By the end of 1999, teen pop had grown into a strangely diverse genre of its own, with each act fulfilling a different need. Britney Spears was pure, trashy fun, while Christina Aguilera was flashy and talented just like Mariah Carey. The Backstreet Boys stood above the pack with their suave sophistication and irresistible melodic charm, while 'N Sync were the Stones to the Backstreet Boys' Beatles -- a little bit of the rough and tough, not quite as melodic, but almost as charming. Into the fray arrived Jessica Simpson -- unlike some of her peers, a mere finalist for the New Mickey Mouse Club instead of a full-fledged member -- with her debut Sweet Kisses, an album that positions her as the teen Celine Dion. Sure, she delves into the frothy dance-pop that's teen pop's stock-in-trade, but the heart of her album lies in adult contemporary ballads like her breakout hit "I Wanna Love You Forever," which gives her a chance to show off the richness of her voice. She doesn't over-sing, like Aguilera occasionally does, even if she has moments where she pushes the envelope slightly -- just like her idol Dion. However, there are already indications that she's developing her own voice, since she is equally capable of delivering danceable urban R&B ("Final Heartbreak," "I've Got My Eyes on You," the Destiny's Child duet"Woman in Me") as she is mature balladry ("Faith in Me," the Nick Lachey duet "Where You Are"). Like most teen-pop albums, Sweet Kisses suffers from inconsistent material, yet the filler is well-produced and performed, making the record every bit as listenable as Aguilera's fine debut. As a matter of fact, Simpson proves with this debut that she could very well be a teen popster that could easily make the transition to adult artist -- and that puts her in a rarified league with Aguilera and the Backstreets. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
Robbie Nevil (Guitar), Robbie Nevil (Producer), Tim Heintz (Keyboards), Dwight Sills (Guitar), Michael Thompson (Guitar), Evan Rogers (Vocals (Background)), Evan Rogers (Producer), Andy Goldmark (Keyboards), Andy Goldmark (Producer), Andy Goldmark (Engineer), Anas Allaf (Guitar), Chris Apostle (Project Coordinator), Chris Apostle (Assistant Project Coordinator), Louis Biancaniello (Keyboards), Louis Biancaniello (Programming), Louis Biancaniello (Producer), Louis Biancaniello (Instrumentation), Chris Camozzi (Guitar), Graeme Coleman (Piano), Graeme Coleman (Conductor), Graeme Coleman (String Arrangements), Dave Deviller (Guitar (Acoustic)), Dave Deviller (Arranger), Dave Deviller (Programming), Dave Deviller (Producer), Sherree Ford-Payne (Vocals (Background)), Steve George (Engineer), Mick Guzauski (Mixing), Sean Hosein (Arranger), Sean Hosein (Programming), Sean Hosein (Producer), Jack Kugell (Digital Editing), Jack Kugell (Editing), Iki Levy (Drum Programming), Hank Linderman (Engineer), Bob Ludwig (Mastering), Tony Maserati (Mixing), John Mellencamp (Performer), Brian Newcombe (Bass), Dan Petty (Guitar (Acoustic)), Dan Petty (Guitar (Electric)), Jose Sanchez (Assistant Engineer), Dan Shea (Producer), Carl Sturken (Multi Instruments), Carl Sturken (Producer), Carl Sturken (Instrumentation), Eric Foster White (Keyboards), Eric Foster White (Programming), Eric Foster White (Producer), Eric Foster White (Engineer), Martin Horenburg (Engineer), Tom Bender (Mixing Assistant), Jessica Simpson (Vocals), Jessica Simpson (Vocals (Background)), Jessica Simpson (Main Performer), Glen Marchese (Engineer), Sam Watters (Vocals (Background)), Sam Watters (Producer), Rob Williams (Engineer), Alberto Tolot (Photography), London Jones (Keyboards), London Jones (Programming), London Jones (Vocals (Background)), London Jones (Producer), Corey Rooney (Producer), Ronnie Rivera (Assistant Engineer), Ron Jaramillo (Art Direction), Ron Jaramillo (Design), Tim "Flash" Mariner (Engineer), Paul Wagner (Engineer), Destiny's Child (Vocals (Background)), Destiny's Child (Vocal Ad-Libs), Francesca Tolot (Make-Up), Scott Gutierrez (Engineer), Jamie Houston (Producer), Robert Scott William (Engineer), Al Hemberger (Engineer), Nick Lachey (Vocals), Collen Reynolds (Production Coordination), Ethan Schofer (Mixing Assistant), Ben Holt (Engineer), Ben Holt (Assistant Engineer), Ben Holt (Mixing Assistant), Kim Gorham (Production Coordination), Steve Smith (Engineer), Jill Seifers (Vocals (Background)), Matt Martiensson (Assistant Engineer), Gordon Maxwell (Vocals (Background)), Jennifer Karr (Vocals (Background)), Andrea Derby (Assistant Production Coordination), Jeff Gregory (Assistant Engineer), Jeff Gregory (Mixing Assistant), Tania Hancheroff (Vocals (Background)), Tim Hientz (Keyboards), Simon Isherwood (Conductor), Notre Dame Gospel Choir (Choir, Chorus), Ken Paves (Hair Stylist), Manelich Sotolong (Assistant Engineer), Beverley Staunton (Vocals (Background)), Rachel Zoe (Stylist), Michael "Wolf" Reaves (Engineer), Theresa LaBarbera Whites (A&R), Steven "Steve O" George (Engineer), Michael Thompson (Guitar), José Dicenta Sánchez (Assistant Engineer)
The album reached at number 25 on the Billboard 200. Stayed on the chart for 60 weeks[1]. The album was certified 2x Multiplatinum in the 2001. Sweet Kisses has sold 2 million copies in the United States and around 4 million worldwide.
Producers: Louis Biancaniello, Dave Deviller, Andy Goldmark, Dan Shea, Jamie Houston, London Jones, Robbie Nevil, Evan Rogers, Corey Rooney, Carl Sturken, Sam Watters, Eric Foster White
Engineers: Steve George, Andy Goldmark, Scott Gutierrez, Al Hemberger, Ben Holt, Martin Horenburg, Hank Linderman, Glen Marchese, Tim "Flash" Mariner, Michael "Wolf" Reaves, Steve Smith, Paul Wagner, Eric Foster White, Rob Williams
Assistant engineers: Jeff Gregory, Matt Martiensson, Ronnie Rivera, Jose Sanchez, Manelich Sotolong
