Bridigt Mendler-"Hello My Name Is..." Review

Long before “Hello My Name Is…”, which by the way, is definitely the most generic album title ever released by a Disney artist (besides “Breakout” from Miley Cyrus), Mendler was already starting to assert her vocal chops with several sound-tracking songs, and even starring as the front man in the fictional band Lemonade Mouth. Don’t worry, this album isn’t ‘Lemonade Mouth 2.0’, this is WAY too urban. It’s a quirk worth exploring, since the rest of the Disney stars usually just clung to the pop-rock mold to increase interest and sales. Mendler’s take is completely different. She tries to fit alongside Barbadian princess Rihanna, and even executes reggae and Barbadian influences down to the exact nuance in most of the album. This repetitive-ness makes for one slick set, one that does not need any effort to listen to. Like Christina Aguilera’s 2012 album “Lotus”, Bridgit marches on throughout each track taking the exact same approach most of the way through, the only exception being the closing track “Hold On to Dear Love”, which stands out the most because it’s the only song to change direction. And as expected, this urban and R&B album has been Disney-fied so it will not only play well with the kids, but it will also offer plenty for teens. So it’s not entirely her fault; even though she did co-write every song on the album (also a first for a Disney artist), Hollywood Records (Disney’s record label) will always throw in their pixie dust to take away any nutritive substance. This leaves “Hello My Name Is…” a stripped away product that focuses on making Mendler credible, even though “Lemonade Mouth” already proved her considerable chops. And in fact, the kiddie rock and defiant pop of “Lemonade Mouth” is preferable to the chill and urban flavors omnipresent here. The lead single “Ready Or Not” is the best track on the album by a considerable margin because its style and lyrical content are perfect for this genre, but when it comes to “All I See is Gold” and “Love Will Tell Us Where to Go”, her ballads, a pop/rock break could have refreshed the listening experience.

It was inevitable for this album to see like a desperate attempt to separate Bridgit from Disney, and this tug of war definitely drags the album down. Even in the album booklet, the pictures look like senior photos instead of professional photography. This album still plays like a soundtrack for teens, no matter how involved Mendler would have gotten with this project. It’s a frustrating fact, the moment she signed onto Disney, she was destined for albums like this. It’s not like Ashley Tisdale’s 2007 master-work “Headstrong”, and it’s only slightly better than Miley Cyrus’s 2008 collection “Breakout”, but even still, the one thing that this album definitely is, is an artistic statement. It’s obvious and calculated, yes, but Bridgit Mendler still shows off her potential for far better works in the future. This is easy listening music, designed only for the radio, your garage stereo, and your I-pod during workouts. But considering her vocal talent, Bridgit deserves better than a sleek and cold production like this. This album is not the most fantastic listening experience, but at the same time, it’s still an enjoyable one.

 

Recommended Tracks in Bold:

1. Ready or Not         2. Forgot to Laugh       3. Top of the World
4. Hurricane                5. City Lights               6. All I See is Gold
7. The Fall Song        8. Love Will Tell Us Where to Go
9. Blonde                     10. Rocks At My Window
11. 5:15                       12. Hold on for Dear Love