... Baby One More Time (1998)

You knew it was coming -- the sassy girl backlash to that whole 'N Sync/Backstreet Boys testosterone-lite thing. Hanging ten on the sugary wave is 17-year-old ex–Disney princess Spears, who sounds so soulful and Whitney-assured, it's downright scary. Was a deal cut with Satan? Nope-just Backstreet Boys' writing/producing Svengali Max Martin. Scan for his puppet strings, though, and you'll miss all the squeaky-clean Tiger Beat fun. B+