Digital Vein

Cook began work on his third post-American Idol album in 2012 after parting ways with RCA and relocating to Nashville, Tennessee. Cook stated that working in Nashville opened him up creatively to trying different things and was unsure about whether he would make another record but he decided to write songs, have fun and to see what happens. Digital Vein was recorded in Cook's home studio, where he worked with his longtime friend Andy Skib, who engineered, and the rhythm section from his touring band, playing the bulk of the parts himself. Cook stated that “The whole thing was an experiment to see if (A) I could make a record this way, and (B) if I could enjoy doing it this way. I’m a control freak, and to have this level of control has been empowering. It was definitely a different process for me, but I can’t recall ever having more fun making a record.”{{cite web|title=BIO INTERVIEW: DIGITAL VEIN (2015)|url=https://www.davidcookofficial.com/member/david-cook/|publisher=Davidcookofficial.com|accessdate=August 8, 2015}}

On October 25, 2014, Cook tweeted a photo of himself in the studio and on October 27, 2014, Cook tweeted "So stoked to be sharing this new music with you. Here we go!" along with a link to a new song snippet with the words coming soon.{{cite web|title=David Cook Teases Brand New Music!|date=27 October 2014|url=https://www.mjsbigblog.com/david-cook-teases-new-music-video.htm|publisher=Misbigblog.com|accessdate=October 27, 2014}}

On May 20, 2015, Cook announced that his upcoming studio album would be made available for pre-order on PledgeMusic.{{cite web|title=David Cook New Album Available For Pre-Order at Pledgemusic|date=20 May 2015|url=https://www.mjsbigblog.com/david-cook-new-album-available-pre-order-at-pledgemusic.htm|publisher=Misbigblog.com|accessdate=June 23, 2015}} Cook stated that he was "beyond excited" to be working with PledgeMusic and was "intrigued by the opportunity that Pledge offers in bringing fans into the process and partnering with them to bring this record to life."{{cite web|title=New Album|url=http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/davidcook|publisher=PledgeMusic.com|accessdate=June 24, 2015|archive-date=June 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170626133903/http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/davidcook|url-status=dead}}

The album's name, Digital Vein, and the track list for the standard edition were revealed on June 23, 2015.{{cite news|title=David Cook Reveals New Album Name and Track List!|date=July 2, 2015|url=http://www.davidcookofficial.com/news/david-cook-unveils-new-album-name-standard-edition-track-list/|publisher=Davidcookofficial.com|accessdate=2 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626115627/http://www.davidcookofficial.com/news/david-cook-unveils-new-album-name-standard-edition-track-list/|archive-date=26 June 2015|url-status=dead}} On June 26, 2015, the track list for the deluxe edition was released.{{cite news |title=David Cook Shares 'Digital Vein' Deluxe Edition Track List!|date=July 2, 2015|url=http://www.davidcookofficial.com/news/david-cook-deluxe-edition-track-list/|publisher=Davidcookofficial.com|accessdate=2 July 2015 }}

The album initially had the working title, Mirror Mirror.{{cite web|title=David Cook - Thanks to the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's... |url=https://www.facebook.com/davidcook/posts/10153955607141348|publisher=Facebook|accessdate=May 13, 2015}} On the decision to name the album Digital Vein, Cook said, "My last independent record, back in 2006, was Analog Heart, and after my major-label journey, with circumstances being what they are, this record is certainly a progression. I don’t think it’s very much like Analog Heart at all, but the process of putting it together was similar in the sense that I worked with a very small team, and I put a lot of myself into every aspect of it. It felt like a throwback in that regard, so I wanted the two records to be connected, if only in name.”

Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic gave the album 3.5 out of 5 stars stating that "if it's unlikely Cook could bring this brand of mid-2000s mainstream rock into the Top 40 in 2015, he at least delivers an album that satisfies."{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/digital-vein-mw0002869182|title=Digital Vein David Cook Review|publisher=AllMusic |accessdate=9 September 2015}} Markos Papadatos of Digital Journal gave the album an 'A' rating, stating that "he is able to convey a wide spectrum of raw emotions with ease through his sincere storytelling."{{cite web |url=http://www.digitaljournal.com/a-and-e/music/review-david-cook-charms-on-new-digital-vein-studio-album/article/444135#ixzz40QC0xdfN|title=Review: David Cook charms on new 'Digital Vein' studio album|publisher=Digital Journal |accessdate=17 February 2015}}

The album debuted at No. 35 on Billboard 200, No. 22 on Top Album Sales, No. 8 on Independent Albums and No. 7 on Internet Albums,{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/biz |title=Billboard.biz |magazine=Billboard }} Search under Charts for David Cook with 11,000 sold on its debut week.{{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/blujaylao/status/652834894867881984 |title= Jessica Sanchez |work=Twitter}}

To promote the album, Cook posted video updates, sneak peaks of the new music, photos and other things on his PledgeMusic page.

"Criminals" was released on July 31, 2015 and serves as the lead single from the album. Cook described the song as "lyrically ... a modern-day Bonnie and Clyde, young love against the world," and that it serves as a good synopsis for the record.{{cite web|title=David Cook premieres new single 'Criminals'|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2015/07/31/david-cook-criminals-premiere/30793395/|publisher=USA Today|accessdate=July 31, 2015}}{{cite web|title=David Cook Returns With New Single 'Criminals': Listen|url=https://www.yahoo.com/music/david-cook-returns-with-new-single-criminals-125519592301.html|publisher=Yahoo! Music|accessdate=July 31, 2015}}{{cite web|title='American Idol' Winner David Cook Releases New Song 'Criminals': Listen|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6649373/american-idol-david-cook-new-song-criminals|publisher=Billboard.com|accessdate=July 31, 2015}} The song was serviced to American hot adult contemporary radio on September 21, 2015.{{cite web|title=Hot/Mod/AC Future Releases|url=http://www.allaccess.com/hot-modern-ac/future-releases|publisher=All Access Media Group|accessdate=September 13, 2015|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906030114/http://www.allaccess.com/hot-modern-ac/future-releases|archivedate=September 6, 2015}}

"Broken Windows" was released and serviced to American hot adult contemporary radio on February 22, 2016 as the album's second single.{{Cite web|url=http://www.allaccess.com/hot-modern-ac/future-releases|title=Hot/Modern/AC Future Releases | Hot Adult Contemporary Rock Songs and Release Dates |}}

"Heartbeat" was released as a single on March 25, 2016. He performed the song on the fifteenth season finale of American Idol.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/7272594/david-cook-performs-heartbeat-american-idol|title=David Cook Performs 'Heartbeat' on 'American Idol': Watch|magazine=Billboard}}

"Laying Me Low" was released on April 30, 2013 through XIX Recordings, the record label of American Idol creator Simon Fuller.{{cite news |title=David Cook New Single "Laying Me Low" – Listen to A Preview (Audio) (Photo) *David Set To Perform on Idol May 2*|date=July 2, 2015|url=https://www.mjsbigblog.com/david-cook-new-single-laying-me-low-listen-to-a-preview-audio.htm|publisher=Misbigblog.com|accessdate=2 July 2015 }} The song charted at number 36 on the Billboard Pop Digital Songs sales chart.

"Wait for Me" was released independently through Cook's label imprint Analog Heart Music on November 17, 2014.{{cite web|title=David Cook's new single - WAIT FOR ME - November 17!|url=http://www.davidcookofficial.com/us/news/david-cooks-new-single-wait-me-november-17|publisher=Davidcookofficial.com|accessdate=November 4, 2014|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141105045846/http://www.davidcookofficial.com/us/news/david-cooks-new-single-wait-me-november-17|archivedate=November 5, 2014}}

