“David Archuleta”

David Archuleta

WHY CARE?: David Archuleta, the shy runner-up from this year’s “American Idol,” releases his debut album on Tuesday.

TRIVIA: According to AmericanIdol.com, the singer’s favorite quote is, “You’ll never be lonely if you learn to befriend yourself.”

HIGH POINTS: Archuleta’s cover of “Angels” does the song justice, even if it isn’t as strong as Robbie Williams’ original.

FANS ALSO LIKE: KISS-FM

ANDY SAYS: Archuleta has a good voice, sure. Why he uses it for evil is anyone’s guess. His debut collection is infuriatingly generic, filled with saccharine, repetitive songs such as “Touch My Hand” and “My Hands.”

GRADE: D-plus

“Sycamore Meadows”

Butch Walker

WHY CARE?: Butch Walker, a hit maker for artists including Avril Lavigne and Pink, releases his fourth studio album.

TRIVIA: Walker lost all of his possessions when the home he was renting from Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea burned down during the 2007 California wildfires.

HIGH POINT: “Going Back/Going Home,” a light pop song built around acoustic guitar and handclaps, manages to cram Walker’s life story into four minutes worth of lyrics.

FANS ALSO LIKE: Pop producers dabbling in solo terrain, like Jon Brion

ANDY SAYS: Don’t get turned off by Walker’s associates; his solo work sounds less like Kate Perry and more like Tom Petty. Chalk that up to Walker’s Georgia roots. The result is clean-sounding pop, with just enough scruffy instrumentation to remind you it was made by a guy named Butch, not Pink.

GRADE: B-plus

Andy Rathbun, Herald Columnist, arathbun@heraldnet.com, 425-339-3455