Ashley Tisdale Speaks to the Hearts and Minds of Tween Girls Everywhere

It's hard to be a Disney pop star these days (I'm being facetious if you couldn't tell), and Ashley Tisdale is no exception. With the help of today's hottest producers and writers (Scott Storch ,Diane Warren and the Matrix to name a few) Tisdale has a pretty safe group of songs on her new album, Headstrong. For many people (especially those without children in the age 5 and over demographic) Tisdale is a virtual unknown, which begs some to ask, "I should care why exactly?" But for those who do have children and they do happen to be in the demographic Disney markets in, they can give a definitive answer, "because Disney rules the world!" And Ashley Tisdale is soon to be their Queen.

For those of us who had no clue who she was until she was hard to ignore, here's a short review on this sprite who has taken control of our children. She stars on one of Disney's most popular shows, The Suite Life of Zack and Cody (two boys sure to break tween hearts everywhere), and played the bitchy well dressed character in High School Musical (Grease for middle schoolers). She has many credits to her name that range from voicing a character on Kim Possible (love that show!) to acting in Donny Darko (huh?) The girl's got skills, and they most certainly are not going to waste.

Headstrong is a well calculated album featuring all the heavy hitters Disney's money can buy. They have a lot riding on Tisdale's shoulders and the tracks display perfectly tuned, perfectly written, perfectly commercial material. Songs like He Said She Said and Be Good To Me are off to a good start, making their rounds on Radio Disney, and to be honest, the girls LOVE her. Regardless of her poptart looks or her overproduced songs, not too mention the obviously predictable lyrical content, she seems to evoke a time when Britney was still a sweet little girl from Louisiana and Christina hadn't quite gotten all dirrty. Tisdale's songs are a little different than the other big Disney star, Hannah Montana in that they are a little more RnB and a tad bit darker and mature than Montana's music. Not that this is a dark album by any means, it is fairly reminiscent of Britney Spears' first album in that it was very bubble gum, if bubble gum came kahlua flavored.

The few slow songs on this album are predictable and sappy, almost Selena like in a strange way, although Selena's music worked for her 12 years ago. This music is supposed to be new and fresh. It's one thing to be retro. It's another to be dated. Needless to say though the rest of the songs are danceable and even (cringe) singable. They're actually songs that are sung, not rapped in an embarrassing white girl way, and have a likeability to them that makes the album in a whole a pretty good start for this sparkly ingénue.

One song stands out on this album, Not Like That, while another pales in comparison Unlove You, a painful ode to a broken heart. Most of the tracks are sugary and sweet and would be most enjoyed by her tweenie followers. I wouldn't recommend this for anyone over the age of 15; however it's definitely one that can be enjoyed by daughter and mom alike. Regardless of what I say or don't say about Headstrong it won't affect the sales or tarnish her squeaky clean first album. Kids love her. Moms love her. Disney loves her. With odds like that it would take something massive (a crotch shot perhaps?) to bring this sweetheart down.