FEFE DOBSON: SELF-TITLED

SCORE: 87/100

Fefe Dobson wasn't looking to be the next popstar, so much so that she left Jive records due to them wanting to make her the next Britney Spears or Christina Aguilera. Instead, Dobson moved into the music sphere with a Lindsay Lohan, Avril Lavigne, Josie & The Pussycats-esque pop-punk flair that is much more fleshed out and exciting than one might expect. It doesn't feel juvenile, instead Dobson came out with some incredibly fun pop-punk bangers that would make bands like Sum 41 and Simple Plan blush, with her vocals suiting the fast-paced 'Stupid Little Love Song' incredibly well while she showcased her alternative style and rocker image from the very starting post of her career.

Dobson does start off a little too quick, making the next track feel a bit jarring in comparison - but she does a rock ballad incredibly well. Her voice has a somewhat young tone to it still; it's clear that she was young, but she has a similar tone to that of young rock divas like Avril Lavigne that makes her stick out - she doesn't just feel like another copycat clone of an artist, her music has flair and passion embedded within it. It manages to be a great balance of both radio-esque content and different soundscapes that make the album less mainstream than the people at Jive before she left for another label would have liked.

There is a good amount of both fast, mid-tempo, and slower songs, with an appropriate mix of soundscapes coming together into the same cohesive & enjoyable style that makes Fefe instantly charismatic and worth much more attention than what she got/gets.

She dives into both soulful ballads and some heavier territory from time to time - making this a must-hear in the unfortunately small group of female rock albums; with this one being a perfect encapsulation of teenage angst and loving feelings without feeling cheesy.