All Together Now

Oscar season is in full swing, and as a result, I've seen a lot of movies, but if I am going to blog about every movie I see before Oscar nominations in January, I have a lot of work to do. Even though these films deserve more than a paragraph long analysis, that's all they're going to get.

Avatar: James Cameron knows spectacle. Twelve years after Titantic became King of the (box office) World, Cameron is back with a jaw-dropping 3-D thrill ride. The premise of Avatar is simple -- it's the story of humans attempting to take over the world of Pandora, currently inhabited by 10-foot-tall fluorescent blue natives. Basically, it's Dances with Wolves meets Fern Gully. The story may not be revolutionary, but the images and action sequences are so mind-blowing that similarities to any other story are bowled aside. Grade: A

Fantastic Mr. Fox: George Clooney and Meryl Streep are two of the biggest stars in the business, but not even their voices (as Mr. and Mrs. Fox) can outshine the clever and detailed animation in the Fantastic Mr. Fox. The animation combined with a wry script (adapted from Roald Dahl's children's book) written by Hollywood's oddball, Wes Anderson, make the Fantastic Mr. Fox an exuberant celebration of film-making. Grade: A-

Invictus: The biggest disappoint of the year. Clint Eastwood made a living this decade by releasing last-minute films that took the box office and/or the Academy Awards by storm (see: Million Dollar Baby, Gran Torino, and Letters from Iwo Jima). Invictus isn't a bad film, but it doesn't live up to Eastwood's previous work. The story of Nelson Mandela and the South African rugby team after the fall of apartheid is buoyed by Morgan Freeman's best performance in years and a impressively subtle turn from Matt Damon. However, the dialogue is preachy and Eastwood, who usually uses music to perfection in his films, allows his son to create a score that is sappy and heavy-handed. Better luck next time Clint. Grade: B

The Princess & the Frog: This year is a banner year for animation. With great films like Up, Fantastic Mr. Fox, 9, Coraline, and now The Princess & the Frog, 2009 has more than one film that could be considered one of the year's 10 best. With Disney returning to it's 2-D roots, The Princess & the Frog came with a lot of expectations, and (almost) lives up to them. The movie has all the ingredients for success: an endearing heroine, wonderful music, impeccable animation, but there's just not enough of it. The film would be an instant classic if had more character development and plot. The Princess & the Frog doesn't live up to the brilliance of The Beauty & the Beast or The Lion King, but it more than holds its own with Disney musicals like Mulan and Tarzan. Grade: B+

"Instead of Just This Song, You Have My Heart"

In lieu of a quote for the week, more new acoustic songs from Ms. Clarkson. It's definitely not bubblegum pop, but I love it - especially "Song To You."

"Song To You:"


"Hand-Me-Downs:"


"White Horse" (Taylor Swift cover):

Unreleased (Live) Kelly: "Poison Candy," "Far From Home," and "Don't"

Two new songs from VIP shows of Kelly Clarkson's All I Ever Wanted tour leaked this week, and I am obsessed. Singer/songwriter Kelly is back in full force with these songs, and I love it. Then again, I love anything she does.

"Poison Candy:"


"Far From Home:"


And just for old times sake, my all-time favorite unreleased Kelly song, "Don't."

Top 10 Movies of the Decade

1. Crash (2005)
Many critics lament Crash as one of the worst film's ever to win the Academy Award for Best Picture. I couldn't disagree more. It's one of the few times the Academy actually got it right. Paul Haggis' directorial debut is simultaneously exhilarating, depressing, and disturbing. It's a rare film that will cause you to think and question your own behavior.

2. United 93 (2006)
The decade's hardest movie to watch was one of its best. Paul Greengrass' examination of the doomed United flight 93 plays like an impeccable documentary. I've never had a more powerful reaction to a film than I did to United 93. Sure, the subject matter had something to do with the raging emotions, but the superb way in which Greengrass examines human nature will stir even the most stone-faced movie-goer.

3. Big Fish (2003)
The best movies are the ones that make you feel. They're not the films with splashy performances, the impeccable one-liners, or the out-of-this-world special effects. They're the movies that "speak to you." Maybe they're not critically-acclaimed, but that's no what matters. For me, that movie is Big Fish. Often overlooked by many when discussing Tim Burton's best work, Big Fish is an imaginative experience full of heart.

