Review Summary: I'm working on myself please help me
‘Headstrong’s sound often blends teen-pop with R&B/Hip-Hop. Filling in between cuts of that nature are hearty Disney Princess ballads. While totally inaccessible to anyone outside of preteen girls, all tracks absolutely serve their purpose and use the mentioned song types to aid the tracklists pacing.
The moderate mellow opener bounces along into ‘He Said She Said’, an awkward attempt at a G-rated club song. The writers must have been Castlevania fans, seeing as the song samples the intro of ‘Bloody Tears’. Imagine being trapped in a Minnie Mouse bouncy house with dozens of snakes, this song is a similar anxiety inducing experience.
There are no filler tracks because every track is hearty semi-filler. ‘Positivity’ might be a personal favorite. It features a fun pop instrumental and a wonderfully cringey ‘Hit Me Baby One More Time’ reference. ‘Not Like That’ graces teen pop classic with its sharp miraculous cheese. There is so much attitude injected into this track especially but also the others. It’s a true strength as Ashley’s girly persona puffs out. Ashley can also actually sing, although many of the songs rightly feature talk singing, her obnoxious voice comes out when needed.
The title track is a stand-out. It’s one last hoorah to wind things down before the closer. The lyrics are blandly nonsensical, but the instrumentals are great and rally together the most atmospheric track on the record. If any track here has a 'High School Musical' vibe to it, it’s this one. ‘Suddenly’ is the closer, and one of only there songs here that Tisdale has a writing credit on. It’s okay; a nice little piano ballad that closes the curtains.
One of the best from it’s decidedly terrible kind. If you have even the smallest appetite for something from this over-produced, squeaky clean corner of pop, then 'Headstrong' will certainly do. There is much fun to be found here.
