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Idol dad Jeff Archuleta -- sunglasses perched on the bill of his green trucker hat -- paces around the press room as the Idols sit down for largely local media interviews. David Cook, multiple chains dangling from his neck (including a winged skull), relaxes into a black couch. The Idols have been in the desert since Thursday and, despite the heat, haven't been confined to the air-conditioned indoors. (The other day, for instance, Cook beat Jason Castro at go-karting -- but lost to Castro's brother.)

In terms of group chemistry, "I think we all lucked out this season," says Cook, an Idol newbie before this year. "We've all been able to put our egos in check and enjoy the ride." He admits he hadn't watched a single episode of Idol -- "not a one" -- and was unfamiliar with the personalities. Although "I do know Kimberly (Caldwell)," he says, grinning. (He's dating the Season 2 finalist, but she's not here tonight.)

On his rare days off from touring, he's in L.A., working on his post-Idol album. "I can tell you I've done quite a bit of recording in the last 10 years of my life, and to have the resources that I have now, it's unreal." Cook says he's involved with every song on the album, due out in mid-November. "Hopefully, the planets are aligned." -- O.B.

http://blogs.usatoday.com/idolchatter/?loc=interstitialskip