Following chart-topping soundtrack appearances as a cast member of Disney Channel's Descendants franchise,
Sofia Carson released her eponymous solo debut in early 2022. July of that year saw the release of the Netflix original movie
Purple Hearts, starring
Carson as a struggling singer/songwriter who enters into an arranged marriage with a marine (Nicholas Galitzine) that ultimately develops into the real thing. Channeling her exuberant, yearning pop into a set of four original songs, the album's arrangements rely more heavily on guitars than her trademark dance-pop sound. The brief soundtrack is rounded out by covers of
Portugal. The Man and
Neil Diamond plus "stripped" versions of ballad highlight "Come Back Home" and the driving "I Hate the Way." These new songs -- which she co-wrote with hitmakers like
Justin Tranter (
Julia Michaels,
Demi Lovato) and Skyler Stonestreet, among others -- are not only worth the price of admission (or subscription) for fans but showcase
Carson's potential star power. ~ Marcy Donelson