The Main Idea:
In late 1999, the world was introduced to yet another fresh-faced pop starlet named Jessica Simpson. She was just one of many young blonde teen pop princesses to grace us with their presence that year. But the thing that sets Jessica apart from her teeny bopper contemporaries is her phenomenal voice, as is shown on her debut album, Sweet Kisses. Though Jessica does have a powerful and moving voice, much of the material on Sweet Kisses does not show it off well enough. This record is bubblegum pop at its finest and doesn't allow for a lot of vocal riffs and embellishments. Still, Jessica managed to make it her own and to prove that she has far more talent than most of her fellow teen popsters. Sweet Kisses is really more like early Mariah Carey than teen pop, but the lovey dovey lyrics and bland production land it in the teeny bopper category.

Song-By-Song Breakdown:
1. I WANNA LOVE YOU FOREVER - This first single quickly became Jessica's trademark and is easily the best song on the record. Produced by Louis Biancaniello and Sam Watters, this song is a very intense ballad with soft, whispery verses followed by powerhouse vocals and ad-libs on the choruses. The instrumentation compliments the song very well and sets it apart from most other ballads out there. Yes, it's a little bubblegum, but Jessica's talent more than makes up for it - 5/5

2. I THINK I'M IN LOVE WITH YOU - This fun, upbeat little ditty samples John Mellencamp's "Jack and Diane." Though Jessica delivers it very energetically and convincingly, the song is based around the sample and sounds very unoriginal. Plus, the lyrics don't make sense: "I don't know what's gotten into me/But I kind of think I know what it is/I think I'm in love." Okay, does she think she's in love with him or not? Make up your mind! But a good song nonetheless; Cory Rooney did an excellent job - 4/5

3. WHERE YOU ARE - This is yet another ballad and features Jessica's future husband, Nick Lachey of the boy band 98 Degrees, who also co-wrote the track. This song is very beautiful and has some real substance, but Jessica and Nick's voices don't mesh well together and most of their harmonies are very off. The two of them singing together does give the song a certain romanticism, though, and the arrangements are nice. It still sounds like a knock-off of #1, but it's a nice song - 3/5

4. FINAL HEARTBREAK - Bubblegum uber-producer Eric Foster White (Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys) helmed this gawd-awful upbeat pop track and all but ruined the entire album. The catchy but corny hook - "This could be your final heartbreak/I could show you what good love takes/Never say goodbye, never make you cry/Yeah, this could be your final heartbreak" - is alright, but the song is overproduced and doesn't show off Jessica's voice. She sounds all nasally and has trouble hitting several notes. This song should have stayed where it belonged - on a Britney Spears record - 2/5

5. WOMAN IN ME - Though not totally horrible, I was expecting a lot more from this collaboration with labelmates Destiny's Child. Instead, I got this annoying little bubblegum song that features DC on just the chorus and a little bridge at the end. I don't like the speaking parts, the production is bland, and the lyrics are cheesy and repetitive. Once again, another song that doesn't show off Jessica's abilities, though she does take a stab at R&B in this one. A very weak stab, but a stab nonetheless - 2/5

6. I'VE GOT MY EYES ON YOU - This Sturken and Rogers-produced pop jingle doesn't suit Jessica's voice, but is a nice track anyway. It's fun, upbeat, and danceable with a catchy chorus: "I've got my eyes on you/I'm gonna move ya/I'm gonna groove ya/Tonight is the night/I've got my my eyes on you/I know you want me/Nobody can stop me/The feeling is right." The vocals are nicely arranged, but could still be better. The little handclaps and "Uh ow!"'s could have been left out, though - 3/5

7. BETCHA SHE DON'T LOVE YOU - This is my favorite upbeat song on the record, besides #2, and is produced by the same team behind the previous track. This song is just plain happy; it's spunky, catchy, and a little sassy, and Jessica wrenches some otherwise nonexistent emotion out of the lyrics. It's yet another bubblegum pop song, but the production and overall sound actually suits Jessica's voice this time and allows for some versatility. A very cute song that I know will get stuck in your head - 4/5

