Mariposa

Chalk up the unevenness and overall mediocrity of Mariposa, the third album from Tejano star Jennifer Pe?a, to growing pains. The talented teen seems stuck in the rote sounds of today's Tejano music--sleepy accordions, weepy vocals, sing-song choruses. The album starts out promisingly with the first single, "Tengo Miedo," but it quickly dissipates into an awkward blend of standard radio cumbias, mariachi numbers, and dance-floor ditties. Pe?a's voice is still strong and focused, but the album has no concrete direction. Coproducers Abraham Quintanilla Jr. and Brian "Red" Moore give the young star little to work with. Particularly out of place is "Chica Preferida" (whose English version, "Let Me Be the One," is also included), a club track that seems out of place and sounds laughably outdated. Pe?a deserves better than this.