David Cook can't complain about life after American Idol.

But he can talk about how the show has changed his surrounding world.

"I think in one sense everything's changed, but in another sense nothing has," the reigning champion said recently. "There's all these different things around me that I didn't have a year ago. I was able to furnish a home and get a nice car and be able to treat my family to some of the things that I otherwise wouldn't have been able to do."

Other than that, though, the singer says everything is pretty much the same.

"I'm still a goober from the Midwest. Now I've just got a few more resources. I don't feel like the show changed me at all."

Cook will release his self-titled debut album on November 18. He describes his music as "eclectic rock" with some songs featuring lots of riffs and others that are "very piano driven and delicate."

We can't wait to hear it.