JUDGING from his success so far, you’d have thought Chris Daughtry had won American Idol. In terms of record sales, Daughtry (the man, not the band) is now the most successful American Idol alumnus behind heavyweights Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood.

However, he wasn’t even runner-up in his season, losing out to eventual winner Taylor Hicks (who has all but disappeared) and Katharine McPhee (who seems to act better than she sings).

So what is his secret? Simple – start a rock band with your now-famous name, and rip off Nickelback, the masters of lightweight, unimaginative alternative pop-rock.

Don’t get me wrong. Daughtry’s (the band, not the man) eponymous debut two years ago was a fairly decent piece of radio-friendly pop-rock (read: does not make you want to change the station when it comes on). But with Leave This Town, it falls into the territory occupied by predictable, one-trick “rock” bands like Hoobastank and Nickelback.

Don’t believe me? Then check out first single No Surprise, where Daughtry seems to channel Nickelback frontman Chad Kroeger, shouting his way through the song. His voice even starts to sound more and more like Kroeger’s as the song goes on!

But wait, what’s this? Daughtry actually co-wrote the song with Kroeger? Well, well, no surprises there, huh?

Nor is Kroeger the only radio-friendly pop-rock purveyor Daughtry collaborated with on the album. Others include Ryan Tedder (OneRepublic), Jason Wade (Lifehouse), Eric Dill (The Click Five) and Ben Moody (formerly of Evanescence)!

With such “illustrious” company influencing him, it’s no wonder that even when he writes a song on his own, it sounds like something Hoobastank might come up with. Album opener You Don’t Belong is an example – heavy on loud guitars and pounding drums, with a predictable melody and lightweight lyrics.

Sure, there are some decent melodies here and there, but most of the tunes are forgettable. If this is the best a so-called American Idol “rocker” can produce, I might as well just go country and listen to Carrie Underwood instead.