Jolie and the Wanted (DreamWorks Nashville, 2001)

It's hard to ignore the warning signs on Jolie & The Wanted's debut. The chorus on the first track going, "Heart fall down go boom." A cover of "I Go Crazy." An inserted quote of "Give me the beat, boys, and free my soul." Three people credited for hair, make-up, and wardrobe styling. No indication anywhere in the package as to who The Wanted might be.

Yes, Jolie Edwards has a nice voice, and the songs and soft-rock/contemporary Nashville sound is every bit as catchy and radio-friendly as many of those who are currently charting, and video exposure won't hurt her cause at all. But the slight touches of fiddle and steel don't root this music in anything other than more light pop.

Jolie & The Wanted is no worse than that, and some funky touches on "The Wantin' Not the Gettin'" and some clever lines on "It's Only Love" don't hurt her cause any. It would be nice if the music aimed higher than that, but that may be all that can be expected from the Nashville star-machine these days