Even a golden voice can't save "DEMI"

Where many current pop artists rely on gimmicky production to sell their songs, Lovato sings her little heart out instead.

She sounds great, but unfortunately her pipes can’t save the album.

The hits are phenomenal, but the misses are pretty awful.

While Demi has been through a lot — bipolar disorder, drugs, alcohol and eating disorders — we can only listen to so many Disney-channel-ready songs about triumph and being strong and conquering the world. The sentiment is admirable, but yawn-inducing.

That’s the main problem with this album. It needs a major attitude adjustment. Lovato is singing songs that sound more appropriate for a 14-year-old Disney starlet than a young woman.

There’s no edge in lyrical or musical content, nothing grand to distinguish this album and these songs from the scores of other bland albums tween-favorite Disney girls have released.

The only thing that really sets it apart is Lovato’s stunning voice, but like a great actor with a bad script, she can only do so much with unimaginative material.

The best tracks on the album make good use of Lovato’s considerable range. Charting single “Heart Attack,” the lead single from the album, shows off soaring runs over a catchy, sing-along melody. “Nightingale” is a stunning ballad, and the only one on the album that actually hits home. The album’s slow compatriots, “Warrior,” “Shouldn’t Come Back” and “In Case,” are all resounding duds.

Her midtempo pop jams seem to be made for

16-year-old girls to play while cruising with their learner’s permits. “Something That We’re Not” and “Really Don’t Care” sound like notes these same girls would write to the boy they made out with at the bonfire who hasn’t texted them back yet. Like, OMG!

Lovato has a Rihanna/Calvin Harris moment on a few songs, and that’s where she excels. The songs aren’t that unique, but her voice floats over pounding choruses on songs like “Neon Lights,” hinting that if she got better producers, she could really be something.

Don’t get me wrong — I love Demi. I think she’s fabulously talented, and a far better vocalist than most of her pop peers. But she’s stuck in her low-budget, syrupy Disney rut, and until she takes a few risks, her career will only last as long as her fans’ puberty.

By Kelly Fritz