scan: CMP
While it may not seem like a significant change to those who haven't paid much attention, Mandy Moore has grown up quite a bit since she made her first foray into the entertainment industry with her 1999 debut album So Real, and even though Mandy herself and most of her fans don't approve of the release of this collection, The Best of Mandy Moore (Sony had dropped her from their label before releasing this disc in an effort to capitalize on the Mandy Moore name), it does do her a tiny bit of justice in the fact that it can prove just how far along her music and vocal quality has matured throughout the years she's been honing her craft.
Back in 1999 when Mandy arrived on the pop music scene, which was at the height of the pop phenomenon with the likes of the Backstreet Boys, *NSYNC, Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera at every turn, Mandy was forced to be slapped with the label of another blonde "teenybopper" singer fashioned after the popularity of Spears. While the feel of Mandy's So Real was similar to that of Britney's music at the time in that there was several upbeat dance tracks, Mandy has always had a different style and approach to both herself and her music, which was that she didn't need to be sexy or show skin in order to sell records...so she didn't. She didn't need to sound lusty or sexual in her music...so she didn't. And it worked. Mandy was starting to become a star all on her own. "Candy," "Walk Me Home" and "So Real" on this disc were all hand-picked from this period in Mandy's career.
Shortly after the release of the film Center Stage, the soundtrack of which prominently featured Mandy's new single "I Wanna Be With You," Mandy released a new limited-edition disc also titled I Wanna Be With You, which featured six new tracks (including the title track) as well as remixes of several cuts from So Real. "I Wanna Be With You," the only track on this disc from that release, marked the beginning of a glorious maturing period for Mandy. She was finally starting to find the sound that was right for her. If anything, her serious music career doesn't start until after the recording of this song.
![So Real [CD on Demand]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51lr%2B6BJZxL._SL120_.jpg)
Article comments
1 - nisha
this review fails to state the obvious yes she mite not have taken much clothes off as spears and xtina but that doesnt mean she is in any level as spears...she has solf 76 millions albums...mandy not even million (maybe collectively) also not one of her songs are memorable like jessica simpson! let alone a classic...she got dropped because musically she is not as good as britney and xtina nore she she consistent as britney!!!!
as a singer she sucks having a goof voice isnt merely enough....performing great goes much futher than pouting and lookin down at other artists.
she is always gonnna be very bad singer and musician coz she doesnt have that charisma!!!
a la britney!!!
at least be honest about ur opinions...u cudnt even try and hum to one of her songs...also she had her greatest music success wen she was copying britney...what does that say!!!!
chao!!!
2 - andrew
I can't believe you think Jessica's song are memorable? Are you kidding? And Ms. Spears, is standard pop trash, as she has recently proven by marring and then divoring one of her own.
Mandy hasn't sold herself as a teen hooker to sell records. She's found her musical style which is good mature pop, while the other teen queens have just churned out the smae bubble gum pop songs that could have been given to anyone to record.
I'm not a massvie fan of Mandy's, however her Coverage album was amazing. I'm glad to finally see one of the so called "teen queens" finally doing something more than just another mono pop album.
ciao!