Speak (by Lindsay Lohan, Pop)

On SPEAK, Lindsay Lohan tries her hand (actually her voice) at a new artistic arena. Unfortunately, the result sounds manufactured and self-important. Lindsay gamely strikes a "take-me-seriously-or-else" guitar-slinger pose on the CD insert, and mostly sings as if she means it. But the schoolgirl charm that makes her movie-star persona so appealing is completely missing -- apparently no one remembered to tell her that singing is supposed to be fun. And the sweet, feisty voice that works so well on a movie soundtrack's song or two doesn't have enough unique presence to carry a whole album. The most original track is "To Know Your Name," which utilizes an irresistible dance beat and Pac-Man sound effects with a playfulness that would have helped enormously in larger doses.

A song like "Rumors," the artist's full-tilt whine about the pitfalls of being famous, will not speak to the universal teenage-girl experience, and self-conscious sexual innuendo throughout the lyrics seems designed to let us know that our little girl is (yawn) growing up. Still, there are some enchanting moments. Guitar-track tributes to Led Zeppelin and Duran Duran-style synthesized harmonies are fun (but few and far between) and the breathy lead vocal catches some genuinely expressive charm on "Disconnected."

Released on: December 7, 2004
Label: Casablanca
Genre: Pop