Music Review: Headstrong

By Kathi Kamen Goldmark

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What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that Ashley Tisdale's tween-friendly pop is appealing and bright. The lyrics are family-safe, but unsubstantial, flirting around the edges of sexual innuendo on a couple of tracks ("Baby I can see us movin' like that/Baby I can see us touchin' like that/Baby I can see us kissin' like that").

Families can talk about the trend among young stars to make references to their own new-found fame in song lyrics, in this case on the song "Suddenly." What would it be like to be a young star? What are the perks? What, if anything, would be the downside?

star Ashley Tisdale comes across as cute, fun, and buoyant -- anything but headstrong -- on HEADSTRONG. She's gets a lot of help from some heavy-hitters in the songwriting and production department. To name just a few: the Matrix (credits include Britney Spears and Avril Lavigne), Scott Storch ( Usher, Chris Brown), and Kara DioGuardi ( Gwen Stefani). With such contributors, parents and older siblings may not be able to get these songs out of their heads.

Rhythmic and catchy, frothy and fabulous, the beats will catch hold even though the lyrics are instantly forgettable. It's not that Ashley doesn't try to get a point across on a couple of songs. For example, "Suddenly" is about the joys and worries of new-found fame ("Suddenly, people know my name/suddenly, everything has changed"). "He Said, She Said" is an adorable tune about flirtation, the sexiest on the album ("Baby I can see us movin' like that/Baby I can see us touchin' like that"). Unfortunately, pedestrian rhymes and constant repetition of musical and lyrical hooks keep the poetry from taking flight.