As a follow-up to the 2004 soundtrack That's So Raven, this set presents more songs featured in or inspired by the Disney Channel television series of the same name. Actually, it's about half an album by star
Raven-Symoné, who co-wrote seven of the 15 tracks, sings five of them, and does a duet apiece with co-stars
Orlando Brown and Aneliese van der Pol. Filling out the set are cuts by
Jesse McCartney,
B5,
Aly & AJ (a cover of "Walking on Sunshine"),
Brown on his own (a cover of
Billy Preston's "Will It Go Round in Circles"), and
Everlife (a cover of "I Can See Clearly Now"), as well as a number featuring the whole cast ("Let's Stick Together") and a golden oldie in
Aretha Franklin's "Respect." Whether sung by
Symoné or others, the music -- other than "Respect," of course -- is generally light urban contemporary R&B with elements of soul and hip-hop, often with an upbeat tone and lyrics emphasizing the virtues of friendship and keeping a positive outlook. ~ Richie Unterberger