When a 15-year-old Jessica Andrews debuted with Heart Shaped World, the most obvious comparison was LeAnn Rimes. The parallels were certainly there -- like Rimes, Andrews was a teenage country-pop singer with a wholesome, clean-cut, all-American girl image and the usual Nashville hype to go with her debut. But like Rimes, Andrews had some talent, charisma, and substance to go with the hype. Though Heart Shaped World isn't brilliant, the Tennessee native usually has decent material to work with. No one's going to mistake ...
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When a 15-year-old Jessica Andrews debuted with Heart Shaped World, the most obvious comparison was LeAnn Rimes. The parallels were certainly there -- like Rimes, Andrews was a teenage country-pop singer with a wholesome, clean-cut, all-American girl image and the usual Nashville hype to go with her debut. But like Rimes, Andrews had some talent, charisma, and substance to go with the hype. Though Heart Shaped World isn't brilliant, the Tennessee native usually has decent material to work with. No one's going to mistake this CD for hardcore, Bakersfield honky tonk -- like Rimes and Shania Twain, Andrews specializes in a sleek, commercial blend of pop, country, and rock. But as much sweetness as she projects, Andrews isn't bubblegum -- when she digs into "You Go First," "I've Been Waiting for You," and "James Dean in Tennessee," you know that the singer isn't without an edge. And on Billy Burnette's ominous, bluesy "Hungry Love" -- the tale of a girl who has to grow up much too fast -- it's clear that Andrews is capable of depth. A few of the tunes are bland, but Heart Shaped World's best moments indicate that Andrews is someone to keep an eye on. ~ Alex Henderson, Rovi
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