Brandy

The former teen star is trying to age gracefully, and if Afrodisiac is any indication, she's doing a pretty good job of it. She doesn't try to out-warble Beyonce or out-skank Britney; she just rocks solid, densely produced tracks with an understated vocal style reminiscent of Aaliyah's. "Sadiddy" and "Say You Will" win.

Brandy's new album recalls Janet Jackson at her best: She's a pop star, but she's making
the most of her big studio budgets and is following her muse. Working mostly with
Timbaland -- but also with the more laid-back Kanye West, on "Think About Our Love" and
"Where You Wanna Be" -- Brandy lets her cool voice stream through jams that, as one hot
track is titled, "Focus." The music is mainstream soul with eccentric details and s... More >