In the summer of 2001, I listened to strictly "boy bands" (98 Degrees, O-town, you know the rest) and "the teen girls" (Christina Aguilera, Jessica Simpson and Mandy Moore - never was all that much into Britney Spears, or should I say Mrs. Federline). It's safe to say that these days, I hold a much stronger liking to the sounds of P.O.D. and Blindside, but spinning an "old" album out from the collection of dust every once in a while can prove to be quite a fun experience.

Mandy Moore starts with "In My Pocket", a danceable track with a Middle-Eastern feel to it. "Among the many muted faces, you try to find me in the spaces," Mandy sings. "You're drawn to my song." Nice sound effects, and it's easy to see why it was released as a single. It is undeniably catchy.

"You Remind Me" seems like something reminiscent of an early Janet Jackson. A cute, innocent fluffball of a song, Mandy struggles to figure out who her new crush/boyfriend reminds her of. "You remind me of a love I knew," she contemplates. "Feels so weird! It must be deja-vu." Okay, so cringe a little bit, but it's not bad.

"Saturate Me" really seems to initiate the more "mature" side of this album. "Forsaken, left here, in my barren desolate," Mandy cries forlornly. "Rain down on me with life.." This really is a beautiful song, and one of the best pop songs I've ever heard. It's actually kind of difficult to categorize, but it certainly has a mass appeal and is a stand-out track on the album.

Why did you trick us all, "One Sided Love"? You begin with that great Middle-Eastern captivating intro, then you have to go and get lame. "I know you tried your best. That's not good enough for me," Mandy insists. The beat itself isn't all that horrible, but the pre-chorus (that "I wanna help you out, tell you what it's all about!" part) is unbelievably annoying.

"17" seems like it should be on I Wanna Be With You or So Real. It seems like a song that was highly applicable to Mandy's then-relationship with actor Wilmer Valderrama. "I'll save my best behavior for a little later," Mandy decides, "because I'm only 17." It's slow, tinkly, and cotton candy-ish. Not a favorite.

Anyone seen and/or read A Walk To Remember? *counts the hands, while we all wipe tears from our eyes*. As you may or may not know, "Cry" was featured on the soundtrack (and of course Mandy is in the movie). This is the most beautiful song on the album, both lyrically and vocally. "In places no one will find all your feelings so deep inside," Mandy's voice resonates. "Was there that I realized that forever was in your eyes, the moment I saw you cry."

When I was 14 - when I first got this album - "Crush" was just one of my favorites. Now, I find that I like the verses ("Sometimes, you tell me things that I don't wanna know...but I just wanna hold you") , but the chorus seems to grate at my nerves: "I got a crush on you! I hope you feel...the way that I do." The theme and honest approach of the song is admirable; it reminds me of Michelle Branch's "Everywhere" in a way, lyrically.

"It Only Took A Minute". The title doesn't match the song. It lunges into some distorted, speedy vocals by Mandy and that great little experimental beat in the background. "It only took a minute, baby, to let you in my life." The chorus then sucks us back into its predictable ways.

Subtract those "doo doo doo, doo doo doo, doo doo doo!"s and "Turn The Clock Around" is a really good song. "You were leaving town tomorrow, yeah, tomorrow, you'll be gone," Mandy recalls, wondering what would have happened if she'd told her guy friend how she felt before he left to...well...wherever he mysteriously disappeared to. This probably has the best chorus on the album: "Maybe I never found the right way, kept my love hidden underground. I wish that there was some way, that I could turn the clock around."

"It's broken. I know what you want. I'm not a yo-yo. I'm not a thing you let go!" Watch out, Mandy's angry in "Yo-Yo". Somehow the world won't care, though, for the sole reason that this song is horrible, hahah. End of story.

"From Loving You" is kind of different vocally from the rest of the songs on the album. It's a sad and rainy song. Cry into your pillow for this one. "Who's to see the way it would be? I'll never forget all the heaven we shared, and I'll thank God for every moment, every moment that I haaad you there!" Mandy trills.

Do you want to chuckle a lot? Listen to "Split Chick". "I can sing and dance ballet! I can show you all of my toys, but I'd rather be alone today!" Mandy babbles. If this was sung by a five-year-old, it might be acceptable (but I'd still laugh), but Mandy was 17 at the time, so it's kind of unforgivable. Sorry. I suppose she wanted to play the role of the regressed child.

"When I Talk To You" was co-written by Mandy, and it's more or a less asking why her friends act differently around her since she became famous. "I'm still the same," she insists. "When I try to talk to you, I feel like I'm not getting through to you. Where did we go wrong? It's hard to be strong when I talk to you." You almost know what line is going to emerge from her mouth before she says it, but that doesn't eliminate all of its appeal. It's a sad song, and sad songs have all kinds of appeal.

Mandy Moore is not a typical pop album, although it's easy to brush it off as one. She's a talented songbird with a voice that might be far from having a vocal range from soaring to the range of Lacuna Coil's Cristina Scabbia, but it's light, feathery, and pleasant to listen to nevertheless.

Recommended: Yes

Great Music to Play While: With Family