved.
And we'll all sing along,
Oh we'll all sing along

Now the verses take hold,
A gentle undercurrent or more years to grow old
Say goodbye to the cold
And try to forgive everything this night

As we sing your daily anthem,
Would you sing my song,
At the top of your lungs?
And we'll all sing along,
We'll all sing along

It's a half-faith blessing
For the lessons I've learned,
Never deserved.
And we'll all sing along,
We'll all sing along


13. The Time Of My Life

I’ve been waiting for my dreams
To turn into something
I could believe in
And looking for that
Magic rainbow
On the horizon
I couldn’t see it
Until I let go
Gave into love and watched all the bitterness burn
Now I’m coming alive
Body and soul
And feelin’ my world start to turn

And I’ll taste every moment
And live it out loud
I know this is the time,
This is the time
To be more than a name
Or a face in the crowd
I know this is the time
This is the time of my life
Time of my life

Holding onto things that vanished
Into the air
Left me in pieces
But now I’m rising from the ashes
Finding my wings
And all that I needed
Was there all along
Within my reach
As close as the beat of my heart

and I’ll taste every moment
And live it out loud
I know this is the time,
This is the time to be
More than a name
Or a face in the crowd
I know this is the time
This is the time of my life
Time of my life

And I’m out on the edge of forever
Ready to run
I’m keeping my feet on the ground
Arms open wide
Face to the sun

I’ll taste every moment
And live it out loud
I know this is the time,
This is the time to be
More than a name
Or a face in the crowd
I know this is the time
This is the time of my life
Time of my life
More than a name
Or a face in the crowd
This is the time
This is the time of my life.
This is the time of my life.

David Cook - Walmart Soundcheck - VIDEO

Watch here:

http://soundcheck.walmart.com/david_cook.aspx

or here!

Heroes


Light On


Lie


Declaration


Bar-ba-sol

David Cook @ Do the Wright Thing Benefit, NYC, Nov 12 2008 - Pictures

From http://www.flickr.com/photos/30516747@N02/sets/72157608994852562/

David Cook @ Do the Wright Thing Benefit, NYC, Nov 12 2008 - VIDEOS

David Wright introducing David Cook (vid from brookie8281)



Declaration (vid from SPN7191)



Mr Sensitive (vid from brookie8281)



Lie (vid from mjmkm1)



Life On The Moon and Light On (vid from Trey1726)



David and Kyle on drums, Bar-ba-sol (vid from mjmkm1)