Mandy Moore is back and is the only pop teen diva that is taking a chance in her music creatively, unfortunately it is not paying off as of yet.

Moores first single "In My Pocket" has to be one of the best new dance songs to come around in a long time. Produced by Emilio Estefan, it infuses dance, techno, disco, and a little middle eastern fuse that for some reason is not hitting radio....Why? when this song rocks, has great hooks, beats and is great while driving in the car at fast speeds on the freeway.

While Jessica Simpsons mundane, Britney Spears clone single "Irresistible" currently riding the Billboard wave into the Top 20 on the Hot 100 singles chart, "In My Pocket" can't even register into the chart-(they were release around the same time)....shame.

Moore took a big chance going into a different direction, and it shows on her album cover, very reminiscent to Andrea True Connection from her #1 disco classic (More, More, More) and France Joli with her Top 3 disco classic (Come To Me)- giving a 70s disco/dance feel.

Though this album is much better produced then the disco music of the 70s, has more feel, style and energy.

Even if Moore does not sell copies, she gets my full attention as a pop diva taking a chance with her career heading in a different direction.

With other standout songs "17", "Yo-Yo", "Crush"...this album is solid through and through.

My hats off to you Miss Moore for going the OPPOSITE direction of Britney Spears and Jessica Simpson.

A very good pop dance album.

Mandy Moore maybe another cookie cutter pop princess, but she's climbing out of the dough with her Junior album. The young singer has a really distinct sound, that blends pop, guitars, east indian music and a sugary voice. I orignally listened to some clips on a site of her CD, then proceeded to Amazon and found great reviews so I went out and got the album...and I'm here to say YOU SHOULD TOO! There are two main themes that are carried throughout the album: Guitary Upbeat Pop songs, and the whole Middle Eastern music. Despite the themes, every song stands out in some way, so no two are exactly are the same.

One of my fave guitary type songs is "Yo Yo" a poppy track you'd find on any teen show, with a mix of guitars and slick beats. Similar songs to this are "Cry", which is a bit slower, "Crush" that reminds me a bit of the Plumb song "Stranded.", and "Turn The Clock Around", a sweet song.

As for the middle east music, there is the dynamic first single "In My Pocket" that is doing well on the radio, despite being so different. "You Remind Me" has a more upbeat tempo, thats a bit more poppy, but has a very interesting "Meditation" guitar in the backround. "Saturate Me" is a really nice ballad with the same sort of theme, but a bit more subdued then the other tracks. "One Sided Love" has a whole drum beat, african choir sound effects, and a cool yelling chorus...if you enjoyed her first singles ethnicity you'd love this track. "It Only Took a Minute" is sort of a crossover of the two themes, that sort of reminds me of earlier Madonna songs.

There are a few songs that have a different style then the two listed above. "17" is a perfect ballad for Mandy to sing as it suits her vocals, and delivers a good message about waiting. "From Loving You" takes Mandy down a country road, and it sort of reminds me of Britney's "Don't Let Me Be The Last To Know...". "Split Chick" Is a very different song with a sort of techno sound effect in the back. "When I Talk To You" is the song Mandy co-wrote and its a really nice acoustic ballad that showcases her vocals...and to put it honestly, its a lot better then Britney's co-written track, "Dear Diary"...Listeners and Readers, if your looking for a truly different and talented singer, pick up this album!

Although not as famous as Britney and Aguilera, Mandy Moore's second real album ("So Real" and "I Wanna Be With You" are actually the variants of the same theme) is very good. Most pop artists stick to chart-ready 'just add water' formulas. the album does nothing of the sort. Going for a more adult sound and featuring elements of middle-eastern influence and acoustic soft rock sounds, this album is a great deal better than most pop albums out there. It is a shame that it did not do quite as well as Britney, but I praise Mandy for the lack of Max Martin.

