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Why Wait

Kristy Lee Cook

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Album Review

Somehow it seems fitting that the first AmIdol out of the gates in 2008 is Kristy Lee Cook, the savvy, purported country singer who sold her horse to get on TV, and then once she was there proceeded to sell out any way she could to stay on the show. Cook quickly sussed out that in order to stick around she needed to exude a blend of faith, family, and country — meaning both patriotism and the music — and sold herself with a tenacity that brought a smile to Simon Cowell's face. Kristy Lee may not have gone the distance on Idol but she presented a full, easy-to-package identity to rival David Cook, and her debut Why Wait follows through on every promise she made on the show, right down to a horse popping up again on the front cover. Like Carrie Underwood and Kellie Pickler before her, Kristy Lee heads straight into modern country, landing somewhere between her two Idol predecessors, as she sings a crossover country-pop similar to Carrie with just a bit of down-home spunk from Kellie. She's not half the diva of Underwood or the cornball of Pickler, coming across more like the girl next door made good, and that's pretty endearing on record, especially as she has songs as clever as "15 Minutes of Shame," and as quietly insistent as the AAA-pop of "Hoping to Find" and "Not Tonight," which feel a bit like Faith Hill at her crossover peak. She also has plenty of songs that pander as boldly as she did on Idol when she sang "God Bless the USA," including a new version of that cheesy chestnut. Defying all expectations, that's not the most shameless thing here, as it's topped by the maternal love letter "Like My Mother Does," a salute so syrupy it borders on camp. But if this and the Lee Greenwood cover, along with a couple other things here, are what it takes to shore up Kristy Lee Cook's bona fides as a country singer, so be it: when Why Wait clicks — which it does about half the time — it's really solid, endearing country-pop.

Customer Reviews

Cook could have spent more time on 'Why Wait'

‘American Idol’ seventh-place finalist and avid horse lover Kristy Lee Cook surprises more than a few critics with her major label debut offering ‘Why Wait.’ On the show her savvy song choice and ability to flirt with judge Simon Cowell were enough to carry her almost halfway through the competition, but her vocals often came under fire. Fortunately for Cook, Brett James sits in the producer’s chair on the album. On ‘Wait,’ Cook tries to silence most criticism leveled against her as a “Carrie Underwood clone” thanks to catchy country tunes that fit her range extremely well, but there are still plenty of reservations. Leading off the album with debut single “15 Minutes of Shame,” Cook combines a catchy hook with a play on words of a famed saying. Another uptempo that Cook shines on is “Not Tonight,” which has a pop feel and was partially written by Underwood, intended to be on her album ‘Carnival Ride.’ Another track that sounds eerily like an Underwood one is “Why Wait,” which is a second-rate “Flat On the Floor.” In addition to the lively tracks, Cook is able to connect on some of the more contemporary country-sounding songs like “Like My Mother Does” and “Plant the Seed,” both of which feature meaningful lyrics that many country fans can identify with. But just as there are plenty of tracks country listeners will be satisfied with, there are also a few less than stellar songs on ’Wait.’ “Hoping to Find” is a nice sugary sweet piece of cotton ear candy but is bland lyrically, while her vocals on “Baby Believe” border on whiny and over the top. Still, there are plenty of comedic spots on ‘Wait’ especially in the Kellie Pickler-esque “I Think to Much” and the nitty gritty country sound is well represented by “Homesick.” Cook caps the album off with her rendition of Lee Greenwood’s "God Bless the USA," which was one of her shining moments on ‘Idol.’ This is definitely no ‘Some Hearts’ or even a ‘Kellie Pickler,’ but Kristy Lee Cook proves that she can be a viable country artist on ‘Why Wait.’ Still, the fact that she spent one week recording the album is clearly evident, and a few improvements could have been made had more effort been put into the process.

The True Best Female Artist of American Idol Season 7

Despite not being very popular on her tenure on American Idol, Kristy Lee Cook’s country style took her on a ride all the way to 7th place. Not only that, she quickly scored a record deal, the first one not including the top two. Now she is first of the season 7 contestants out of the gates with an album. 15 Minutes of Shame 10/10: This lead single debuted on the country charts a week BEFORE it was officially released. This packs a great blend of pop and country, in a break-up song. The perfect opener! Why Wait 7/10: A very distinctly country track as well as the title song. Not the best nor will it be a huge hit on mainstream radio but she shows her country roots. Like My Mother Does: A very inspirational ballad where Kristy Lee pays a classy tribute of how she looks to her Mom for answers. Hoping to Find 10/10: A great beat, an amazing track, should be a single. Baby Believe 7/10: Not up to par with the other tracks but still, her voice sounds great. Not Tonight 8/10: An upbeat rhythm, heartfelt voice blend together well on this track . Plant the Seed 9/10: Her voice continues to shine on this album, absolutely nothing wrong with this track. I Think too Much 9/10: Don’t think, just listen. A song about over thinking when everything will be fine no matter what. Great lyrics, a winner. Homesick 10/10: The perfect song as Kristy Lee moves into her career, and she remembers where she came from. That will always be with her. Beautifully put together with her voice taking center stage. God Bless the USA 10/10: What a cover, better than the original! A great way to close the album. Not only that, this was her breakout song on idol and her voice sounds like this song was written just for her. Most Recommended: 15 Minutes of Shame Hoping to Find Homesick God Bless the USA Kristy Lee Cook’s sophomore album is an amazing collection of songs. With not a weak track, buy the whole album. You won’t regret it. With Why Wait, Kristy Lee has carved out her own niche in pop-country along the likes of superstars Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood. A new star has been born. Kristy Lee Cook, job well done!

Why Wait

Very imressive, her rendition of God Bless the USA is as good as any I've heard. Songs are tight, well written and she should have gone further in the Idol season. I think we have another Carrie here.

Biography

Born: January 18, 1984 in Seattle, WA

Genre: Pop

Years Active: '90s, '00s, '10s

Although country vocalist Kristy Lee Cook enjoyed some degree of success as a teenager, she didn't receive her big break until 2007, when the 23-year-old Oregon native auditioned for the seventh season of American Idol. Her patriotic performances and country gal appeal helped push Cook to a seventh-place finish, despite frequent criticisms from the show's judging panel. Born in Seattle and raised in rural southwestern Oregon, Cook initially split her time between horseback riding and singing. At...
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