Natalie

As R&B-styled pop artists go, there is something unassailably nice about Natalie. In fact, there are moments over the course of Everything New when she makes Beyonce look like Lil' Kim. The subject matter is familiar -- posturing boys, waxed whips and nebulous allusions to sexual activity set to relentlessly "now" beats -- it's just that all of the genre's residual elements of threat have been rigorously expunged. The idea that Natalie could "steal your man" ("Slow Dance") is ridiculous. Compare "My Candy" to Ciara's "Goodies" to see what we mean.