 ... Baby One More Time received mixed reviews from critics . Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic gave the album four out of five stars , and commented that , by the time Spears launched her career , " everything old was new again " , comparing the album to Hangin ' Tough ( 1988 ) by New Kids on the Block . Erlewine further complimented the quality of the singles while praising Max Martin , " who is also the mastermind behind Spears ' debut . " Entertainment Weekly 's Beth Johnson noted the singer " sounds remarkably like the Backstreet Boys ' kid sister " , saying , however , that this was " not surprising , since BSB hit @-@ <unk> Max Martin wrote the candy @-@ pop @-@ with @-@ a @-@ funky @-@ edge smash debut . " Robert Christgau commented Spears portrayed a " Madonna next door " in the album with songs like " ... Baby One More Time " and " Soda Pop " , while Craig <unk> of The Hamilton Spectator said the album " offers a glib compendium of soul / pop cliches , served with a giddy , uptempo verve that recalls Debbie Gibson on a chocolate high . " Amazon.com 's Rickey Wright gave ... Baby One More Time a mixed review , saying that " a few of the disc 's cuts are pleasantly catchy " , noting , however , " neither does the 17 @-@ year @-@ old Spears 's debut album contain anything else that remotely approaches that instant hit single [ ' ... Baby One More Time ' ] . " Billboard 's Paul Verna considered the album " a top 40 @-@ ready workout filled with hook @-@ laden songs from the same bag as the title cut " . 
