Demi Lovato - U Got Nothin' On Me

"Wasn't hard to read between the lines"

Totally new to the Demi Lovato fandom, but now I'm questioning why it took me so long. The reason Disney Channel music is so successful is because they've managed to pick a crop of artists that are, number one, pretty darn talented and, number two, actual songwriters. Lovato's second album may just be the most credible piece of music DisneyCorp has produced so far. What I love most about the cd is its total late 90's sound. There are shades of Tragic Kingdom, Jagged Little Pill, Pieces Of You and Left Of The Middle in there. That's not to say the record is as good as any of those landmarks, but it's still a marvel of "teen" pop. I almost posted the danceable and catchy-as-all-get-out Remember December (search for it, you won't be disappointed), but had to go with U Got Nothin' On Me. The chorus is great (including the inspired Def Leppard-esque chanting of the title), but it's the shimmery verses that send me over the edge. I love the way they're structured: build and release, build and release. They remind me of something but I can't quite put my finger on it. Whatever it is, this is (surprisingly) a record to check out.

(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the album here. Follow me on twitter at nickajames)