4. In America (2003)
It's impossible not to love this story about an Irish family immigrating to America. The story brims with sadness, but director Jim Sheridan's subtle sense of humor makes the experience joyous. Real-life sisters, Emma and Sarah Bolger, steal the show with their d0e-eyed innocence and insatiable exuberance. In America is a film about what truly matters in America -- family.

5. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
Michael Gondry's one-of-a-kind style paired with unforgettable performances from Kate Winslet and Jim Carrey made Eternal Sunshine 2004's most original and best flick. Eternal Sunshine is a movie about the true meaning of love, and it's love's flaws that will leave you enamored with this quirky and tragic story of fate, hope, and adoration.

6. Lord of the Rings Trilogy (2001 - 2003)
It's quite difficult to make adaptations of famous literature. Audiences and critics usually agree, "the book was better than the movie." That can't be said of Peter Jackson's take on J.R. Tolkien's famous fantasy adventures. As Gollem would say, Jackson's masterpiece is our precioussss.

7. Slumdog Millionaire / The Dark Knight (2008)
The timing of a film's release can determine its success and how its viewed critically. That's true of both Slumdog Millionaire and The Dark Knight. They're two movies that perfectly capture the mood of society at a specific point in time. Not only are both movies impeccably made, acted, and directed, but they're perfect descriptors of life in 2008.

8. Up (2009)
Pixar had a great decade. Each of the studio's films was practically better than the last. That must be why Up makes this list. Up is the best animated movie to hit the big screen since The Beauty and the Beast. It's full of pathos, humor, and sentiment. During Up, children watch their wildest imaginations play out on the big screen, and adults simply remember the joy of being young while celebrating the beauty in growing old.

9. Chicago (2002)
The musical is cool again, thanks to Chicago. Rob Marshall's glitz-filled musical is elevated by career-best performances from Catherine Zeta-Jones, Richard Gere, and Renée Zellweger. The movie helped inspire a bevy of stage-to-screen adaptations -- from Rent and Sweeney Todd to Dreamgirls and Phantom of the Opera. However, one of the decade's first musical was its best. Thanks to Chicago, the silver screen now has a little more razzle dazzle.

10. Million Dollar Baby / Letters From Iwo Jima (2004 / 2006)
Clint Eastwood had an amazing decade, and his work couldn't go unrecognized. I couldn't choose just one. Million Dollar Baby and Letters from Iwo Jima are two of the best of their respective "film genres," sports and war. Each takes its genre's respective clichés, throws them out the window, and focuses on good, old-fashioned storytelling. Now going on 79-years-old, Mr. Eastwood keeps getting better with age.

Top 10 (Mainstream) Songs of the Decade (Sorta)

1. " Since U Been Gone" - Kelly Clarkson (2004)
This should be no surprise. "Since U Been Gone" is pop rock perfection. From the opening guitar riffs to Clarkson's gale-force vocals to the in-your-face lyrics, "Since U Been Gone" is irresistible. The ranking wasn't even a contest. The "Since U Been Gone" play count on Jason's iTunes: 450. The next closest song? 295. Enough said.

2. "So What" - P!nk (2008)
Max Martin is a pop God. Afterall, he did write the two best pop songs of the 2000's. Like Kelly Clarkson's "Since U Been Gone," "So What" is a massive hit that will define P!nk's career. The lyrics are simple, yet the singer's matter-of-fact attitude matched with the fist-pumping chorus prove that P!nk is still a rockstar.

3. "Single Ladies" - Beyoncé (2008)
Beyoncé could've dominated this list with songs like "Crazy in Love," "Irreplaceable," "If I Were A Boy," and "Halo." However none of those hits meets the cultural significance of "Single Ladies." Paired with a flawless video, "Single Ladies" is still being parodied more than a year after its release. Everyone agrees, Sasha is fierce.

4. "SexyBack" - Justin Timberlake (2006)
The 2000's were good to Mr. Timberlake. Not only did he launch a successful solo career, but he helped pen and produce songs for artists like Madonna and Nelly Furtado. However, none of those efforts were as good as Timberlake's own "SexyBack." The pulse pounding beat and stylized vocals truly do make FutureSex/LoveSounds.

5. "We Belong Together" - Mariah Carey (2005)
Comebacks don't get better than this. Mariah may be known for her pop ballads, but she stormed back on the scene in 2005 with this R&B jam. The quickfire verses combined with Carey's subdued delivery made for the biggest gamble of the singer's career. The calculated risk paid off, as she made the best R&B song of the decade.

