‘I Believe’; Sofia; Vicor Music

Sofia’s latest 14-track album sees the velvet-voiced singer in a subdued mood, mixing lite-jazz tunes, with standards and Latin-tinged pop covers.

Starting off with the jazzy “Moonriver,” Sofia boasts of a soothing vocal that has matured nicely over the years. She puts it to good use with a hushed reading of the classic “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue,” and continues in this vein on  “How Deep Is Your Love” and “Dreaming Of You.”

Lite-jazz is a perfect fit for Sofia, who not so long ago established herself as a talented Bossanova singer with a genuine artistic streak. That bossa vibe is still evident in the remake of Michael Jackson’s “Human Nature” and her Michael Learns To Rock cover, “Out Of The Blue.” She also has a peppy version of The Wannadies’ “You And Me Song” and a soulful review of Sade’s “By Your Side.”

The inclusion of Japanese numbers cuts like the piano-decked “Miagetegoran Yoruno Hosio,” and the lovely ballad “I Believe,” is targeted for the Asian market. The guitar-playing Sofia also slips in her original, “Broke My Heart,” which hints at her songwriting skills and reinforces her current, jazzy frame of mind.

‘Diana Vickers’; Diana Vickers; Sony Music

Diana Vickers, 19, is a product of “Britain’s Got Talent” – the same show that produced the likes of Leona Lewis and Susan Boyle. While the latter have had pop/adult contemporary hits, Vickers is trying her hand at electronica and pop-rock.

Her debut album is a collection of such styles, from the synth-driven, electro-pop-dance number, “Once,” to an '80s dance music throwback, “Remake Me + You.”

An international pop star in the making, she’s definitely got the look down pat in a quirky package. Imagine a blonde Natalie Imbruglia with the pipes of Dolores O’Riordan (The Cranberries) and you’ve got an approximation of how Vickers looks and sound.

Quirkier still is her song selection here—from electronic-tinged dance one moment, acoustic guitar and ambient the next, like on “Four Leaf Clover.” She goes on these tangents further like on “Put It Back Together.” “You’ll Never Get To Heaven” is a sampling of good electronica, while the indie-pop types get “Notice.” A good intro to ‘folk-tronica,’ “Me & You” showcases how this little musical fusion sounds.

Pop stardom is still a long way for Vickers, but her debut is a solid foundation for her to build a good career on.

‘Boom – 20 Explosive Hits From Today’s Hottest Artists’; Various Original Artists; Sony Music

The album title says it all. Besides being a mouthful, this 20-track CD compiles the best and latest, including: party girl Ke$ha’s number one single “Tik Tok;” MC Pitbull with his club fave “Hotel Room Service;” Britney Spear's ménage a trois anthem “3;” and Sean Kingston’s dancehall inspired “Fire Burning.” A great lineup to start off any party! 

And then the “Idols” take over: from Adam Lambert  (“For Your Entertainment”) and Jordin Sparks (“Battlefield”) to Chris Daughtry (“No Surprise”) and Kris Allen (“Live Like We’re Dying”).  David Cook’s “Come Back To Me” and David Archuleta’s pseudo pop-R&B “A Little Too Not Over You” are also in the line-up, as well as Kelly Clarkson’s power ballad “Already Gone.”

This compilation also includes the Jedward twins doing their Queen-Vanilla Ice mash-up of “Under Pressure (Ice Ice Baby),” featuring Vanilla Ice himself. Boys Like Girls (“Love Drunk”) and Lenka (“Trouble Is A Friend”) also make their appearance here.

Bringing in their brand of pop sass (and class) are Leona Lewis with “Happy,” Pink with “Funhouse,” and the amazing Alicia Keys with “Doesn’t Mean Anything.”

Press play and see your stereo go boom!