This Is My Time (by Raven-Symone, Pop)

Baby-faced teen pop-goddess Raven-Symone delivers a surprisingly sophisticated collection of new tunes on THIS IS MY TIME. Starting with "Mystify," a musical lesson in the power of playing hard-to-get, Raven-Symone works her way through romantic disappointment on "Backflip" ("Don't give me that tired act cause you've been running around...don't be cutting corners on me...I need to see it to believe it.") and longing ("Overloved"); then things get even more interesting with "Set Me Free," a declaration of independence from an overly possessive boyfriend. There's a delightful Alice-in-Wonderland fantasy ("Just Fly Away"), and a G-rated dance tune ("Bump"), followed by several songs that seem designed to encourage girls to appreciate their own and one another's individuality.

Despite its glossy pop veneer, This Is My Time is more intelligent and interesting than one might expect from a Disney teen queen, and -- for tween girls in need of a little validation -- definitely a keeper. The songs are interesting, well produced, and show a surprisingly competent (and confident) musical and vocal range. They pack a gentle but empowering wallop for young girls by addressing such themes as flirtation, possessiveness, individuality, and self-esteem. All of this is done with good strong performances, well-written songs in a variety of styles, interesting musicianship, and a minimum of preachiness.