6. "Not Ready to Make Nice" - Dixie Chicks (2006)
The best thing George W. Bush did as president was piss off the Dixie Chicks. Had Natalie Maines not openly dissed the president and faced the backlash of Middle America, we would've never been graced with "Not Ready to Make Nice." Performed with authentic heartbreak and anger, "Not Ready to Make Nice" is the best song to come from country's preeminent girl group.

7. "Gold Digger" - Kanye West (2005)
He has the biggest ego in Hollywood, but Kanye West knows how to make music. Few artists know how to stay as fresh, current, and original as Kanye, and "Gold Digger" is his best song. With the opening line of, "She take my money, well I'm in need" to the chorus shouting of, "We want pre-nup!," "Gold Digger" will be stuck in your head for days.

8. "This Love" - Maroon 5 (2002)
Adam Levine's voice is one of the most distinctive voices to rise from the 2000's and "This Love" serves as a showcase for his trademark falsetto. The rest of the band isn't too shabby either, with the guitars and piano providing a sublime, sexy background for Levine's voice.

9. The Breakaway Trifecta - "Breakaway" / "Behind These Hazel Eyes" / "Because of You" Kelly Clarkson (2004/2005)
"My Life Would Suck Without You" or "Already Gone" could have filled Kelly slot number two on my list. However, 2004 was the year that Ms. Clarkson took the world by storm, and I could not ignore singles one, three, and four from one of pop music's best albums. Each song showed a different side of the original American Idol's voice, and each was a raging success both in America and across the globe.

10. The 2009 Trio - "You Belong With Me" - Taylor Swift / "Use Somebody" - Kings of Leon / "Poker Face" - Lady Gaga (2009)
I am aware that I've cheated and included more that ten songs on this list, but there were too many options. The decade's final year included career-making songs from Taylor Swift, Kings of Leon, and Lady Gaga. Taylor's simple and piercing voice worked flawlessly with the lyrics on "You Belong With Me," the indie group Kings of Leon finally went mainstream with the monster hit "Use Somebody," and Lady Gaga made dance music cool again with "Poker Face." Now, as we enter a new decade, hopefully each artist can continue to redefine themselves and make music that matters.

"Hello You Long Shots"

This week's quote comes in the form of lyrics, and is stolen from one of my best friends, Elizabeth.

"Some dreams stay with you forever
drag you around and lead you back to where you were
Some dreams keep on getting better
Gotta keep believing if you wanna know for sure

Oh oh, I can hear them playing
I can hear the ringing of a beat up ol’ guitar
oh oh, I can hear them saying
Keep on dreaming even if it breaks your heart"

-Will Hoge, "Even If It Breaks Your Heart"

Video:

Will You Be My Valentine?

A few months ago I blogged about how trite and cliche the new movie Valentine's Day looked. A new (and better) trailer premiered here today. Now, I am excited to see the movie. Bizarre, I know, since Valentine's Day doesn't actually look good or particularly original. Maybe I am looking forward to it because I really want to see Jennifer Garner go ape-crazy on a pinata (awesome!), or maybe I am turning into a softie who can actually enjoy awful rom-coms (yuck!). Whatever the reason, I think I know where I'll be spending my Single's Awareness Day in 2010 - with my butt in the seat of a movie theater, right where I belong. Who's with me?

Top 10 TV Shows of the Decade

As the first decade of the 2000's comes to a close, it's the perfect time to make "best of" lists. So with that, over the next few weeks I'll be making my own lists of the Top 10 movies, songs, television series, and entertainers of the decade. We begin with TV.

1. Alias (ABC, 2001-2006)
My least shocking selection. Sure it had some rough patches (season four anyone?), and it was hard for the producers to sustain such quality over five seasons, but Alias is my all-time favorite television series. I have yet to see a better episode of television than the show's pilot, and season two will absolutely blow your mind. Sydney Bristow will likely be the best role of Jennifer Garner's career, and the fact that she never won an Emmy is a travesty. She portrayed Sydney with incredible strength and vulnerability, and without her, Alias would not have succeeded. J.J. Abrams owes his career to this show. Without it, he never would've been given the creative freedom to later create sci-fi gems LOST and Star Trek. However, I contend that Alias represents his best work. I only hope that the next decade brings another show that I love this much.

2. Battlestar Galactica (Sci-Fi, 2004-2009)
Even though it's set in space with spaceships and "aliens," I never really considered Battlestar Galactica a science fiction show. It was merely television's best drama. Everything about the four season series was perfection. The writing, acting, directing, and even the special effects were sublime. However, Galactica's greatest asset was it's short run. Unlike many TV shows, Galactica knew when to hang it up, and the storytelling benefited greatly, and the show turned in one of television's most satisfying series finales ever.

