Mandy Moore Amanda Leigh

Mandy Moore started out as just another teen popster with her smash “Candy,” but she was able to transcend that characterization by releasing 2003’s unexpected Coverage CD, a set of interesting oldies originally done by artists like XTC and Blondie. Since then she’s become better known for acting and celebrity dating. But with Amanda Leigh, she seems to be looking to update her sound by collaborating with singer-songwriter Mike Viola (a former Adam Schlesinger collaborator who co-produced and sung the title track from the film “That Thing You Do!” Moore is artistically in control of the project, since it’s being release on a new label founded by her manager, John Leshay. As of press time, there’s no word if Moore’s hubby-to-be Ryan Adams will appear on the disc.

Abstract by Tony Sclafani