Norwegian drops danceable debut

In the past 20 years, pop music has given birth to many mega-stars. Its reigning blondes, Madonna and Britney Spears, may have met their match. A definitive pop album, Anniemal has a grasp well beyond its contemporaries in sincerity and appeal. Combined with her girl-next-door persona, her album's reach is hitting the mainstream and condescending underground just the same, keeping hipsters shaking their asses during a DJ set laden with UK grime superstars to landing pop radio play your little sister will grab onto. Already having taken over Europe with her 1999 single "The Greatest Hit," Annie's bringing on a few façade of pop -- one that's going beyond skin deep.\n"Chewing Gum" and "Me Plus One" start the dance-off with a glittering, quirky keyboard melody bounced around by punchy backbeats that immediately took me back to Mariah Carey's early production, swapping out her soulful voice with Annie's smooth, high-pitched delivery. The album starts out as pure bubblegum, moving to a slower, more sincere appeal, calling on funk, 90's pop and even UK garage to create a unique, infectiously catchy blend of beats. The album picks up in the end with the synth-infused, hand clap single "The Greatest Hit" and the four-on-the-floor, 8-minute disco epic "Come Together" before slowing down at the tail end with "My Best Friend." Mellow and low-fi, its thin, faint vocal track melts along with the melody, exhibiting smoothness comparable to Zero 7 and the UK's Baxter Dury.\nHighlighting the record is its standout single "My Heartbeat" where Annie's vocals gasp over a racing bass and soothing strings that has been getting comparisons to Kylie Minogue. Rightfully so, as its energy is on the same level as Minogue's hit "Can't Get You Out of My Head." This alone is testament of where Annie is and where she'll be going with her career. Listen up. You'll be hearing a lot of her very soon.