Mandy Moore 'Amanda Leigh'

On her sixth album Mandy Moore strays even further from her pop past and ventures into the world of mellow folksy acoustic jams. Amanda Leigh (just an album name, not a name change) is a short, 35-minute soft and personal journey through what seems like a brief, but important stage in the singer's life. In fact, the songs are often so personal that the listener may not be able to relate to them at all.

It's not that Amanda Leigh is a bad album; In fact it's pretty good for what it is, but I'd be shocked to see any major commercial success for the disc. The lead single "I Could Break Your Heart Any Day of the Week" is the most upbeat and mainstream track on the album. The rest of the songs head towards Lilith Fair territory, with simple arrangements and stripped down production. Songs like "Fern Dell, "Pocket Philosopher" and "Love to Love Me Back" are lovely standouts, proving that while she may not have the star power she used to, she is one cool and talented chick.

I have a feeling that only the hardcore Mandy Moore fans will be after this album, but if you even remotely enjoy her, I think you should pick it up. You might not find yourself jamming out to tracks from Amanda Leigh but the album is a perfect complement to a morning spent sipping coffee or lying in bed with someone special.

Track listing for Amanda Leigh