March 03, 2008 @ 9:53 am

Jordin Sparks, "Jordin Sparks" (Music)

by: Jason King

American Idol winner Jordin Spark's first album review.

Jordin Sparks, 18, boasts the distinction of being American Idol’s youngest winner in six seasons. But she’s also the first one to get passed over for a record deal by Clive Davis’ RCA Music Group. Even though the Glendale, Ariz.-reared Sparks has a rangy, Disneystyle voice that Idol judges praised for its maturity, it’s conceivable that her squeaky-clean MOR persona might have been a serious mismatch for Davis’ edgier approach to urban crossover.

Sparks’ debut honors that Wal-Martsafe image—and it reeks of generic blandness. Norway’s Stargate crew (of Beyoncé’s 2006 “Irreplaceable”) produces a quarter of the album, and their synths bury the natural charisma that made Sparks a weekly Idol favorite. On Bloodshy and Avant’s electro-pop “Shy Boy,” Sparks rejects dance-floor advances from “fly” and “bad” boys, but she can’t generate the lustiness required to carry off the sexy club joint. Only “No Air,” a lilting mid-tempo Underdogs-produced duet with Chris Brown, manages to project a little spunk. Sparks should tear at least one page from the book of labelmate/train wreck Britney Spears, who somehow gave us one of this year’s most raucous pop albums, bursting with effervescent, adrenalizing beats. A little TMZ never hurt anybody.

Article tags: Jive, Jordin Sparks, Revolutions