Britney Spears review: ‘ . . . Baby One More Time’

With such candy-coated hooks as the No. 1 title song, the 17-year-old former Mouseketeer’s debut recalls ‘80s-vintage Madonna and Mariah Carey, with peppy dance tunes, emotionless ballads and an updated Sonny & Cher song. There’s real bubble-gum appeal to the Jackson 5-style “Soda Pop,” but this album’s most remarkable feature is the closing ad Spears narrates, shilling the new collection from label-mates the Backstreet Boys. “The Beat Goes On,” indeed.

Britney Spears
” . . . Baby One More Time”
Jive
Two stars