3. American Idol (FOX, 2002 - present)
Television purists would lament the inclusion of reality television on a list like this, but I am not one of them. How can you ignore the biggest show of the decade, and one of the most entertaining? Sure, American Idol had a winning formula with Simon Cowell's acerbic wit, Paula Abdul's antics, Randy Jackson's gibberish, and Ryan Seacrest's "metrosexuality." However, this is a show all about the contestants. Without the talent of stars like Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Chris Daughtry the show would have failed. It'll be interesting to see if the show can continue to churn out music's next big thing. If so, it'll likely be a ratings giant well into the next decade.

4. Everwood (WB, 2002-2006)
The most underrated show of the 2000's, probably because it aired on the WB. Everwood was Greg Berlanti's Alias. Just as the spy drama set the stage for J.J. Abrams career, Everwood cemented Berlanti's place in Hollywood. After Everwood, he'd later go on to produce the much better known Brothers & Sisters, and he's slated as the writer for 2011's The Green Lantern. As with Abrams, his lesser-known work was his best. Everwood was the ideal family drama. It was smart and funny, and didn't shy away from hot-button issues like abortion and teen pregnancy. Television needs more shows like this.

5. Veronica Mars (UPN/CW, 2004-2007)
This one falls under the category of "TV Shows Canceled Much Too Soon." A victim of poor ratings, Veronica Mars never once suffered from poor quality. Kristen Bell infused Veronica with such life and vitality that she was impossible to resist, and she delivered Veronica's trademark zingers impeccably. Plus, any show that can survive a Paris Hilton cameo in only its second episode must be pretty damn good.

6. LOST (ABC, 2004 - present)
Yes, J.J. Abrams' second best effort makes the list too. LOST started off with a bang, and its first two seasons were breathtaking. The show lost its way for a while, but got back on track when producers and the network decided the show would end in 2010 (something that Abrams' learned from Alias). The show's final season will go a long way to determining LOST's legacy, and it's still confusing as hell, but for now, it remains television's most accessible science-fiction offering.

7. Grey's Anatomy (ABC, 2005 - present)
Primetime's best soap opera. Lots of love and lots of sex, and it's completely irresistible. Like many shows on this list, Grey's started with a magnificent two season run. There have been a few bumps in the road, but the show still manages to blend medical drama with good old-fashioned love stories. It doesn't hurt that the cast including Chandra Wilson, Sandra Oh, and Ellen Pompeo turn in first-rate performances each and every week.

8. Arrested Development (FOX, 2003 - 2006)
It's probably heresy that I am listing a show that I've only seen 2/3 of, but that's a testament to Arrested Development's superior quality. Once I see the entire series, the show will probably climb its way up this list. It was one of the funniest and most original comedies to ever hit the small screen. It's groundbreaking style paved the way for other quirky, critically-acclaimed shows including 30 Rock, Modern Family, and Better Off Ted.

9. Survivor (CBS, 2000 - present)
The only show on the list that has survived the entire decade. The granddaddy of reality television, Survivor is a statement to quality equaling longevity. After nearly 20 installments, Survivor continues to cast people and create situations that bring new twists and freshness to the show. If they keep up this pace, we'll still be talking about Survivor come 2019.

10. Modern Family / Glee (ABC / FOX, 2009 - present)
Some will say it's "too soon," and I was tempted to put both of these shows even higher, but since they're only halfway through their first seasons they both land at number 10. Their addition to the television landscape has made 2009 a banner year. They're original and "side-splittingly" funny, and I cannot wait to see what they bring to the next decade.

"My Life Would Suck Without You"

In celebration of Glee's fantastic fall finale, this week's quote comes from the episode's most heart-wrenching moment. SPOILER ALERT: if you haven't seen the show yet, you may want to avoid the following.

"He understood that I wasn't doing it for the kids. I was doing it for you... It's not your fault, I really messed up. He was absolutely right, I was settling for him. Really one blink from you Will, and I would have been out the door, so I e-mailed my resignation to Figgins. My last day is Monday. I just can't. I just can't be at that school. I just can't see Ken without feeling ashamed, and I can't see you without feeling heartbroken."
-Emma Pillsbury ("Sectionals")

The Roads Less Traveled

Growing up is hard to do, just ask the lead characters of 2009's most-buzzed-about films, Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire and An Education. Both films follow two teenage girls (Claireece Precious Jones, a 16-year-old in 1987 Harlem and Jenny, a 16-year-old in 1961 London) as they struggle to discover themselves.

