During her years on the hit Disney Channel series Shake It Up,
Zendaya made a name for herself as a singer as well as a dancer and actress; "Watch Me," her duet with co-star
Bella Thorne, made a dent in several Billboard charts in 2011. From
Britney onward,
Disney starlets are guaranteed a shot at a music career, and
Zendaya's self-titled debut delivers sleek pop thrills with fewer growing pains than some of her predecessors suffered on their early albums. Led by "Replay" -- which evokes fond memories of
Cassie's starkly catchy hit "U and Me" --
Zendaya is a streamlined, self-assured first effort. ~ Heather Phares