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For the four people who actually own her debut album, it should come as no surprise that the latest album from Danielle Brisebois, the former child star of “All in the Family” and it’s subsequent spin-off “Archie’s Place”, is actually very good. In fact, with this release, a finely crafted pop album with introspective lyrics and impressive vocals, Brisebois deserves to be mentioned in the same breath with names like Alannis Morrisette. I’m not kidding.

When Brisebois released her debut album, “Arrive All Over Me”, nobody listened. And what they missed was an album full of intelligent lyrics and crisp pop melodies. Much has changed in the five years since that release – for one, she was unceremoniously dropped from Sony Music and snatched up by RCA – but one constant has been the absolute quality of her music, and her latest, “Portable Life”, is no different.

“I’ve Had It”, the album’s first single, is also the highlight of the album. The song, a deeply layered pop song, has enough hooks and catchy verses to earn its way onto many a college radio playlist. The question, of course, is will it? Try convincing a program director in Austin that the song by the girl who once starred in that sitcom is actually very good. Probably not the easiest task in the world.

Much of the credit for “Portable Life” should go to Brisebois’ long time collaborator and producer Gregg Alexander. It’s obvious that he and Brisebois have developed a knack for penning insightful and mature pop music, which should come as no surprise to those who recognize Alexander from his band New Radicals. The album’s lyrics are introspective, with a touch of humor and sarcastic wit and the music is as catchy as anything in recent memory.

So, ignore any predisposition you may have regarding former child stars. This album is as good as they come and should not be overlooked.

By: Jason Cahill