Hilary Duff - The Concert - The Girl Can Rock
Disney Channel starlet-turned-movie actress Hilary Duff proves a legitimate contender in her side career as a singer onHilary Duff: The Concert--The Girl Can Rock. Backed by an ace band of hired guns and immersed in edgy pop arrangements more interesting than her studio recordings, Duff sounds like a worthy centerpiece inThe Girl Can Rock's smart orchestration. The title tune kicks things off with an attention-getting backbeat and big (but not bombastic) rock & roll sound, while "Little Voice" comes pretty darn close to approximating the old, critically lauded, power pop sound of the late '70s. "Anywhere but Here" could easily pass as a tune from the Pretenders' songbook, and Duff makes the most out of its emotional counterpoints and minor chord changes. Even at the show's dippiest ("Love Just Is"), musical settings are always tasteful and evocative. Special features include Duff's so-so video for "Come Clean," and a better one for "So Yesterday (Live)."--Tom Keogh