Precious (Gabourey Sidibe) is a depressed, obsese, illerate teen, pregnant with her second child. She lives her mother, Mary (Mo'Nique), an abusive wretch, who treats Precious as her slave. As the film opens, Precious' confidence is so low that she rarely speaks -- the audience only hears from her through downtrodden and somber voice-overs. However, after a late night visit from her school principal Precious takes a spot in an alternative school, Each One Teach One. It's there that Precious meets a teacher, Blu Rain (Paula Patton), who encourages her to express herself through writing.

Like Precious, Jenny's story is one of self-enlightenment. Jenny (Carey Mulligan) is an above-average 16-going-on-17 London schoolgirl. She is beautiful, perky, witty, and smart. She's destined for Oxford according to her mum and dad (Cara Seymour and Alfred Molina). That's before Jenny meets a 30-something man, David (Peter Sarsgaard), who sweeps both she and her parents off their feet. David whisks Jenny across Europe, treating her to the finest in food and entertainment. It's not long before our leading lady is questioning her education, and her Oxford future.

Precious and An Education each have smart screenplays and more-than-capable directors (Lee Daniels and Lone Scherfig, respectively). However, the films belong to the actors. Sidibe is remarkable in her first role, Mo'Nique tears up the screen with fury and rage -- the Oscar is her's come February, and Mariah Carey channels raw emotion and sheds any memories of Glitter as Precious' social worker.

An Education belongs to Mulligan. Also in her first major role, she dominates every scence with girlish innocence and wavering womanhood. The comparisons to Audrey Hepburn are spot-on. However, her stellar turn would be for not if it weren't for the supporting cast. An Education reunites Mulligan with her Pride & Prejudice co-star Rosamund Pike, and Pike, as one of David's rich, oblivious friends, gives her most effortless performance to date. Screen stalwarts, Molina and Emma Thompson (playing a bullheaded headmistress), also turn in small yet memorable performances.

Even a bevy of outstanding actors can't make a fantastic film. It's the excellent material that put Precious and An Education in a league of their own. While the circumstances of the heroines are vastly different, both Precious and Jenny represent hope, and in a roundabout way, redemption. Their stories are marred with pain and heartbreak. However, both Precious and An Education will lift you up. The tales are proof, that in spite of everything, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel.

Precious, Grade: A
An Education, Grade: A-

Quote of the Week Returns

This is neither relevant nor timely, but after re-watching some of my favorite Alias episodes last weekend, I remembered how much I love this scene in the season three premiere. Jennifer Garner kills it.

"I am not going say, 'I understand.' I am not going to sympathize with you and tell you how hard it must be for you. But you want to know how I am? I am horrible. Vaughn, I am ripped apart. And not because I lost you, but because, if it had been me, I would have waited. I would have found the truth. I wouldn't have given up on you. And now, I realize what an absolute waste that would have been."
-Sydney Bristow

Capsule Reviews

Since I have much catching up to do, it's not worth writing full-length reviews for films that I wouldn't grade above a B. With that, three mediocre movies:

The Men Who Stare at Goats: Otherwise known as We're Just Here for the Paychecks. The all star cast of George Clooney, Ewan McGregor, Kevin Spacey, and Jeff Bridges all mail in their unfunny, boring performances. Ultimately, this "based on a true story" wasn't one worth telling. Grade: C

Law Abiding Citizen: Automatically gets downgraded for the grammatically incorrect title. Yes, I am a grammar Nazi, but someone should've caught the error. This cat-and-mouse movie about a father seeking revenge on his murdered family is a decent popcorn flick, and that's about it. To make matters worse, Gerard Butler is horribly miscast, and turns in yet another wooden performance void of personality. Grade: B-

Surrogates: A standard, yet at times thought provoking, action flick. The cast, lead by Bruce Willis, is decent, even if the age difference between Willis and his Surrogate wife (Rosamund Pike) is distracting. The ending is packaged too simplistically, but at least the concept is interesting. Grade: B-

The Comeback Kid

Six months ago, in my "mini review" of The Proposal I said that Sandra Bullock made 2009 the year of the cougar. Well, I was wrong... sort of. Had it not been for critically-panned All About Steve, 2009 would be the year of Sandra Bullock. Maybe it still is. The Proposal, a generic rom-com, elevated solely by Bullock's charming performance, earned $164 million at the box office and became the highest grossing film of her career. Until The Blind Side. The feel-good football flick is tearing up the box office. Not only did it open to the best numbers of Bullock's career, but this weekend, after spending two weeks in second place, it will pass Twilight: New Moon and reign in at number one. Only one word can describe that feat: remarkable.

