What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that this soundtrack is a collection of pleasant, up-tempo songs from the Disney Channel's hit series, including eight lead vocals by the show's star, Miley Cyrus. Other songs are "inspired by" the series and performed by other young stars.

Families can talk about the implausible but irresistible idea of having a secret identity as a rock star. Is this something you could pull off in real life if you had to go to school every day? You can also ask your kids if they'd like to play music really well on a CD and not get credit for their work -- which seems to be the Disney MO.

Common Sense Media Review
Miley Cyrus, the 14-year old who plays Hannah Montana in Disney's hit TV series, is the daughter of Nashville star Billy Ray Cyrus -- and is already a better singer than her dad, at least by "Achy Breaky Heart" standards.

With a competent, energetic warble and loads of perky style, Miley delivers song after song about the double life led by the character she plays; Hannah Montana is a "normal" school kid with a secret identity as a pop star. As implausible as it is appealing, this tween fantasy informs nearly every song on the Hannah Montana soundtrack. The lyrics are absolutely inoffensive -- and also grow absolutely tedious by the end of the album. But the instrumental performances are excellent, boasting a particularly strong rhythm section.

As is the way with Disney CDs, the musicians aren't given credit -- so we'll never know who the particularly fine drummer is here. The Mouse House powers that be have chosen to insert several pages of product advertising at the expense of crediting those who helped make these songs sound as good as they do.

Miley steals the show with lead vocals on eight tracks, including a duet with her country/pop-star dad. The CD also includes additional tracks "from and inspired by the series" by The Click Five, Jesse McCartney, Everlife, and B5.

Fans of this CD might also like The Cheetah Girls Soundtrack and The Slumber Party Girls.