David Cook

Before he won American Idol's seventh season David Cook had already released a solo album, Analog Heart, revealing a talented young man who grew up on post-grunge radio, recalling the throaty inflections and stubbled melodies of Better Than Ezra and the Nixons. His eponymous sophomore album is more of the same, but much more amplified with some of that expensive American Idol provided production, as well as a team of hit makers who helped Cook sharpen his hooks. Among them are some of the very musicians who influenced Cook along the way. Johnny Rzeznik of Goo Goo Dolls fame co-wrote "Declaration," a soaring, stadium-friendly opener that rocks harder than any of the fruit yielded from prior Idol champions. Another one of Cook's heroes, Raine Maida from Our Lady Peace helped pen the aptly titled "Heroes" which unsurprisingly sounds like a new Our Lady Peace song. Chris Cornell jumps in the songwriting pool on the power ballad "Light On," a sweaty chested hit that begs for fashionistas to bring ripped jeans and lumberjack flannels back to couture runways.