Billboard single reviews: Britney, Nelly

NEW YORK (Billboard) - Given Britney Spears' persistent high profile, it matters little what the former pop princess releases to mark her return to musical pop culture--radio will indulge on curiosity alone. "Gimme More" certainly scratches the itch. Opening spoken line "It's Britney, bitch," followed by a giggle, proves she has the last laugh, no matter how controversial her public behavior during the past year. The uptempo dance track is a cutesy if redundant jam in which the title is repeated no fewer than three dozen times in four minutes. Instantly most added at top 40, Spears is destined for a lofty chart debut. But the question remains: Will her less-than-stellar performance at the MTV Video Music Awards cripple long-term interest in the song and Brit's determination to be a performer instead of a punch line?

ARTIST: ANN WILSON

SINGLE: IMMIGRANT SONG

It's natural for Ann Wilson to take a stab at "Immigrant Song," considering her long-professed love for Led Zeppelin. And if anyone's got the pipes to blow Robert Plant's caterwaul through the roof, it's Heart's formidable frontwoman. So imagine the letdown when, instead of setting off a powerhouse wail, a la "Alone," Wilson settles for subdued "ah-ah-ahs" relegated to the background. The revamped song holds back on Jimmy Page's galloping licks until the finale, where smears of strings, pondering bass, crisp percussion and shakers at least propel the thundering track. Even those who grew up with Zeppelin will need a few moments before they recognize it. Distinctly modern, interestingly executed and -- while wanna-be divas should still bow to Wilson's fierce soprano -- vocally puzzling.

ARTIST: NELLY

SINGLE: WADSYANAME

With heavy hitters Kanye West and 50 Cent releasing albums September 11, Nelly also fearlessly enters the fray via his own "Brass Knuckles." With 40 million records sold and a collection of hits brighter than the grill he dons, "Wadsyaname" is another sure-fire hit. With pimp juice flowing, lyrically he hopes to maximize his final hours in the city with an attractive lady. But instead of the typical male approach toward T&A, he plays up the woman's beauty, elegance and career drive. A pleasant surprise for the ladies and definitely a breath of fresh air for a commercial record that packs more content and less dance instruction.

ARTIST: JORDIN SPARKS

SINGLE: TATTOO

So many American Idols who won favor with voters because of sheer vocal potency ultimately betray that trust by entering the studio and recording music aiming to fluff up the hip factor--and in the process, hiding their gifts behind junk production and throwaway tracks. How refreshing that season six winner Jordin Sparks kick-starts her career with a genuine showcase of her beautiful voice. Midtempo melodic keeper "Tattoo," about the indelible emotions that remain after a faded relationship, is an ideal fit for a first fall hit, with crisp, mature instrumentation and a vocal that is ironically reminiscent of fellow "AI" hitmaker Kimberley Locke (a supreme compliment). A sling-shot launch that, for once, should live up to "AI" voter expectations. At this stage, the show needs that kind of cred.

ARTIST: THE DOLLYROTS

SINGLE: BECAUSE I'M AWESOME

Punk-poppers the Dollyrots are gaining momentum via modern millennium tools: branding, baby. When launched in 2002, the song "Feed Me, Pet Me" found its way into an ad for Hewlett Packard. Now signed to Joan Jett's Blackheart Records, the title track from second album "Because I'm Awesome" leads Kohl's back-to-school campaign. Lead singer Kelly Ogden, guitarist/ keyboardist Luis Cabezas and drummer Chris Black have plenty of star quality to seduce teens: Imagine Avril with a giggly sense of humor. Lyrically, "Awesome" professes a lengthy laundry list of self-aggrandizing character merits, as a gargantuan cascade of guitars and percussion embrace the frenzied track. A group with gusto on the verge of discovery.

ARTIST: LITTLE BIG TOWN

SINGLE: I'M WITH THE BAND

There is so much to love about Little Big Town, starting with incredible harmonies, songwriting chops and stellar stage presence. These four guys are proof that an act can bounce around Music Row and struggle for years, then find platinum-selling success -- and on an indie label, at that. This single demonstrates why they are so hot. Those gorgeous harmonies make this record an aural feast, and the well-written lyric gives the audience a taste of the gypsy life of a musician from an insider's perspective. Wayne Kirkpatrick's skilled production helps the song swirl and soar. It's an enticing preview to the group's new disc, due this fall.

Reuters/Billboard