Mandy Moore

Mandy Moore
Wild Hope


Contrary to popular belief - and even her own critical self-bashing - Mandy Moore has always been a "fray" artist, the type of gal to be cautious and self-conscious of her image and style at all times, thus resorting to panning her previous work mere months after its release. Her ambitious demeanor and insatiable need to impress dogs her at times; but on her latest album, Wild Hope, Moore strips away any sugary confection left over from her past, leaving her stark naked and vulnerable for the first time.

Coverage, Moore's poorly-selling covers album proved that she - gasp! - listens to some quality music. Her quirky take on XTC's classic "Senses Working Overtime" was an eye-opener for those weaned on her candy-coated past; Joni Mitchell's "Help Me" was a revelation. Wild Hope continues the path forged by Coverage, taking massive strides to prove its worth.

It's hard to review an album like Wild Hope. On one hand, the artistic growth and breath of the songwriting easily trumps her old material (duh) while straight-out embarrassing the other young starlets. Co-writing every song with the help of some major guests (Michelle Branch, Rachael Yamagata, etc.) Moore is a subtle siren, singing with a calming beauty that's well beyond her 23 years. "Nothing That You Are" seamlessly combines Spirit-era Jewel with the mid-tempo drive of Sheryl Crow while "Gardenia," a precious and crumbling piece of folk-pop, is leagues better than anything you'll hear from her contemporaries.