Why Wait (by Kristy Lee Cook, Country)

Fresh off the American Idol Live! Tour, country songbird Kristy Lee Cook releases her second album, WHY WAIT. It features the hit single "15 Minutes of Shame" (which is a bit more vitriolic than other songs on the album), as well as Cook's rendition of "God Bless the USA," which she sang on TV during Idol.

Like her Idol country counterparts before her (Carrie Underwood, Kellie Pickler), Cook is best when she sings sweet and spunky. "Not Tonight" and "I Think Too Much" are fun, feisty tracks that work great for her voice, with singable, lovably "redneck" lyrics like "Does this dress look too churchy/is this lipstick too white trash?" "Plant the Seed" and "Like My Mother Does" are typical country tearjerkers that bring chills even if you aren't a fan of this type of music, and "Homesick" has Cook pining about her own life: "My dreams are calling/I know it's now or never."

At times Cook's voice isn't quite up to par of other country queens like Underwood and LeAnn Rimes, but that could be because she recorded the album while on tour with the rest of the Idol hopefuls. Cook is cute, country, and blond -- not necessarily a new concept -- and she sings to please for CMT and Idol fans alike.

Released on: September 16, 2008
Label: Arista
Genre: Country