So Real
In the market for a single album consolidating most of the selling points of mainstream female teen- and dance-pop of the past few years? Try Mandy Moore'sSo Real. Various cuts here demonstrate her (and her writing and production teams') mastery of the styles ofBritney Spears, theSpice Girls,Janet Jackson, and earlyMadonna. While projecting a playful sultriness much like that of Spears, the younger Moore takes pains to keep things chaste: not only does she promote "trust" on "What You Want," she rhymes it with "crush," not "lust." Complete with a hook that defies interpretation ("I'm missin' you like candy") on the breakthrough single "Candy," and a can't-miss Janet-style ballad in "Walk Me Home,"So Realadds a welcome note of CD-length consistency to the current girl-pop formula.--Rickey Wright