American Idol

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.