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Drawing from the same angst-filled well as fellow Canadian Avril Lavigne, singer-songwriter Fefe Dobson makes an impressive entrée into the pop-rock arena with her self-titled debut. The feisty newcomer, whose commanding vocals recall Alanis Morissette and the punk-lite posturing of her aforementioned peer, shows promise on 12 guitar-driven tracks that reflect the teen's musical influences, including Nirvana and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. With its melodic guitar chords, the rap-rock-fused "Give It Up" even recalls the Chili Peppers' "Under the Bridge." But the 18-year-old proves she's no copycat on the touching and understated "Julia" and "Revolution Song," which starts with a folksy acoustic guitar and then builds in intensity. "Rock It Till You Drop It" is also a nice surprise, thanks to a beat-juggling break and an old-school rap by Tone "Wild Thing" Loc. Although Dobson falls prey to some rock clichés -- overdone guitar riffs and a dramatic shouting chorus ("I want for you to know, you are, you are, unforgiven!") on the Pat Benatar throwback "Unforgiven," about the father who abandoned her -- she has more than enough star quality to compensate. Skater boys, you have been warned. Tracy E. Hopkins, Barnes & Noble