VA - Lizzie McGuire: (Songs From The Hit TV Series) (2002)

The 'tweens have spoken and Lizzie McGuire is their choice--or at least she's among the choices for a school-age, almost-everyday-girl heroine. This 12-song soundtrack is rife with artists those same 'tween listeners have found most compelling. Smash Mouth lead the charge after Hilary Duff's paean to nearly adolescent emotion, "I Cant Wait," with their poppy, horn-laden charge through "Why Can't We Be Friends." This effervescent morsel stands with the Wiseguys' "Start the Commotion" as the most mature stuff Lizzie ponies up. The beats are big and the refrains impossible to resist. Then there's the more patently kid-leaning material: Play and their charming love ditty "Us Against the World," Mandy Moore's "Walk Me Home," and Jessica Simpson's faux street-smart "Irresistible." If these pop tunes turn you away, consider the timeless "ABC" from Jackson 5, with its snappy soul and young Michael Jackson's irrepressible bravado marking it as a true classic. --Andrew Bartlett