American Idol Season 5 finalist Bucky Covington's self-titled debut hits stores this week - and the Lyric Street Records album is already garnering rave reviews.

Here's what a few of the nation's toughest critics are saying about Covington:

Dallas Morning News: "Easily the best country album by an American Idol contestant."

Miami Herald: "The most cohesive album to come out of the franchise yet."

Entertainment Weekly: "The North Carolinian with the throaty drawl could sell everything-from the cheeky to the weepy. And he does." B+

Associated Press: "Covington delivers. His gritty growl comes alive…[and he sounds like the star he could evolve into…

Wow. Rave reviews, indeed. Expect this CD to compete with Daughtry on the music charts next week.

Matt Richenthal is the Editor in Chief of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Twitter and on Google+.