[REVIEW] iamdavidcook “All Is Fair In Love & War”

iamdavidcook “All Is Fair In Love & War”

Available Now, Purchase Here

Self-Released

RIYL: Good Music, Honest Music, Damn Good Music

Written By: Ben S. and Aaron

David Cook, (no not thewinner of runner up or whatever the famous dude from TVs American Idol), has put out an amazing EP. If this David Cook had been a contestant on American Idol, he would hands down win, no questions asked, but honestly I am glad he has chosen the route he is currently on, because he is creating some of the best music on the market.

Cook, also known as the front man for My Favorite Highway, and his friend Paul Barber holed up in the studio to put together an 5 track EP that could be a soundtrack to a movie, TV series, or even some of the songs the sound track to a perfect relationship with that special someone.

David Cook’s debut EP All Is Fair In Love & War, can truly be described as awe-inspiring. It quite literally oozes with talent and magnificently constructed songs.  Vocally, Cook mesmerizes, with his ability to take a melody, and make it sound like true heart felt confession, which is rare now a days.  Most artists string phony hooks and melodies, full of cheesy lyrics, Cook does the exact opposite. He has the ability to wear his heart on his sleeve and has the rare ability to draw you in and never let you go throughout the entire EP.

The opener “Echo” begins with a gradual fade-in of a mystical-sounding background effect before an acoustic guitar begins. Then, Cook’s voice smoothly rolls into your ears and you are instantly swept into a dream world, which never ends, until the last note of the record. You can’t help but intently listen with lyrics like “You are the answer that the question has to chase / You are my echo / You are the song they’re singing up in outer space / You are my echo.”

The next two songs, “Perfect Or Something” and “Touch ‘N Go” take you on a whirlwind adventure of hair-raising melodies, jaw-dropping harmonies, and will undoubtedly induce a sudden use of the rewind button, just to make sure you’re ears are in fact still working properly, because of the absolute perfection.

Now for my absolute favorite song, “She Can,”  is the second to last track on the record This is about a very special girl that apparently blows Cook away. His careful choice of words helps to show the amount of heart and passion that goes into literally every song he composes. “She’s so complicated / She keeps me on my toes / I tell her she’s beautiful but she already knows / Everything she does / She’s killin’ me because she can.” Gives me goose bumps!  The effects of the bells on top of the acoustic guitar, just shows how well Cook and Barber work together.  This song has to be written about a special girl and she should feel blown away, because of the raw emotion of the lyrics and just how perfect this song is.  Cook could write an entire record of love songs, and I know that each one many of us who are in love can relate to.

The final song, “Love & War” begins with a foot-tapping acoustic riff before you are yet again swept off of your feet. This track features some of the most heartfelt and honest lyrics I have ever had the privilege of hearing an artist pen. Cook’s clever ability to create a truly phenomenal work of art is illustrated in this little beauty, he is able to paint mental pictures with each and everyone of his songs.

All Is Fair In Love & War is not a record we recommend; it’s a MUST HAVE addition to your music collection. The production quality of this release is top notch. Each pluck of the guitar is crisp and pronounced. The vocals are clear and really stand out from verse to verse.

I dare you to find a more hardworking and fully involved artist like David Cook. Not only is he an amazing solo artist, he is an amazing person as well.

Personally knowing him, makes this record even more amazing, because Cook will talk to anyone of his fans for hours on end and writes music for them, not the Industry. He has earned every good thing that has come his way, and I only see the sky as the limit for Cook, as well as his band My Favorite Highway when they release their next record.

It seems like now a days, bands write music for all the wrong reasons, whether it is to be famous, make tons of money or write with co-writers that are there to help pen a “radio smash,” void of all emotion. However Cook is a diamond in the rough, writing music, for what music was originally created for, which is to evoke emotions, make the listener connect with the artist and most of all entertain without being phony. Cook seems to still know where his roots are and knows what it means to be a genuine, earnest musician.

If you are reading this right now, please head over to http://iamdavidcook.storenvy.com/ and support this very deserving artist!