Today's Pick

American Music Award nominee Daughtry's brand new single "Life After You" had its video premiere Thursday on AOL. The track is the second single from their chart topping sophomore album "Leave This Town", and has already sold close to 20,000 downloads in the US and UK before its release. The track follows the success of first single "No Surprise" which peaked at #15 on the Billboard 100 and #1 on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks.
The rock band's single "Life After You" is a "bittersweet" song about life on the road and the tough personal balance that comes along with it. "We try to keep it as connected as possible and it is all about trying to make both worlds work together. We manage to do that, but it doesn't make it any easier," Daughtry frontman and 'American Idol' alum Chris Daughtry said. Chris plays the lead a character based on himself in the storyline of this highly personal video.
The Grammy nominated multi-platinum selling, band whose frontman is season 4 American Idol finalist Chris Daughtry, has again found success with the sophomore album "Leave This Town" which debuted at No.1 on the Billboard 200. Frontman Chris Daughtry discussed the song which he co-wrote with Chad Kroeger, and its accompanying music video in an exclusive interview with PopEater. "It was different than what we're use to because we usually just get in there and perform. But I have a role in this particular video. I had to shoot some hopefully convincing scenes. It is capturing our life on the road. We deal with having to connect at home and manage that while we’re doing our job on the road at the same time. The video shows what we do on any given day… moving from place to place and having to get in touch with my wife."
Daughtry, the rocking five-piece begins their first-ever headlining arena tour in support of the band's sophomore album, "Leave This Town," beginning on October 19 in Topeka, KS. The band is also set to appear on the Country Music Awards on November 11.

The American Idol Season 6 winner, Jordin Sparks' 2nd studio album "Battlefield" hit stores today. Most reviewers agree Sparks' 2nd attempt trumps her 1st. Hear the album on AOL Music's Free Full CD Listening Party (Please note this listening party expires July 26th). You can also listen to select songs off the album on AOL Radio's Fresh 40 Station! The 19-year-old does prove why she deserved the 2007 "American Idol" crown. The 12-track set album named after the 1st single "Battlefield" because it was central to the themes and other recordings for the album, which is a mixture of contemporary R&B and pop although many critics have cited dance-pop and pop-rock influences. The majority of the songs are sad love ballads, but Jordin fails to make listeners emotionally connect.
The youngest-ever winner of American Idol said that "To me, the title 'Battlefield' is about strength and perseverance, things can go from good to bad in an instant, it could be family, friendship or work; and my favorite line in the song is, 'you better go and get your armor,' because it's telling you to be prepared for that time so that you can overcome it."

Daughtry releases his rock band's 2nd album, "Leave This Town" today. There would be 14 songs on the record, but 5 bonus tracks in different stores. Chris cowrites with a host of mainstream rock hitmakers, including members of Lifehouse, Three Days Grace and Nickelback. “Leave This Town” is what happens when a formula turns into a cliché.
Chris Daughtry was born December 26, 1979 in North Carolina. He is the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of the alternative rock band 'Daughtry'. Chris became the most successful 4th-place finisher in “American Idol” history in 2006 when his self-titled debut album sold 4 million copies.
Chris's sturdy rock presence and distinctive vocal style won the hearts and minds of American Idol Season 5 fans across the globe. He is by far the fans' favorite and is consistently singled out as the most talented performer in every review of the tour: 'Daughtry proved that he's b far the most talented performer in Idol history.' by St. Petersburg Times.
My favorite singles: "Feels Like Tonight", "Home", and "It's Not Over". Find more @ daughtry's official, Facebook, and MySpace.

Kelly Clarkson is getting ready to promote the 3rd new CD single "Already Gone", which was lifted from her 4th studio album "All I Ever Wanted", and produced by hit-maker Ryan Tedder. The new CD cover is released along with several photos taken from the set of the music video.
The cover art is a close shot of Kelly with a glittery teardrop below her left eye. The single is scheduled to be released on August 24 in U.K. and around the same time in U.S. The music video, which is seen through the photos having a gold and elegant tone, was directed by Joseph Kahn and shot on June 20. No premiere date yet for the video.
The video is set primarily in an apartment and a rehearsal room. Clarkson explains that the video is a departure from her previous videos, and that she is "completely glammed out. It's the opposite of my everyday life."

Kelly Clarkson (born April 24, 1982 in Texas) won the highly-publicized 1st season of American Idol in 2002. "My Life Would Suck Without You" is the 1st single from her 4th studio album, "All I Ever Wanted". It is a moderately fast pop rock/electropop song. Kelly's vocal range spans from A3 to E5. She claimed #1 on March 1, 2009 when "My Life Would Suck Without You" debuted #1 on downloads alone. Clarkson has sold over 10.1 million albums in the US, becoming the highest-selling Idol winner.
The music video for the song was directed by Wayne Isham and was shot in LA in December 2008. A story about Kelly and her boyfriend. Kelly's all time best? I'll say: "A Moment Like This", "Breakaway", "Since U Been Gone", "Behind These Hazel Eyes" and "Because of You". Also check Kelly's MySpace for more info.

David Cook was born December 20, 1982 in Texas. "Light On" is the 1st official single to be released from American Idol season 7 winner's major label debut studio album, "David Cook", and it was released iTunes and Amazon today. The song also displays David's powerful upper register, with the singer hitting a high C at the end of each verse.
The music video for "Light On" was shot on October 21 and 22 at the Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee Florida , it was also shot at " The Lunchbox " a local diner in Tallahassee with Wayne Isham as the director. The video is a performance video of Cook singing on a stage in the football stadium, and also features a plot of a teenage boy working at a diner. A teenage girl, portrayed by Mika Boorem, walks into the diner and he watches her, becoming jealous when her boyfriend comes to the diner. Near the end, the girl fights with her boyfriend in his car, after he hit on some girls at the diner before her eyes, and gets out of the car, but he drives away and leaves her stranded there, late at night. The boy from the diner shows up on his bike and gives her a ride home on the handlebars of the bike. The video debuted at #1 on VH1's Top 20 Countdown on November 22.
The another my favorite single from David is "Time Of My Life", the winning song of the 2008 American Idol.

Clay Aiken was born in North Carolina on November 30, 1978, who began his rise to fame on the 2nd season of American Idol in 2003. "On My Way Here" is his 4th full length studio album released today.
The song "On My Way Here" is the title track about how the lessons we learn growing up shape us into the adults we become. This struck a chord with Clay and the song became the inspiration for the album's theme. Clay said "I thought if we could find songs along those lines, that deal with my life over the past five years and what I've learned from my experiences, it would be a great concept for an album."
"On My Way Here" is also included on the Super Hero album commemorating the 2008 Beijing Olympics presented by MBA Sports.

Christina Aguilera was born December 18, 1980 in New York. She has become one of the most successful recording artists of the decade, selling more than 42 million albums worldwide. "Hurt" is a pop ballad song, and the 2nd single from her 3rd studio album, "Back to Basics" in 2006. The song's lyrical content describes how one deals with the loss of a loved one, and it has received praise from pop music critics.
The circus-themed video for "Hurt" was shot over five days in September and the video premiered yesterday on TRL. It is the first video Aguilera has directed. The video begins with the ending instrumental to "Enter the circus"/"Welcome", over which a carnival barker introduces a spectacular circus, and begins in black and white, and ends with a shot of Aguilera sitting on a circus box, singing and crying, before fading out to Aguilera's grief-stricken form on the ground outside the circus tent.
My favorite singles from Aguilera: "Beautiful", "Genie In A Bottle" and "I Turn To You".