David Cook Is a Hero With His New EP, ‘The Villain’
'The Villain' is out now!
American Idol Season 7 winner David Cook is back with a new EP called The Villain, and it’s a great new drop of music. In a way, his last EP The Hero and this one reintroduce David Cook to fans with a fresh sound that mixes some retro ’80s vibes with the modern pop-rock Cook is known for.
Cook hasn’t released a full album since 2015’s Digital Vein, leaning more on singles and EPs instead. I’ve come to like this approach for him. While I still wish he’d drop a full-length album, he always leaves me wanting more of his music no matter what he puts out.
The Villain is no different. A three-song EP felt like the right move for him. I feel like focusing on just a handful of songs at a time (instead of 10+ for a full album) lets him put more creativity and fun into each track. Someone correct me if I’m wrong on that.
But let’s talk about the EP itself.
It kicks off with “The Future Attacks,” which opens with a high-energy drum beat and Cook’s vocals. Right from the start it makes me want to get up and dance a little. He brings some clever lyric play to the track, and it works as a strong opener that sets a solid energy.
Next up is “Something Nothing,” which starts with a nice guitar lick. While this one dips the energy a bit for me compared to the opener, it’s still a strong track. It actually reminds me of something that could’ve been on his first self-released album, Analog Heart, back in 2006.
Then comes “Bleed Me Dry,” the true standout of the EP and the lead single. It opens with what I’m assuming is some synth that feels like the theme to an ’80s cop show. Cook puts a nice twist on it. This track really showcases what he can do with his voice. He reminded me exactly why he won American Idol — solid tone from start to finish and some strong high notes.
Overall, The Villain is a great return for David Cook. I truly hope he keeps releasing music more regularly and gives his fans (who are clearly begging for more) what they want.
7.9/10