ALBUM REVIEW: Ariana Grande 'Yours Truly': 'Sam & Cat' Star's Debut Album One of 2013's Shiniest Debuts Full of Strong R&B-Influenced Pop [FULL ALBUM STREAM]

As the weeks led up to the release of "Sam & Cat" star Ariana Grande's debut album, "Yours Truly," buzz was floating around that it would turn out to be one of the strongest records of the year, not just one of the best debuts. It's hard to live up to that hype when records like Justin Timberlake's long-awaited "The 20/20 Experience" or the beautiful Civil Wars' self-titled goodbye to music were released. However, upon a single listen to "Yours Truly," it becomes clear that Grande has created something special with her first studio effort.

Like the album title suggests, "Yours Truly" feels like a love letter to the pop-R&B genre. Full of throwback tracks that feel distinctly inspired by the mid-2000s ("Right There"), the '90s ("You'll Never Know") and even the 1950s ("Tattooed Heart," "Daydreamin'"), the record pulls past influences to create something new.

What brings "Yours Truly" into the modern era is not only its singles and the timelessness of solid R&B, but the production value. Recorded by the likes of The Rascals and Babyface, "Yours Truly" works with modern electronic instrumentation, making the record feel very much like an album of 2013.

The record, of course, is highlighted by Grande's Top 10 hit "The Way" and her new banger "Baby I." The strength of these singles has been talked to death, and though they stand out on "Yours Truly" as two of the biggest tracks, they also fall in line, giving other tracks equal weight.

Standouts include the upbeat, hopeful "Piano," wherein a piano isn't used so much as an instrument but is emphasized as an avenue for writing a love song. The song is youthful, poppy and fun, and Grande's breathy vocals blend perfectly into the mix. Ballad "Tattooed Heart" demonstrates Grande's vocal efforts better than most of the tracks on the record. She belts out the chorus with a power that is shocking for her 20 years.

The record does begin to falter near the end. One of the final two tracks, "Popular Song" with "Grace Kelly" singer Mika (the track originally appeared on Mika's album "The Origin of Love") feels more like a bonus track. It's curious as to why it was even included on "Yours Truly" -- the song is more than a year old. The vocals are strong on the track (it is Grande and Mika after all), but rumors have it Grande's label is pushing this as the second pop radio single from "Yours Truly" (as opposed to "Baby I"). If that's true on an album full of strong, new material, it could have disastrous effects for her future career.

Despite the final throwaway filler tracks, "Yours Truly" shines as an incredibly strong debut for Grande and as one of the better pop/R&B albums of the year. Mariah Carey comparisons aside, it definitely seems like this Nickelodeon star is destined for bigger things.

Listen to "Yours Truly" below.