When a 15-year-old
Jessica Andrews debuted with
Heart Shaped World, the most obvious comparison was
LeAnn Rimes. The parallels were certainly there -- like
Rimes,
Andrews was a teenage country-pop singer with a wholesome, clean-cut, all-American girl image and the usual Nashville hype to go with her debut. But like
Rimes,
Andrews had some talent, charisma, and substance to go with the hype. Though
Heart Shaped World isn't brilliant, the Tennessee native usually has decent material to work with. No one's going to mistake this CD for hardcore, Bakersfield honky tonk -- like
Rimes and
Shania Twain,
Andrews specializes in a sleek, commercial blend of pop, country, and rock. But as much sweetness as she projects,
Andrews isn't bubblegum -- when she digs into "You Go First," "I've Been Waiting for You," and "James Dean in Tennessee," you know that the singer isn't without an edge. And on
Billy Burnette's ominous, bluesy "Hungry Love" -- the tale of a girl who has to grow up much too fast -- it's clear that
Andrews is capable of depth. A few of the tunes are bland, but
Heart Shaped World's best moments indicate that
Andrews is someone to keep an eye on. ~ Alex Henderson