For the general public, Chris Daughtry’s sidemen were simply lucky to have the right frontman – an American Idol finalist and fan favorite at that. At least for the first album which entered at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and spawned a shoo-in classic in “Home,” the case need not be argued.

But the follow-up seems a whole new ballgame though, with Chris himself noting that it’s their “first together as a band.” Sony Music’s “Leave This Town” left doubters that Daughtry is just Chris. Group work somehow produced the 12-song package even if the album photos and credits show that Chris is still in front of everything.

In an exclusive phone interview with the Manila Bulletin, the band’s bass player Josh Paul convincingly spoke about the collaboration involving everyone in the band, unlike in their previous work where they practically just jumped into a ship already moving ahead, driven by its captain in the form of an Idol phenomenon.

“This is a band album as we’re all on it. We weren’t able to do it in the first but this time we took our time in doing it,” shares Paul who co-wrote the album track “Supernatural” with Chris.

While the set up may have changed, the amazing sales run assures that the mania hasn’t slowed down. It even peaked with the new album debuting at the top of the Billboard 200 with a reported 269,299 copies sold in just its first week of release. Not even the resurgence of Michael Jackson records following his untimely death last June could stop it; the new Daughtry CD dropping the late Pop King from the top of the sales charts.

“Before this came out, the focus was on Chris. I’m extremely grateful for what we have now. We’re a band, getting along and joking around,” Paul points out.

When asked about his mind-set for his role as “the fat guy at the back” (a phrase referring to bassists being always the last person to be noticed in the band), Paul coolly expresses, “I just play for the song.”

“Leave This Town” boasts the upbeat pop rock “No Surprise” as first single. This number and another radio positive called “Life After You” were both written by a pool of songwriters that included Chris and Nickelback main man Chad Kroeger. Paul recalls that “No Surprise” was picked because “we liked the song and it’s a cool song.”

Other songs in the album are the opening track “You Don’t Belong” (the only Chris Daughtry solo composition) “What I Meant To Say,” “Every Time You Turn Around,” “Open Up Your Eyes,” “Ghost Of Me,” “Learn My Lesson” and songs Chris co-wrote with the other members: “September” (with the other Josh surnamed Steely, guitar player), “Tennessee Line” (with guitarist Brain Craddock and featuring country music star Vince Gill on harmonies), and the album’s last number and arguably finest piece, “Call Your Name” (with drummer Joey Barnes).

Paul, who had played for a group called Suicidal Tendencies, is a rocker who appreciates even hip-hop and R&B. For him it’s never an issue that Chris carries the band’s name. He believes that democracy exists in the band and that they’re happy enough to tour the world together because of music.