The Blind Side, based on the life story of professional football player Michael Oher (played in the filmed by Quinton Aaron), begins the weekend before Thanksgiving when Leigh Anne Touhy (Bullock, playing a character who could be cast in a new Bravo series, "The Real Housewives of Tennessee") takes in a homeless Oher. Leigh Anne treats Michael as one of her own children, and encourages him to work hard in school and pursue football. It's fairly predictable stuff.

Director John Lee Hancock has a great story on his hands, but only makes a decent film. The Blind Side conveniently skims over the rough spots in Oher's childhood and too often presents Leigh Anne and her family as the pitch-perfect American family. Leigh Anne is a wholesome do-gooder, her husband, Sean, (Tim McGraw) is a "whatever you say honey" guy, and their children, Collins, a smart and successful cheerleader and SJ, The Blind Side's version of Remember the Titans' Sheryl, are spotless. A few more doses of reality would have done The Blind Side well.

However, as with The Proposal, The Blind Side can thank Bullock for raising the film above its average material. This is one of the best performances of her career. It's up there with her turns in Crash and Miss Congeniality. The role as a Christian housewife fits her like a glove -- she's simultaneously refreshing and fiery. By the end of the film, I'd even forgiven Leigh Anne for being Republican. Now that's a big deal.

As great as she is, it's doubtful that Bullock will land her first Oscar nomination. Though she should be a double nominee at the Golden Globes for both The Proposal and The Blind Side. However, if 2009 proved anything, it's that you should never count Sandra Bullock out, so come February she may very well be walking the red carpet in hopes of a golden statue. Just call her the comeback kid. Correction, she's the comeback cougar.

Grade: B+

In Your Face, Simon Cowell

(Bloggers Note: I've been away for a while. Between moving to a new apartment and a busted MacBook, it has been hard to find time to blog, but I'm back. There are quite a few new posts coming including reviews of Sandra Bullock's career-reviving performance in The Blind Side, Adam Lambert's surprising debut album, Leona Lewis' much-improved sophomore record, and the emotionally gut-wrenching Precious. However, I'm marking my comeback with Allison Iraheta's Just Like You.)

If Kelly Clarkson and P!nk had a love child, her name would be Allison Iraheta. The fourth-place finisher on American Idol's eighth season, the 17-year-old Iraheta has turned out an album (Just Like You) that showcases vocal pipes similar to those of the original American Idol and vulnerability identical to that of the used-to-be-pink-haired rocker.

Iraheta opens her debut effort with the rip-roaring "Friday I'll Be Over U," penned by Max Martin, who also wrote Clarkson's "Since U Been Gone" and P!nk's "So What." "Friday" is the ideal lead single for Just Like You as Iraheta's husky, raw voice takes center stage over fist-pumping guitar beats.

Iraheta, often falsely accused by Simon Cowell during her American Idol stint of lacking charisma, oozes personality throughout Just Like You. Whether she's lamenting an obnoxious boyfriend on the tongue-in-cheek "Robot Love" or giving advice on the moving "Don't Waste the Pretty," there is no doubt that Iraheta connects with her material -- and has a blast while doing it.

The album veers slightly off track with the forgettable "Pieces" and "Just Like You" and the juvenile "D is for Dangerous." However, Iraheta comes back with a vengeance on the album's second half. She embodies heartbreak as she belts, "I'm still breathing / Don't you think I'm not because you're leaving / I'm moving up and away" on "Still Breathing." Her voice soars on "No One Else," a track that P!nk ironically co-wrote. Near the album's conclusion, she sheds all comparisons and tears through the fantastic, dance-floor-worthy "Beat Me Up."

Just Like You is one of the best freshman album's to come from an American Idol alumnus. The red-haired rocker sounds impeccable, and there isn't a vocal imperfection to be found. Though in order to achieve the pop super-stardom of Clarkson and P!nk, she needs to differentiate herself on her next album. However, we should expect great things from Iraheta. After all, she is only 17.

Grade: A-

Download It: "Friday I'll Be Over U," "Beat Me Up," "Still Breathing," "No One Else"
Ditch It: "D is for Dangerous"