An acoustic version of "Carry You" was released as a digital single from an acoustic EP that's only available on PledgeMusic. It was used as the season premiere of A&E’s Intervention on March 6, 2016.{{cite web |url=http://www.davidcookofficial.com/news/season-premiere-aes-intervention-feature-david-cooks-carry/ |title=Season Premiere of A&E's "Intervention" to Feature David Cook's "Carry You" {{!}} David Cook Official |website=www.davidcookofficial.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160423102823/http://www.davidcookofficial.com/news/season-premiere-aes-intervention-feature-david-cooks-carry/ |archive-date=2016-04-23}}

{{track listing

| all_writing =

| title1 = Heartbeat

| writer1 = {{hlist|David Cook|Andy Waldeck|Chris Reardon}}

| length1 = 3:36

| title2 = Criminals

| writer2 = {{hlist|Cook|Blair Daly}}

| length2 = 3:38

| title3 = Broken Windows

| writer3 = {{hlist|Cook|Zac Maloy|Jerry Flowers}}

| length3 = 3:03

| title4 = Laying Me Low

| writer4 = {{hlist|Cook|Reardon|Waldeck}}

| length4 = 3:39

| title5 = Better Than Me

| writer5 = Chase Foster

| length5 = 3:47

| title6 = Carry You

| writer6 = {{hlist|Cook|Daly}}

| length6 = 4:27

| title7 = From Here to Zero

| writer7 = {{hlist|Cook|Maloy}}

| length7 = 3:43

| title8 = Kiss & Tell

| writer8 = {{hlist|Cook|Waldedck|Andy Skib}}

| length8 = 3:24

| title9 = Wait for Me

| writer9 = {{hlist|Cook|Chad Carlson}}

| length9 = 3:49

| title10 = I'm Gonna Love You

| writer10 = {{hlist|Cook|Waldeck|Skib}}

| length10 = 4:17

| title11 = Wicked Game

| writer11 = Chris Isaak

| length11 = 3:45

| title12 = Home Movies (Over Your Shoulder)

| writer12 = {{hlist|Cook|Kevin Griffin}}

| length12 = 3:55

}}

{{track listing

| headline = {{nowrap|Deluxe edition}}

| title13 = Where Do We Go

| writer13 = {{hlist|Cook|Waldeck|Skib}}

| length13 = 4:01

| title14 = Firing Squad

| writer14 = {{hlist|Cook|David Hodges|Steven Miller}}

| length14 = 3:55

| title15 = But You Won’t

| writer15 = {{hlist|Cook|Skib}}

| length15 = 4:25

}}

{{track listing

| headline = {{nowrap|Walmart Exclusive}}

| title13 = We're Not In This Alone

| writer13 = {{hlist|Cook|Skib|Bronson}}

| length13 = 4:36

| title14 = Secret Garden

| writer14 = Bruce Springsteen

| length14 = 4:04

| title15 = Eyes on You

| writer15 = {{hlist|Cook|Waldeck|Reardon}}

| length15 = 3:30

}}

Credits from AllMusic.{{cite web|title=David Cook - Digital Vein|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/digital-vein-mw0002869182/credits|website=allmusic.com|publisher=All Media Network, LLC.|accessdate=September 23, 2015}}

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

Vocals

• David Cook – primary artist
• Nick Gibson – vocals
• Andy Skib – vocals
• Jennie Skib – vocals

Production

• Chad Carlson – composer
• David Cook – composer, producer, programming
• Blair Daly – composer
• Jerry Flowers – composer
• Chase Foster – composer
• Nick Gibson – technician
• Kevin Griffin – composer
• Chris Isaak – composer
• David Hodges – composer
• Zac Maloy – composer
• Steven Miller – composer
• Joe Palmaccio – mastering
• Chris Reardon – composer, producer, programming
• Andy Skib – composer, engineer, programming
• Greg Strizek – mixing
• Bruce Springsteen – composer
• Andy Waldeck – composer

{{col-2}}

Instruments

• Nick Adams – drums
• Monty Anderson – bass guitar
• David Cook – guitar
• Andy Skib – guitar

Imagery

• David Cook – art direction, design
• Rob Thacker – photography
• Dale Voelker – art direction, design

{{col-end}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{David Cook}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:2015 albums

Category:David Cook (singer) albums