Jessica Andrews - Heart Shaped World

Jessica Andrews was country's top-selling debut artist of 1999--quite an accomplishment for a 15-year-old girl and a record label that hadn't done much heavy lifting in Nashville. But Heart Shaped World sells itself, and not just to the same teenage girls who initially followed LeAnn Rimes. Unlike Rimes, Andrews isn't out to top the diva list, but to communicate wholesome truths about love ("The Riverside") and loss (Benmont Tench's "Unbreakable Heart"). OK, maybe "Hungry Love" seems too backwoods gothic for a suburban teen, but its message--about the downside of sex too soon--will surely hit home with the middle-school set. Of course, nothing about Heart Shaped World is truly country, despite the faint strains of fiddle and banjo, but the production is never vulgar or over the top à la Faith Hill's Breathe, and the sweet-voiced Andrews brings a surprising maturity and knowing delivery to the material. If the new teens are intent on owning Nashville, let's hope they all do it with this kind of taste and class. --Alanna Nash Amazon.com

Heart Shaped Hit

Excellent debut pop-flavored country album by Jessica. Her voice is good and moves very well through the songs. A run-down of the songs:
James Dean from Tennessee - very good high energy song, sticks in the mind

You Go First - also good energy

Riverside- a good, slower song. Being swept away by river water good metaphor for being swept away by love.

Whatever - has good energy, is a fun song telling a guy that the singer doesn't hang on his moods anymore

Unbreakable Heart - is slow and melancholy, but not boring. Singer wonders why they can't make a heart that doesn't break.

Hungry Love - insightful song about an attention-starved girl of absent parents who looks for love anywhere. Gets pregnant and the cycle can begin again with her baby.

Heart Shaped World - country twang, an anthem to love

I'll Take Your Heart - nice beat, flows nice, makes the toe tap

I Do Now - the only track arguably described as "throw away"

I've Been Waiting for You - very well sung, heavier tune with guitar

Ruby Shoes - has fun, light lyrics, nice tempo

I Will Be There for You - love ballad with piano, kinda boring.

Overall a very good part of a collection of CDs.


May 31, 2007

All The Things I Love About Music

Why is Jessica Andrews one of my all time favorite singers when I'm a hard rock fan? This CD is a great place to start to find out!
I first heard this amazing singer when I heard 'More To Me Than You' on the radio,so I got all her past albums,including this one 'Heart Shaped World'

this is not your parent's country,in other words you won't find twangy fiddles and songs about going to the bar and cheating on your husband with his cousin Roy,this is just plain awesome music,with lyrics that make sense and matter,and one of the most talented singers I've ever heard

I very rarely give any CD a 5 star review but this one deserves it
every song is a gem
starting with James Dean In Tennessee about a long lost love...You Go First is about being nervous about that first kiss (very cute and very well done), the riverside is just plain beautiful,you can almost feel the gentle breeze blowing by as you listen to it...'Whatever' is so darn cute it's almost painful,this is what Britney Spears could have been with better songwriters,'Unbreakable Heart' is very heart-felt and a beautiful ballad,'Hungry Love' is another great song,'Heart Shaped Love' also captures that innocence that is so lacking in today's music (which is so much more sexy in my opinion then the over the top in your face lyrics most singers use today),'I'll take your heart' is another sugar filled masterpiece...'I Do Now' is a thoughtful ballad,'I've Been Waiting For You' is a beautifully worded love song...'Ruby Shoes' is very very clever with the choice of wording and Jessica sings it great...and it ends with a beautiful ballad 'I Will Be There For You'
Honestly folks,I don't gush about many albums,every word I've spoken is true,this CD alone got me hooked on Jessica Andrews and the follow up 'Who I Am' is equally good,I only wish she would have stayed going in that direction because she could have been the best singer in the world.. (well,maybe the 2nd best next to LeAnn) but this CD is a moment in perfection

the upside - everything! the songwriting,Jessica's amazing cute vocal delivery just dripping of innocence and curiosity,it doesn't get any better then this! The production,the performance,it is perfect and very tastefully done

the downside - none for this CD,I just wish she would have continued in this direction!

the bottom line - run don't walk to get this! I don't care if you are a rock fan,a country fan,or a bossa nova fan,if you love music you will LOVE this CD...the donutman says so!!! April 12, 2007

Brilliant debut from teenaged country star

Jessica first came to the public's attention via the Prince of Egypt (Nashville) soundtrack album, on which she sang I will be there for you. That track is also included here and is one of many magnificent songs. Top of the lot is Unbreakable heart, a truly outstanding ballad.

The riverside, a wonderful ballad about romance in the moonlight, follows the theme of Billie Jo Spears' classic song, Blanket on the ground, although it is a completely different song. Perhaps the writers of The riverside were inspired by the old classic.

James Dean in Tennessee, the opening track, is about a girl in love with a James Dean wannabe. You'd think they could have come up with a more contemporary comparison but perhaps movie stars aren't what they were, or perhaps the legend is just too strong. Still, it's a great song.

There are so many great songs here, too numerous to mention in detail. If you enjoy contemporary country music, give Jessica Andrews a listen. This album and the follow-up, Who I am, are the only two I've heard but both are excellent. April 13, 2005

Good Stuff!!

I am usually not a fan of teen girl singers, but Jessica is my exception. This album has a very happy feel to it although there are some slow songs. I love Jessica's voice...she can show her power without shouting and expresses emotions very well. I consider this a 'pop' album but it is good and I have all of Jessica's other releases as well. If you enjoy feel-good-pop-country then you ought to give Jessica a listen. June 5, 2004

Outstanding Voice!!

She has one of the greatest voices in the world. When I first her, I was totally blown away. This young singer has a gift. As for the songs on this disc,they're also great. I love all of them. Too shame that she isn't a superstar like LeAnn or Faith.I think she deserves it. November 6, 2003

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