Millions of people around the country fell in love with rock belter David Cook while watching him make other people's songs his own week after week on the seventh season of American Idol last year. Cook won the competition handily thanks to viewers connecting with his rich, unfettered voice and passionately intense performances, not to mention his down-to-earth Midwestern charm. Now, with the release of his self-titled major-label debut, this gifted 25-year-old is eager to show those fans what he can do when he's in the driver's seat.

"I went on Idol with a five-card hand and showed three of my cards," Cook says. "Now it's time to put down the other two. There's a lot I haven't shown the world, just as far as who I am and what I'm about. I have several layers as an artist and those layers are out there on this record. I don't see myself ever writing an autobiography; I'm just going to let the music speak for itself."

And it does -- loud and clear. David Cook is a statement-making album, filled with bold, keenly felt songs that showcase Cook's powerful vocal chops and considerable songwriting talent, as well as the versatility that made him a star on Idol. The first single "Light On," with its Southern rock vibe, is light years away from the gut-wrenching ballad "Permanent," which couldn't be more different than the swaggering shredder "Bar-Ba-Sol."

"I wanted to make an eclectic album that went places," Cook says. "This is my first major-label release and that gave me some room to be a bit of a chameleon and try different things. So there's a diversity of influences on this record."

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