Let’s promote Ian Cocker (http://www.whatitisrecords.com) to the highest rank of male soloists at the moment. General Cocker would be apt because only music this good can lead an army. Cocker is apparently classically trained, but it's his deft skills with words that make the album crackle.
"The ink has dried on the pages in your head," Cocker sings on "I Could Be," just one of many memorable lines on this disc. The man writes lyrics with the bulls eye of Robin Hood and his arrows. Each cut leaves an impression - or would that be a footprint? - that remains firmly planted even after hours the record hasn't been played. Better yet, Cocker sings them with in an easygoing style that is clear and not difficult to comprehend.
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Given that his influences run towards the contemporary acoustic pop types, what his music sounds like shouldn't be a shocker. Nevertheless, he adds colour to an otherwise unimaginative genre. "10 Days" drifts on a gentle reggae beat while "I Could Be" has lush keyboards.
The consistency of "Footprints" is worthy of the loudest applause. Cocker doesn't waste our time with any filler. He is always on target, and I couldn’t take my ears away from the speakers for fear of missing brilliance.
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