In September 2004
Natasha Bedingfield
debuted smashingly in the United Kingdom. Her first record,
Unwritten
, went to number one almost immediately and the glowing response established her as an instant
pop
star. Her ascent mirrored the sudden popularity of brother
Daniel Bedingfield
in 2001, when his bedroom production
"Gotta Get Through This"
rocketed similarly up the charts. For Natasha, it's
"Single"
and the near-perfect
"These Words (I Love You, I Love You)"
-- tracks that merge the rhythms and flavors of
hip-hop
and
R&B
with unique melodies and
Bedingfield
's vocal confidence --
"Single,"
for example, suggests
Kelly Clarkson
's 2003 single
"Miss Independent."
co-writes all but one song on
, working with songwriters like
Guy Chambers
(
Robbie Williams
),
Andrew Frampton
S Club 7
), and
Danielle Brisebois
. And she stays remarkably poised throughout, selling some of the album's weaker arrangements with the dusky grain at the top end of her vocal.
"Silent Movie"
"Piece of Me"
make moves typical of
in the 21st century -- the former actually sounds like a
Williams
song, while the latter tries to energize its chorus with blaring guitars. But it's
who does the energizing, intersecting
Pink
's knowing swagger with the confessional exuberance of youth (typified in the blurted "I love you I love you/I love you I love you!"'s of
"These Words"
). Even when
emulates the trends, its tendency to play out like a personal diary put to beats and keys saves it from the soundalike pile. The bubblingly positive title track is another highlight -- "Drench yourself in words unspoken! Live your life with arms wide open! Today is where your book begins!" -- as is the soulful
of
"Drop Me in the Middle,"
which features London MC
Estelle
.
"I Bruise Easily"
is the late-album standout, a
ballad
that's as epically romantic as you'd expect (keening strings,
's voice breaking on the line "Be gentle..."), but it doesn't get out of hand, retaining the tact that the majority of
has. It's a well-made
album for the new millennium with star quality at its center. [The U.S. edition of
added
"Stumble"
and the quirky
"Size Matters,"
as well as
's appearance on
"Middle."
] ~ Johnny Loftus