The comeback of former Disney Channel princess Hilary Duff originally started two years ago when she released the breezy single, “Chasing The Sun.” Duff embraced a folk-pop sound on the nice but lackluster single with little acclaim, and it was back to the drawing board. Next was the sassy “All About You” that included a line dance reminiscent of what might go down at your local bar with a western theme. With a catchy hook and a slight country twang in the production, I thought “All About You” would be a nice addition to the charts. While it didn’t make much noise on the charts, “All About You” was well received by the critics and fans clamoring for new music.
I’ll admit that I was a fan of some of Duff’s previous work (Dignity was a solid electro-pop album), and I’m hoping Duff can find a sound that her fans can embrace and the mainstream will accept. “Sparks” doesn’t sound too different from the songs that can be heard on her fourth album, Dignity. When that album came out, it was a big shift from Duff’s bubblegum pop sound, and it didn’t fair well on the charts. Now that she is older and her fans have had time to grow and accept a different sound, it’ll be interesting to see how much her sound has matured on the fifth album. Plus, some success on the charts never hurts…
I’m thinking the third time will be the charm with Swedish pop hit-maker Tove Lo (“Habits,” “Talking Body”) penning the latest single, “Sparks.” Over a refreshing dance beat with an inescapable whistle, Duff sounds in her element as she coyly sings over the bouncy track. Her voice with Tove Lo’s lyrics are a winning combination, and I’m hoping Lo has some more contributions on the album. While it may be a little early to deem this song a hit, it definitely has all of the elements of a summer smash. From the catchy hook, “Turn the lights down low / and kiss me in the dark / Cause when you’re touching me / baby I see sparks,” to the addictive production, I wouldn’t mind hearing this on the radio as the weather heats up. Hilary Duff is putting the finishing touches on her untitled fifth album, but she has a new role on TV Land’s new series Younger (if you need your Duff fix).