8. MY WONDERFUL - This is a very simple ballad that has some definite country leanings in the guitar and easygoing production. The lyrics are sweet and sentimental, and it has a surprisingly catchy chorus: "He's my wonderful/Everything a girl could want to love/And all I need/Yes he's my wonderful/He must have been sent from up above/Just for me." Jessica delivers them very convincingly and doesn't oversing. This song's simplicity is very refreshing after the rest of the slightly overproduced record - 4/5

9. SWEET KISSES - Yet another beautiful ballad, though not as good as some of the others. The lyrics are really where this one shines; they talk about loving someone no matter how much money they have and wanting just their "sweet kisses." Awww, ain't that just so cute? Jessica sings the verses rather breathily once again and gets to show off the rest of her range by not shouting her way through the song. The production compliments the mood of the track very well, though it could be better - 3/5

10. YOUR FAITH IN ME - This is definitely one of the best songs on the record and is another ballad. The track is gospel-tinged with dramatic production and a full gospel choir backing Jessica up. Jessica really takes us to the church on this one and hits a few ear-splitting high notes that would make even Mariah green with envy, though they're nearly drowned out by the choir. The lyrics are mushy and sentimental, once again, and suit the production. A very mature and classy song - 4/5

11. HEART OF INNOCENCE - This ballad is a nice way to round out the record, though I don't like songs that preach about virginity and maintaining your innocence: "I have a gift for you/Something I've held on to/Waiting for your sweet caress/No ribbon has been untied/From all that I hold inside/And only you will possess/This heart of innocence." Jessica offers up some nice vocals and tries her hand at writing for the first time, but, overall, this track isn't very remarkable. There's really nothing that makes it unique - 3/5

Song-By-Song Breakdown:
Sweet Kisses has a very appropriate title, as it's one of the sweetest pop records released in recent memory. Jessica Simpson is different from her fellow pop starlets because she actually wears clothes (*gasp*) and she has true, genuine talent and doesn't need producers, engineers, arrangers, and the like in the studio to fix her vocals and make them sound halfway decent (*gasps again*). The points at which Jessica really excels are the ballads, which allow her to demonstrate her vocal ability, and there are quite a few songs on this album which do that. Lyrically, there's nothing separating Sweet Kisses from other mindless pop records by Britney Spears and various boy bands, but it's really the vocals that make it stand out. And so what if the album reeks of bubblegum and soda pop? Bubblegum and soda pop taste good! (but not bubblegum and soda pop together - eeewwwie...)

Despite those few tracks, Sweet Kisses really doesn't display Jessica Simpson's full potential as a vocalist. We all know that this dimpled Texan cutie can belt it out with the best of them, but I think Columbia Records was in such a rush to join the teen pop race that they didn't bother to choose material that would show off Jessica's talents. Similar tragedies have befallen many other new artists, but Jessica managed to make this mediocre material her own and add her own spin on it, even if it sucked, and that's what makes her a real artist. Still, with more show-stopping ballads, like those from Diane Warren, Walter Afanasieff, and more from Biancaniello and Watters, Jessica could be a real force to be reckoned with. Nonetheless, Sweet Kisses is a really good pop record and is just an introduction to what we have yet to see from young Miss Simpson (now Mrs. Lachey). Though rough in spots, Sweet Kisses flows well from track to track. It's just a matter of finding the right tracks that proves to be the problem.

Final Notes:
Average Song Rating: 3.364
Best Song(s): "I Wanna Love You Forever"
Worst Song(s): "Final Heartbreak" and "Woman In Me"

How Would I Rate This Record's...
Vocals? 3 1/2 stars
Lyrics? 2 stars
Production? 3 stars
Timelessness? 2 stars
Artistry? 1 star

Also Recommended:
Christina Aguilera - Christina Aguilera
Kelly Clarkson - Thankful
Stacie Orrico - Stacie Orrico

Recommended: Yes

Great Music to Play While: Hanging With Friends