Ashley Tisdale – Guilty Pleasure (a J!-ENT World Groove Album review)

August 3, 2009 by Dennis Amith 

“Tisdale’s second album shows maturity and also improved musical production and vocals.  Overall, a solid album that solidifies the potential of Tisdale as a musical talent and not just an image of a television-turned-musical star.”

ARTIST: Ashley Tisdale

ALBUM: Guilty Pleasure (Digital Version)

LABEL: Warner Bros.

DURATION: 49:13

RELEASE DATE: July 28, 2009

1. Acting Out
2. It’s Alright, It’s OK
3. Masquerade
4. Overrated
5. Hot Mess
6. How Do You Love Someone
7. Tell Me Lies
8. What If
9. Erase and Rewind
10. Hair
11. Delete You
12. Me Without You
13. Crank It Up (Bonus Track)
14. Switch (Bonus Track)

BUY THIS ALBUM:

Actress and music artist Ashley Tisdale has grown up since quite a bit since her “High School Musical” and “Suite Life” years.  In 2009, Tisdale has been working on her second solo album “Guilty Pleasure” which would show off a more rock and roll and edgier side to her music.  Inspired by artists such as Pat Benatar and Kate Perry.

For the first album, I guess one could have looked at another attempt to cash in on a popular Disney-related actress-gone-singer but with “Guilty Pleasure”, I would see this new album as important for Tisdale to show off her vocal range without the glitz of TV and film too boost her credibility as a music artist.

With “Guilty Pleasure”, the album was quite enjoyable and I have to admit that I have listened to this album many times since it was released and  I’m quite confident to say that I actually enjoyed “Guilty Pleasure” much more than her previous album “Headstrong”.

Where the first album, I can easily pick which tracks are solid, I actually enjoyed nearly each song from this album.

There are some tracks that feature that cutesy side of Tisdale’s voice which is quite evident on the opening track “Acting Out” but the first single from the album “It’s Alright, It’s OK” definitely shows that Tisdale’s move to a more rock side actually works quite well and the music is catch, addictive and overall, well-sung.  This is repeated with tracks such as “Masquerade” and “Overrated”.

You do hear that Kate Perry influence with tracks such as “Hot Mess”, “Tell Me Lies” and “Erase and Rewind” but where Tisdale really shines vocally is on ballads such as “What If” and “Me Without You”.

It’s important to note that Tisdale doesn’t completely shed her pop and R&B music as the latter tracks are more pop driven.  Tracks such as “Hair” “Delete You” and the bonus tracks such as “Crank It Up” and “Switch” are catchy and sugary pop driven tracks.

Overall, Ashley Tisdale has improved greatly with “Guilty Pleasure”.  A mix of rock and pop tracks, the album is well-produced and there are tracks where Tisdale really does shine vocally and if anything, I felt that you hear various sides of Tisdale.  From serious vocals to cutesy, catchy type of vocals… It all depends to what the listener is into.  But for the most part, the diverse tracks adds to the enjoyability of “Guilty Pleasure” and solidifies Tisdale as a music artist that is not pre-packaged solely for her teen fans but a young woman that has musical talent.  There are tracks with lyrics that are definitely more mature  but for the most part, this works well with the musical change and the overall, direction of the album.  This is a sign of maturity and for the most part, I welcome this new direction for Tisdale’s music.

Overall, “Guilty Pleasure” is an album that helps solidify Tisdale as a musical artist and possibly better things to come in the near future!