Though her first two albums (So Real; I Wanna Be with You) were almost all bubblegum pop, "Mandy Moore" has a lot more flavor. She's starting to broaden her horizons, and I hope it lasts. Though the songs ARE predominantly pop and ballads, there's some Middle Eastern flavor ("In My Pocket") and country ("From Loving You"). And, unlike her previous albums, not every song is about boys (though most are). There is a "lost friendship" song ("When I Talk to You") that Mandy Moore herself co-wrote and a song called "Cry" that I'm not sure how to place or describe.

In My Pocket--great vocals, great music, and much deeper than most pop music.

You Remind Me--not a really original song, but good vocals and music, and a universally understood meaning.

Saturate Me--another deeper song, and it's definitely not bubblegum pop.

One-Sided Love--your basic pop, but excellent lyrics and vocals.

17--awesome, awesome song; it has excellent vocals, and I love the theme.

Cry--amazing, one of my favorite tracks; not a romance song, but more self-realization.

Crush--although the chorus is standard pop and not particularly original, the verses add a lot of depth and are interesting. (The video rules, by the way.)

It Only Took a Minute--not quite pop, maybe a little Middle Eastern tinge to the music; great lyrics and excellent vocals and music.

Turn the Clock Around--great song, with fantastic vocals and a nice ending.

Yo-Yo--my absolute favorite MM song of all time; great theme and depth, and a lot more guitar music.

From Loving You--also one of my favorites; part country, part ballad; wonderful lyrics and vocals.

Split Chick--never fails to make me smile; it has a more serious meaning, but a fast-paced up-tempo song.

When I Talk to You--nice, slow ballad to round out the album; Mandy did a great job co-writing.

NAME:MANDY MOORE

TOTAL RUNNING TIME: 50:10

This CD deserves more sales than it got in its first weeks. This isn't your average disposable bubblegum pop. Frankly, I really liked this CD. NOTE:This is coming from a person that HATED her 1999 debut "So Real", so don't think I've been a Mandy fan for long. This has a middle eastern edge, as well as very good not-bubblegum pop songs. Here is the breakdown:

1. In My Pocket (3:40)5/5 stars. A really cool song with arabian elements. This is the first single, and you've probably heard it on the radio, so form your own opinion!

2.You Remind Me (3:34)4.5/5 stars 2 words:cool song!

3. Saturate Me (4:01)6/5 stars Definitely single material! This is also the 1st song on the CD that's not about love. It's about the wait for rain in the desert, and has nice background music, and a strong pop hook.

4.One Sided Love (4:05)5/5 stars Another arabian edged dance song. Really good!

5. 17 (3:59)4.5/5 stars Really good, yet breathy vocals. It talks about the carelessness that you can only have when ur young.

6. Cry (3:43)4.5 stars/5 stars Excellent song!

7. Crush (3:42) 5/5 stars This is the second single. Again, I'm sure you've all heard this on the radio, so I won't comment. 8. It Only Took A Minute (3:39) Get up and dance!

9. Turn the Clock Around (3:44) 10/5 stars My personal fave. Should be the 3rd or 4th single. Don't wan't to give too much away.

10. Yo-Yo (4:17) 4.5/5 stars When I heard the name of this song I expected it to be really dumb and boring. Man, was I wrong. Don't let the name decieve you. It's a really good song.

11.From Loving you (3:34) I agree with anyone who says that having a Diane Warren sogn on a CD is like an insurance policy. This is a ballad written by the Queen of Ballads.

12. Split Chick (3:44) 3.5/5 stars Pretty good song, but not as good as the others

13. When I Talk To You (4:23) 4.5/5 stars. Wow, Mandy can write as well as sing and dance. This is the self penned song on the disc, a ballad, and a nice way to end a CD

Overall, this CD is definitely worth the money. It is not like other bubblegum pop CD's, and is DEFINITELY better than her debut album...Oh, and when you put it into the computer , you can view the video for "In My Pocket", and go to her site.