Great artists meet with great expectations. That can be said of many highly anticipated debut albums from today’s most promising rising stars.

However, mention of “American Idol” leaves many music critics wincing in anticipatory agony. The show certainly has had its success stories: Kelly Clarkson, Clay Aiken, Carrie Underwood, and Chris Daughtry have all broken through the Idol barrier and moved on to sell millions of records. But names like Sanjaya Malakar (a Top Six finalist), William Hung (who didn’t make it past the first audition), and Taylor Hicks (um, he won) have threatened the show’s credibility.

Season seven, which wrapped on May 21, may have re-established Idol’s claim of finding the best undiscovered talent in the country. David Cook, the scruffily handsome bartender-turned-rocker from Blue Springs, Mich., handily beat his competition, fan favorite and “aw shucks” cutie pie David Archuleta, by 12 million votes.

Many found Cook’s landslide victory a shocker, but Simon Cowell watched in glee as America finally crowned a winner with an honest chance at success in mainstream music. After watching Chris Daughtry’s untimely elimination back on Season five, America wanted their rocker. And boy, did they get him.

“The Time of My Life,” Cook’s coronation anthem, has gone nearly platinum and has been a permanent resident on the charts. His newest single, “Light On,” which was co-written by Chris Cornell, is stealthily climbing the charts, with appearances on iTunes’ Top 10 Singles list and downloads that numbered over one million on AOL.

His self-titled debut album, which dropped yesterday, promises more twists and turns from the singer/songwriter. Cook’s success is predicted to exceed any male, and possibly female, winner, and he seems well on his way: “David Cook” has already rested comfortably at no.1 on Amazon’s charts and no. 2 on iTunes, even before its official release.

After his original takes on classic songs during his Idol reign led to a record-breaking 11 singles in the Billboard Hot 100, Cook’s album will certainly find its way under the musical microscope. Cook wrote and co-wrote 10 of the 12 songs on the record, calling upon musicians like Rain Maida of Our Lady Peace and Johnny Rzeznik of the Goo Goo Dolls. Rob Cavallo, the legendary rock producer behind Green Day’s “American Idiot,” oversaw Cook’s record and ensured mainstream success.

Cook’s album opens with “Declaration,” an upbeat number that he performed on Saturday Night Live. The rhythm is positively addictive and could garner some serious radio play. Other songs like “Heroes,” “Lie,” and “A Daily AntheM” (the capitalized letters spell out the name of Cook’s brother) have swelling choruses and meaningful lyrics that make them some of the best songs on the album, hands down.

“Come Back to Me” has a U2 vibe mixing through the melodies, and the hard-edged “Bar-ba-sol” channels some of the greatest metal bands in history. “Life on the Moon” and “Mr. Sensitive” parody experiences throughout Cook’s Idol journey. His voice is grainy, but rich-his multiple-octave range is displayed in almost every song. He doesn’t just sing songs; he belts them with believability and passion.

The deepest song on the album, “Permanent,” was written for Cook’s older brother Adam, who is battling brain cancer. The lyrics are heart-wrenching and beautiful, but they pale in comparison to Cook’s raw, scratchy voice, obviously filled with emotion, as he belts out the simple song, accompanied only by a piano and strings.

“I want this to be a piano lullaby to my older brother, who’s been battling a brain tumor for a long time,” Cook told PopEater. “I knew that the record was lacking this kind of bare, honest, naked song. I was crying, of course, because I do that all the time.”

It is impossible not to get choked up while listening to this song; it is very possibly Cook’s best vocal to date.

Cook’s debut does not disappoint. (Take it from someone who spent the majority of her freshman year dialing the phone until her fingers bled). This guy has some serious talent and will prove to be a contender on the charts. So long as Cook continues to write meaningful music and stay true to his rocker roots, we can expect him to stick around for quite some time.

The songs on this album will get stuck in your head and have you humming happily all day long. Put the CD in your car, roll down the windows, and sing along; each song is contagious and purely, simply good. Even with its hurried two-and-a-half month process, this album is fantastic from start to finish. Put this Idol winner on your radar-his success is coming fast and sure.

Grade: A

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