Digital Vein - Deluxe Edition (2015): Music Review

With the release of David Cook’s Digital Vein, he also released the Deluxe Edition that included three extra songs along with it, and myself along with most of the hard core fans, is the one I picked up on September 18, 2015. “Where Do We Go” was another one that Cook played in concert a handful of times before the release of the album. And when the first track listing for the standard edition was released, I did notice it’s absence but I’ll admit I wasn’t too upset by it not being there. In the concert videos I saw of the song I wasn’t all that excited by it. But here it shows up on the deluxe edition of Digital Vein and it really delivers. The concert videos really do not do the song justice. The piano and acoustic guitar on this track compliment each other very well. And the lyrics support the music nicely, talking about exactly what the title suggests, where do we go? When the leaves turn brown, when the light leaves out hearts, where do we go? A nice tune but I think the weakest of the three bonus tracks here. “Firing Squad” is awesome. I can’t get over how great this song is. Right from the start it has an energy that is present throughout. The song, lyrically, seems like a bit of a departure from what Cook is usually singing about and it is a little refreshing. He sings about a minority going up against greater odds. The song kicks all kinds of ass and it should’ve made its way onto the standard edition of Digital Vein. I can’t say enough, but this song is so great. There is also a pretty funny video where Cook performs this song live and his guitar has a problem with it so he hands it off backstage and plays the rest of the song laying on his back. The video is below if you’d like to check it out.

I heard the snippet of “But You Won’t” that Cook released on pledge music page before the release of the album and I really liked the sound of what I heard and was pleased to see it show up on the deluxe track listing and was excited to hear how it closed off the album. And it really does well. The song starts slowly and quietly and reaches a louder peak towards the end. And finally Cook finishes out the song even quieter than it started, with the support of the beautiful piano. And Cook’s softer vocals at the end of the song really leave an impression. The song is beautiful and also should have made its way onto the standard edition.

These songs from favourite (1) to least favourite (3):

1. But You Won’t 2. Firing Squad

3. Where Do We Go

These songs from favourite (1) to least favourite (15) including the standard edition tracks:

1. Wait For Me

2. Heartbeat

3. Better Than Me

4. Carry You

5. Laying Me Low

6. But You Won't

7. Broken Windows

8. Firing Squad