Kristinia DeBarge: 'Exposed'

Disney's teen stars tend to offer a bubblegummy take on the pop-rock sound, but Kristinia DeBarge, 19-years-old and every bit as wholesomely photogenic as Demi Lovato, takes her cues from R&B. Then again, how could she not? Her dad was a member of DeBarge, the 1980s R&B group who gave us 'Rhythm Of The Night', and she's been groomed for pop stardom by Kenneth 'Babyface' Edmonds, the producer behind numerous Boyz II Men, Whitney Houston and Toni Braxton hits.

As well as taking "Album Producer" and one of three "Executive Producer" credits, Babyface has a hand in five of the eleven tracks on DeBarge's debut album, including its lead single 'Goodbye'. That song nicks a trick from Rihanna's 'SOS (Rescue Me)', building a catchy pop stomper around a sample from Steam's 'Na Na Hey Hey (Kiss Him Goodbye)', but it's not a good representation of what Exposed is about. Most of the album is more subdued, mixing teen-friendly R&B ballads with midtempo pop tunes and a couple of typically muscular Ryan Tedder cuts.

Danceability isn't the only trait that makes the single stick out. Where 'Goodbye' offers an instant pop rush that dissipates pretty much as soon as it ends, many of these tracks are slow burners, with the likes of 'Died In Your Eyes' and 'Cried Me A River' revealing their pretty, shimmering charms after three or four plays. Truth be told, most of the album falls into the "pleasant but unremarkable" category, but there's something to be said for its consistency. Exposed may possess a sole standout - the clever, tempo-swapping 'Sabotage' - but it only has one clunker too. For the record, it's called 'It's Gotta Be Love' and it sounds like an Ashanti album track from 2002.

There may be a lack of top-notch material here, but there's no denying that DeBarge herself makes a good first impression. Her girlish vocals are committed and surprisingly soulful, only slipping into stage schooly mannerisms occasionally, and she's equally comfortable doing vulnerable on 'Died In Your Eyes', empowered on 'Powerless', or a combination of the two on 'Cried Me A River'. She shows real glimpses of potential here, and having spent five years together already, it's safe to presume that DeBarge and her mentor are in it for the long haul.

> Click here to read our recent interview with Kristinia DeBarge