Review Roundup: Jordin Sparks - 'Battlefield'

Jordin Sparks’ sophomore album Battlefield arrives in stores and online tomorrow. Did the 19-year-old pop star come out victorious? Find out below.

Entertainment Weekly: Battlefield actually contains enough potential hits to keep the singer in heavy rotation until well into “Idol’s” 10th season. Sparks even co-penned four tracks, including “Faith,” the best “AI” anthem the show has never had. A-

The New York Times: Battlefield, her expertly constructed second album, upholds a darker, more experienced tone without losing an ounce of melodrama. Ms. Sparks, now a worldly 19, has her principles, including a stake in overblown emotion.

Newsday: She gives a personal twist to “Emergency (911)” that makes the dance number work. But it’s the big ballads—“Was I the Only One,” “Faith,” and “The Cure”—where her vulnerability and booming voice work best together, where she sounds like a true teenager with actual teenager problems and beliefs. B-

Boston Globe: But this is nowhere near the knockout the 19-year-old pop star should have delivered. No one expects edginess, but a powerhouse voice like Sparks’ deserves something more to work with than these leftovers.

Rap-Up’s Favorite Tracks: “Battlefield,” “S.O.S. (Let the Music Play),” “Watch You Go,” “No Parade”