"American Idol" season six runner-up Blake Lewis joins a yacht-full of fellow contestants on The Billboard Hot 100: current victor Jordin Sparks, Carrie Underwood, Elliott Yamin and Daughtry, all of whom are currently inside the top 40. His launch single, "Break Anotha," is a lightning rod of rock'n'funk, meshing busy, skittish production and enough tempo stops and starts to build one clever three-minute jam. Vocally, Lewis channels Justin Timberlake with fluffed harmonic layers and falsetto as he sings a rapid-fire lyric about a playa: "He'll try to prove his love is for you, just when you think he's changed his tune/He'll break anotha heart, babe." Lewis' message boards are already aflame with big love, while AOL First Listen drew 76,000 streams on day one. Sounds like this runner-up is poised to win the big prize: Song is a bull's-eye, the stylish 26-year-old has the looks of a teen idol, and clearly, "AI" fever has never been more prominent. The future looks mighty bright for full-length "Audio Day Dream," which drops Dec. 4. —Chuck Taylor