iSound

By: Parke Puterbaugh -
Chris Cook was raised on country music, spent his teen years rocking out, and then re-embraced his country roots in his twenties. Now, at 31, Cook is emerging as a formidable country- and Americana-oriented artist with Small Town Gone. It highlights his abundant talents as a singer and guitarist, and as songwriter with a knack for cutting right to the bone. There’s nothing superfluous on Small Town Gone. Every word and note is a purposeful expression of truth as regards such close-to-the-ground subjects as relationships, hometowns, old coats and guitars, and even Uncle Sam.

The first thing you’ll notice is the voice. Cook is a singer’s singer with a delivery that’s pure and natural, unforced but expressive, relaxed but full of inner fire. In finding his own voice, Cook has taken cues from favorite singers on the country side (George Jones, Merle Haggard, George Strait) and the blues-rock realm (Paul Rodgers, Jimmy Hall, Lowell George). ...