Will Joseph Cook – the mutli-instrumentalist who earned legions of fans for his debut LP Sweet Dreamer back in 2017 – has long specialised in crafting dreamy, carefree summer-fuelled indie pop numbers. He started writing his own songs when he was in his early teens, with Sweet Dreamer being completed before he hit the age of twenty. Now firmly in his twenties and with his new album Something To Feel Good About, has the now all grown up Cook turned his back on his youthful optimistic self? Not a bit of it.

On an initial listen, Something To Feel Good About sees Cook pick up where his debut left off. It’s a ludicrously catchy, wonderfully warm album full of indie-pop goodness. The title track – the album’s lead single – skips its way merrily into a joyous chorus, while 10X MORE FUN is so laid back you should be made to listen to it while lying on a tropical beach. Elsewhere, She Likes Me is a sweet tribute to young love layered over a slow and captivating beat.

Dive a little deeper though and you realise that lyrically there are some darker moments too. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that Cook hasn’t been immune to the difficulties 2020 – and growing up – have brought. Boundary Street sees him lament “Don’t wanna let you know I’m low / But anything’s better than fighting this alone”. It’s a beautifully tender pop song, and arguably the finest example of Cook’s low key but authentic vocals on the album. On 21 he reflects simply “I pray for silence in these turbulent times / Ask for forgiveness in the prime of my life / I don’t know anyone who is 21 and knows how to feel”.

Driverless Cars is another highlight, an off-kilter beat fused with some rasping guitar and a switched up vocal delivery that alternates spoken word elements with a smooth chorus where Cook pensively muses “I don’t know what I want / So I walk into the dark / I feel like one of those things / Those driverless cars”.

All in all, Something To Feel Good About is a superbly composed and hugely enjoyable album from one of the UK’s brightest young stars. The warm melodies of his debut release remain, though the subject matter has evolved, and it’s a rewarding journey to witness.

Something To Feel Good About tracklist:

1. Be Around Me

2. Something To Feel Good About

3. 10X MORE FUN

4. She Likes Me

5. Wayside

6. Driverless Cars

7. DOWNDOWNDOWN!

8. 21 9. Only If You

10. Boundary Street

11. Where Is My Heart?

12. Last Year

Watch the official video for Something To Feel Good About here

Author: Joe Sharratt

Joe Sharratt is a writer and journalist based in the UK covering music, literature, sport, and travel.