The latest Disney Channel starlet turned pop tart has arrived in the form of Ashley Tisdale, whose rise to fame comes thanks to her role in High School Musical. On her debut album Headstrong, Tisdale opts for the extinct straight up pop sound circa 1999. Tisdale enlists all the heavyweights from uber-producer J.R. Rotem (for the unexpectedly sexual “He Said, She Said”) to famed songwriter Diane Warren (on the trite track “Love Me For Me”). Unfortunately, her squeaky vocals are barely decent and much of the album sounds like a Pro-Tools malfunction. For a brief three and a half minutes, things do turn around on “Be Good To Me.” With a beat eerily reminiscent of 50 Cent’s banger “In Da Club,” and an extremely catchy hook, it’s undeniably enjoyable. Despite this one pop gem, Tisdale lacks the originality or vocal chops that her predecessors had to offer. Hopefully for her sake, High School Musical 2 is a success. Grade: C-

-Charlie Adelman, Muse Staff Writer