To these ends, tracks like the opening 'Honeymoon Avenue,' with its sophisticated orchestral intro, and the bright and funky 'You'll Never Know' sound like lost early-'90s R&B hits. Thankfully, Grande has the chops to pull it off, and Yours Truly makes the most of her talent. Of course, with Edmonds at the helm, along with a bevy of commercially minded songwriters, the Carey comparisons are unavoidable and most likely intentional. A resonant singer gifted with a lithe affinity for both high-energy melisma and gentle balladry, Grande often brings to mind the intonations of Mariah Carey. In fact, one would be hard-pressed to find a better platform for Grande's voice. Produced by Kenneth 'Babyface' Edmonds, Yours Truly is an impeccably engineered affair.

Three years in the making and held up by numerous delays, Yours Truly lives up to those expectations. As the character Cat Valentine on several Nickelodeon television shows including I Carly, Victorious, and Sam & Cat, Grande developed a huge fan following and the expectations were high for her debut album.

The debut album from Ariana Grande, 2013's Yours Truly, is a surprisingly sophisticated and unique showcase for the Nickelodeon sitcom star's soulful R&B vocals. Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.