Sweet Kisses

With her strict, chaste Baptist upbringing and corn-fed looks, 19-year-old Jessica Simpson fits perfectly into the mold laid by Britney Spears and jiggled by fellow Mickey Mouser Christina Aguilera. However, there's something about Texans that they just have to put their own special kick--that touch of arrogance balanced with know-how--that can bring a scent of ingenuity to even the most cookie-cutter of formats. Jessica Simpson is a Texan and she energetically slashes her way through 11 wantonly infectious tunes on her debut slab SWEET KISSES.

While she offers the inevitable ballads, in this case most notably a duet with 98 Degrees' Nick Lachey, her shining moments come courtesy of that invincible form of radio candy, the dance-pop jam. "I Wanna Love You Forever" has a familiar message and unassailable hooks. The stirring "I Think I'm in Love With You," replete with the Johnny Cougar-days Mellencamp "Jack & Diane" background, will capture the hearts of the older fans still livin' and lovin' in the '80s. Jessica Simpson's SWEET KISSES packs in the sugar and ensures she will last her full 15 minutes and maybe more.