Sparks MIA in bloated 'Battlefield'

Jordin Sparks, "Battlefield" (Jive Records)

"Battlefield" may be the perfect title for Jordin Sparks' sophomore CD, simply because you'll struggle to get through her war chest of songs.

The 12-track set is overloaded with too many songwriters and producers - Ryan Tedder, StarGate and T-Pain help out, among others. Though all that talent is around, no real direction is. Some tracks sound Celine Dion-esque, while others are clearly crafted for Radio Disney.

"Emergency (911)" and "S.O.S. (Let the Music Play)" are meant to be playful and cute, but they aren't. "Don't Let It Go to Your Head," a FeFe Dobson cover, is clearly not as good as the original, and on "No Parade" and "Let It Rain," Sparks' vocals are impressive but overdramatic.

The majority of the songs are sad love ballads, but Sparks fails to make listeners emotional connect.

The 19-year-old does prove why she deserved the 2007 "American Idol" crown on the groovy "It Takes More" and the first single, "Battefield." Sparks fares better on the songs she penned (she cowrote four tunes) like "The Cure," the powerful "Faith" and the exceptional "Was I the Only One."

Check this out: "Was I the Only One" is a classic-sounding song that finds Sparks smoothly hitting all the right notes at the right times.