"The Paul Cook Project" by Paul Cook Project (Country Artist from Texas(TX))

The inescapable lesson learned by Susan Boyle's meteoric rise to international YouTube fame is that singing talent is not the exclusive domain of attractive, expertly-coiffed 20-somethings belting out staid and redundant songs for a TV audience of musical reactionaries. The recently released disc, "The Paul Cook Project" is an album of original songs performed by various (unknown) singers from Abilene, Texas, drives that lesson home over the course of 15 tuneful, well-crafted, and meaning-filled songs that ache with sincerity and positivism. From the lush-pop strains of "Making Memories" to the contemporary country pulse of the Anytown, USA, narrative, "Light It Up"; from the self-empowerment piano ballad "I Can Win" to the inspirational strains of "Our Time," "The Paul Cook Project" melds a diversity of musical forms in a cohesive collection, thanks mainly to Cook's unerring knack for accessible and memorable melodies. Underscoring the entire CD is a solemn sense of Christian faith (made overt on songs such as, "Don't Run Away" and "Fruit of the Spirit"), but the spirituality is inclusive, not heavy-handed or preachy. "The Paul Cook Project" is a very listenable, fun (check out the Roger Miller-like ditty, "I Do What I Do") uplifting and, most of all, engaging CD of well-conceived, well-played & (gasp!) well-sung songs by the guy next door and an anonymous – but talented, community of singers.

-Rice B. and the RadioIndy.com Reviewer Team
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