Search - Kristy Lee Cook :: Why Wait

First past the post

Amanda Richards | Georgetown, Guyana | 09/22/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Despite her seventh place finish on American Idol Season 7, Cook proves to be the fastest to the finish line with this album of mostly new material. Obviously there aren't any prizes for guessing that this is a country album, and it's a pretty good one, featuring songs written by a variety of talented songwriters including Carrie Underwood.



Also predictable is the inclusion of her cover of Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the USA", the song she sang during "Year they were born" week on American Idol. The first single is "15 Minutes of Shame", a country-pop track where she promises to (but never actually does) reveal the lies and dirty deeds of a guy whom she names in a dramatic portion of the song.



If I had to name any faults in this album, I'd say firstly that it's too short, and secondly a number of the songs are so similar that they don't stand out, and you probably won't remember them in a few months.



Songs you WILL remember are the first single, the title track, "Hoping to Find" (the fourth and best track on the album) and "Not Tonight" (the track co-written by Carrie Underwood). Also good is "I Think Too Much" which adds a nice touch of humor to the album.



Recommended for fans of country music and American Idol







Amanda Richards, September 22, 2008

"

Cook Has More "Waiting" to Do

T. Yap | Sydney, NSW, Australia | 09/16/2008

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Prime Cuts: 15 Minutes of Shame, Plant the Seeds, Baby Believe



Perseverance certainly bears fruitful dividends. After selling her barrel horse in order to travel to Philadelphia to audition for American Idol, Cook persisted in chasing her dreams. Though she was booted out as the 7th finalist, she was finally rewarded with a recording contract with the prestigious Arista Nashville Records. Ironically entitled "Why Wait," this is her first major output. And thanks to producer Brett James, Cook is able to flex some of her industry muscle with a hefty input from Nashville's most elite writers including Cadillac Sky's Bryant Simpson, label mate and fellow Idol alum Carrie Underwood, Canadian songstress Victoria Banks, and Taylor Swift's helmsman Nathan Chapman. Commensurate with Cook's expressive booming vocals, this is polished pop-country effort that pitches on the great big sounds that rock stadiums. Vocally, Cook is a kinetic ball of energy right from the get-go; never for a moment on this 10-song disc does her verve falter. Not since Carrie Underwood has anyone been so intricately involved in every note on this record: this Oregon native sings as if her life depends on each syllable.



Getting the fiery ball of energy rolling is the lead single "15 Minutes of Shame." A biting rant on her no good fellow, "15 Minutes of Shame" is latent with the potential to be a juicy gossip-laden sonic diatribe. Unfortunately, the title promises more than it delivers, when its lyrics only loiter generically without any tantalizing details. Cook continues to indulge in some contemporary pop-country material with the guitar-driven "Hoping to Find," which finds a starry-eyed Cook waiting to be struck again by love's lightning. The quiet intro, gradual crescendo and soaring vocals, all constitute to what makes "Baby Believe" (a Jamie O'Neal co-write) a tasty big ballad: the type that American Idol wannabes would wish they could belt. And Cook delivers to perfection here. While the Biblically informed "Plant the Seeds," a prayerful plea to surrender to God's sovereign ways, is Cook at her personal best.



God and patriotism are brought together in Lee Greenwood's classic "God Bless the USA"-- a track Cook performed at the American Idol. Unfortunately, unlike Greenwood's version, the cluttered backings with Cook's wooden interpretation just make the shaft of comparisons lean in favor towards Greenwood's original. With a nod to a more sentimental direction is "Like My Mother Does." Unfortunately such a moving tale requires a more delicate touch. Cook's all out unsubtle approach somehow destroys the song's rich sentiments. Perhaps due to her inexperience, Cook has yet to learn that sometimes less is more; there are times whispers are louder than shouts. If it were not for being a Carrie Underwood's co-write, "Not Tonight" suffers from the anonymity of countless pop-country outings out there.



The major flaw of "Why Wait" is that it's a busy little record. Brett James (who also produced Jessica Simpson's country offering) seems use only a template for all the tracks here. Hence, there's a sameness to all these tracks here. Nevertheless, the pride of "Why Wait" is Cook's engaging vocals and her larger than life passion.

"

Good Cooking

Gen X Music Addict | Minnesota | 09/17/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is a very strong debut from Kristy. Good music that is very listenable and "natural" - it doesn't sound like a rip off of anybody else or like its trying to fit in any mold. There's no overproduction. Kristy's voice is good for this music and handles ballads and faster, spunkier stuff equally well. Best songs are 15 Minutes of Shame and I Think Too Much. They've got good melodies and fun attitude. She didn't win Idol but this album's a winner."