Jagger Cook’s All Our Hands Are Dirty is the kind of alternative-rock album that you could listen to with your mom. It houses just enough edge to call it rock and roll, but Cook proves to be less of a rebellious rocker and more of a spiritual, home-town, family man with a real admiration for Oprah Winfrey.
His song Nostalgia has gained Cook attention winning him the “Honour Award” at the Great American Song Contest in 2008 and was nominated for “Song of the Year” by All Access Magazine at their music awards in Los Angeles. This contemporary rock-pop song is very simple and almost bare with Cook’s voice and lyrics noticeably in the foreground, but considering what the song is about, I think that really works. With lyrics like: “I believe in laughing through family dinner / I believe in running through garden sprinklers / I believe in mud pies and jumping in leaves,” this is a very heart-felt and honest song that doesn’t call for any overpowering instrumentation.

This album is full of songs, like Nostalgia, that just speak of everyday life and feelings. Like the guitar-heavy Butterflies which is basically about that feeling you get in the pit of your stomach when you really like someone and but you can’t really talk to them. Then there’s the piano filled ballad Daddy-Angel that Cook wrote for his son which, with Cook’s deep and slightly raspy voice, unwillingly brings back memories of Creed’s With Arms Wide Open. And no one can’t forget The Light Of Mississippi, a song written in dedication to the one and only Oprah. Although the story behind this song is a mystery to me, Cook pours his heart out in thanks and appreciation for the talk-show host who, Cook sings, “redefined my world.”

Although parts of this album are amateurish at times, All Our Hands Are Dirty is well put together and quite an achievement as a debut.

TRACK LISTING
Afraid Like Me
Be Good To You
As Seen On TV
Real Time
Nostalgia
Snowed Under
Try
Butterflies
Light Of Mississippi
Are You Happy
Come Back
Daddy-Angel