Exposed
Kristinia DeBarge
2 stars
Kristinia DeBarge really couldn’t have had a better head start.
The 19-year-old daughter of James DeBarge, of ’80s R&B group DeBarge, she grew up around the business and teamed up with hitmaker Babyface five years ago to start planning her debut.
“Exposed” (SodaPop/Island Def Jam) is the result of all that work, featuring her light, effortless vocals tackling a lot of sweet, pretty pop — much of which was written and/or produced by Babyface. No wonder it all seems pretty inevitable.
DeBarge comes across as a streetwise Jordin Sparks with the stomping smash “Goodbye” and the new, more dance-oriented Rihanna-esque single “Sabotage.” But what really sets her apart are the first-rate ballads that she flutters across, from the lovelorn “Disconnect,” which anyone from Miley Cyrus to Whitney Houston would have fought to get on their albums, to the simple, quirky piano ballad “Doesn’t Everybody Want to Fall in Love” that is also destined to be a smash. She even makes the tender, almost sappy “Died in Your Eyes” work for her.
“Exposed” really does unveil DeBarge, who’s set to open for Britney Spears this fall, as a complete package and a music marketer’s dream — a teenager who can sing grown-up songs and make them feel young, and feel comfortable with everything from hip-hop to Celine Dion ballads. Her wait to break into the public eye is about to be so totally worth it.
LOVE IT
SONG
‘Money’s Too Tight (to Mention) 2009’
Simply Red
Simply Red’s breakthrough hit is back for another run, thanks to the once-again bad economy. Mick Hucknall and the gang pinned the blame on Reaganomics back in 1984 and they keep that line, though the “Did the earth move for you, Nancy?” taunt is out of the remixes from the Alex Gaudino and the Haji and Emanuel versions currently in the clubs. Hucknall’s soulful take still works, so a little tweaking and voila! A new hit. How economical! Glenn Gamboa, Newsday
Web site
‘Mad Men’
More Top Picks Best Dual Fuel Ranges
yourself
tr.im/uFaK
Be sleek. Be stylish. Be yourself. That, in a nutshell, is the premise of AMC’s new marketing site where you can create your own “Mad Men”-style avatar. They call it “Mad Men”-ing yourself. I call it awesome. Fans of the show will love picking out their own Don Draper-cut suit or Peggy Olson-print dress, along with accessories including martini glasses, cigarettes and the like. JIM WALSH, REDEYE
Like it
TV
‘Defying Gravity’
8 p.m. Sunday, ABC
If you’re a sci-fi fan and you can get past the touchy-feely first hour, “Defying Gravity” delivers a creepy, “Lost”-like mystery when the Antares crew launches into deep space. Mission Control is keeping a few secrets, including the mission’s true purpose and the fact that the crew is not alone. If you’re a “Grey’s Anatomy” fan, you’ll love that first hour when the crew trains for space, but they can’t help acting like a group of lusty docs. CURT WAGNER, REDEYE
song
‘Audacity of Huge’
Simian Mobile Disco
This electronic duo of James Ford and Jas Shaw formed out of the ashes of British band Simian and won much critical acclaim for their debut, “Attack Decay Sustain Release.” The heavily anticipated follow-up “Temporary Pleasure” washes up on these shores on Aug. 18 and features a host of compelling collaborations with the likes of Jamie Lidell, Beth Ditto of Gossip, Gruff Rhys of Super Furry Animals, and on this track, Chris Keating of Yeasayer. SARAH ZUPKO, POPMATTERS.COM
Loathe it
ALBUM
‘Guilty Pleasure’
Ashley Tisdale
Here’s the polar opposite of the Trashcan Sinatras, the Scottish band that this week released “In the Music” whose jangle pop gets them a devoted cult following: big, anthemic, not-so-brainy, corporate pop with a teen sheen. “Guilty” for sure, not so sure about the “pleasure” part of the equation. Sarah Zupko, popmatters.com