Digital Vein - Walmart Exclusive (2015): Music Review

If David Cook hadn’t already given his fans enough new music with his standard, deluxe and EP acoustic release, don’t worry, he has released three new bonus songs on his Walmart Exclusive Edition of Digital Vein. The first of the new tracks is “We’re Not in This Alone”. When I first heard the song a couple weeks after listening to Digital Vein, right away it sounded like it was recorded with the rest of the songs. What I mean by that is that it sounds exactly like a “Digital Veiny” type song, production wise, if that makes any sense. But the song is very good, and clocking in at over 4 and a half minutes, I was pumped. The song kicks off immediately when the verse starts with the instrumental and Cook’s vocals landing at the same time, and the rest of the song builds from there. Something I love about the song, and I might be completely wrong with this interpretation, but then again it is an interpretation, is how it sounds like Cook is talking about getting back to the beauty of how things used to be, and how he’d like to go back to that, and for him that could be the beauty of vinyl, instead of the digital era we’re in. And for me it’s film, 35mm (as I’m an aspiring director). For those of you that don’t know, movies used to be shot on actual strips of film called 35mm, but now everything is shot on digital cameras, with the exception of some filmmakers who choose to try to stick to how it was. The song in that way is a departure from his other songs and I don’t know if this is what he had in mind when he wrote the song but I like to think it is. Next is “Secret Garden”. Yes, a Springsteen cover, and also the cover I thought should have been on the standard edition of the album (if he had to swap a cover for a cover). This song is perfect for Cook and I actually got to hear him play the song live. I couldn’t believe how good the song sounded and was little disappointed when the Digital Vein tracklist was revealed and I saw he included a cover, but “Wicked Game” not “Secret Garden”. But I was very glad to see it show up here. And yes I believe it holds up. The song starts very calmly, giving very beautiful lyrics and builds and builds to a beautiful guitar solo to finish out the song. A great song and I was very happy it was included in some form or another with the release of Digital Vein.

“Eyes on You” is the dance song Cook played at his concerts in which he’d ask two volunteers to dance on stage while him and the band play the song. I heard this song for the first time on YouTube when he played it in late 2013 I believe. I really didn’t like the sound of the song and so I didn’t listen to it again. That was until I heard it live and it really came to life. I love the sound of the song, very in line with “Laying Me Low”, but maybe even more “dancy”. Also the lyrics are very catchy, as are a lot of Cook’s hooks (rhyme) but here I think the words are especially catchy. I’m glad he released a studio version of the song but I don’t think it would have held up as well with the other songs included on the standard edition of Digital Vein. Happy it showed up here though. My favourite songs from favourite (1) to least favourite (12):

1. Secret Garden

2. We’re Not in This Alone

3. Eyes on You

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

1. Wait For Me

2. Heartbeat

3. Better Than Me

4. Carry You

5. Laying Me Low

6. Broken Windows

7. I’m Gonna Love You

8. Criminals