Jordan Pruitt - No Ordinary Girl (2007)

On her 2007 debut, NO ORDINARY GIRL, teen singer Jordan Pruitt presents a highly accessible set of pop/rock songs. A Disney Channel regular, the young Tennessee-based vocalist exudes girl-next-door charisma, whether offering up the funky, carefree "Teenager" or the delicate, string-laced "Outside Looking In," placing her directly in the line of stars such as Hilary Duff and Mandy Moore.

Fifteen-year-old Jordan Pruitt has the power to reverse charges of fogyism in households across America: The songs on No Ordinary Girl skew heavily teen-ward (check song titles like "Miss Popularity" and "Who Likes Who"), but whether you wear bifocals or a retainer, she'll reel you in--before you know it you, too, could be singing about how you want a cellphone and the keys to the Mercedes (see "Teenager"). Pruitt made a name for herself prior to No Ordinary Girl with two singles; "Outside Looking In" and "Jump to the Rhythm," both included here, burned up the original soundtracks to two Disney Channel movies. What separates her from the mouse-ears-wearing pack, though, is genuine promise. Pruitt's is a stylish voice--creamy and sweet and a little quirky. It serves her exceptionally well on these featherweight songs, not one of which won't be relatable to anyone who has ever sought refuge from the horrors of high school in a pop song. More important, it's suited for weightier material--MySpace subscribers may claim Pruitt as their talented mascot for now, but don't be surprised if she's belting anthems for minivan drivers a few albums down the line. --Tammy La Gorce