| Ashlee Simpson Autobiography |
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 | Tracklist:
1. Autobiography
2. Pieces Of Me
3. Shadow
4. La La
5. Love Makes The World Go Round
6. Better Off
7. Love Me For Me
8. Surrender
9. Unreachable
10. Nothing New
11. Giving It All Away
12. Undiscovered
Release Date: | |
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On 1 Lists
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Luck, is it real or a figment of the imagination? It can change within a second, it can make you rich, make you poor or make you the laughing stock of generation X. Unfortunately for Miss Ashlee Simpson her luck turned her into the latter (Granted she got rich as well) After Simpson’s highly publicized lip sync mishap on SNL she could almost never be taken seriously anymore. Booed off the stage at football games and the punch-line in many jokes, Ashlee will have to work hard to shake her title as one of the most famous Lip-Snycers and if she keeps releasing albums like 2005’s sophomore album “I Am Me” the only she’s going to shake off is her fans. While her debut Autobiography isn’t the next “Revolver” (far from it) it contains some good songs.
Like the most popular trend of today Ashlee’s singing is backed by a real band that play a mix of Rock, Punk and Pop. Today it seems no girl wants to play with just a DJ behind her, Lindsey Lohan, Kelly Clarkson, Hillary Duff et al have all adapted the style. Unlike some of her contemporaries Ashlee writes (or does she?) some good tunes. Teeny Bopper anthems like “Pieces of Me” and “Shadow” hold stock in most of the album but the occasional semi-punk song like the single, “LaLa” and “Love Me for Me” make welcome appearances throughout the album.
Ashlee Simpson’s debut album is one of the better pop (in the modern sense of the word) albums I’ve heard in a while. No song goes over 4 minutes (except the last track), they are all easy to sing along to, fun and the majority of them are actually quite good. Of course as all albums do, this CD has its clunkers, “Love Makes the World Go Round” and “Better Off” both feature fairly boring music and bad clichéd lyrics. Neither has much to offer and should have been left off the album IMO. While the middle of the album is fairly terrible the other sections save it.
The first four tracks, all singles set a high standard as far as pop music goes. Her singles are easy to sign along to, fun and actually have halfway decent lyrics. The first track Autobiography is a good tune that holds the theme song spot in Ashlee’s MTV show. The verses in this song are cool. Comprised of a mellow palm muted guitar riff and Ashlee singing about being single (A topic the reappears on many tracks). The chorus come in and its hard to fight from singing along to. Trust me, you don’t want to be seen singing “Stains on my t-shirt/ I’m the biggest flirt” but you will. Pieces of Me is that hella catchy, acoustic love song that first introduced Ashlee to the TRL crowd. While I can respect this as a pop song it doesn’t really do anything for me. One huge downside to this album is that Ashlee seems to not know how to write about anything but love. One of the few tracks that isn’t about love is Shadow , a ballad about how Ashlee’s parents “ran away” from her once Jessica became a star. Don’t feel sorry for me Ashlee sings out after the chorus. Trust me Ashlee you’ve got a successful career and a sister with a successful career I don’t feel sorry for you. The last single off this album LaLa isn’t as good as the previous tracks but it’s not bad. Loud guitars and Ashlee screaming about sex loud enough to make her voice crack (Think Karen O except worse) make this a much different style of song then the mellower “Autobiography” and “Pieces of Me”. Of course just cause it’s louder doesn’t mean people are going to like it. Simpson was booed off stage while playing this song at a college football game. After seeing a video of her performing this live, I can see why.
While the first third of the album features some good singles and the second third features some real bad songs the end features the more mature Ashlee Simpson. Unreachable , a piano driven tune sticks out the most for me. The track doesn’t have lyrics about anything special (just love again) or tremendously different music Unreachable is a catchy, cool ballad that houses some of Ashlee’s best vocals.
All in all Autobiography features some good songs, some meh songs, some bad songs and an atrocious album cover. While it’s not very original or a stroke of genius Ashlee Simpson’s debut is a decent album contrary to popular belief.
-Dan
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| Recent reviews by this author | | | |
Haha, awesome. I didn't like anything I heard from this, but 'Boyfriend' was probably the best single of 2005. I'm half thinking of reviewing her latest one but then again I think a lot of things. Keep up the good work and prepare for your average rating to plummet to about 1 within four minutes.
Digging: Natasha Bedingfield - Pocketful of Sunshine
| | | Album Rating: 1.5
Ashlee Simpson has no credibility as an artist whatsoever. She has trouble getting a hook, rides the success of her sister, though she claims in that horrific "Shadow" she's not, and she doesn't even sing her own shit! She is death to pop.
Digging: Animal Collective - Fall Be Kind | | |
OK, shut up a minute. Have you listened to the album in full?
| | | Album Rating: 2
This album, while pretty bad, isn't without merit. It has some ear catching parts to it that make me unable to give it a 1 like I so want to.
Digging: Animal Collective - Spirit They've Gone, Spirit They've Vanished | | | Album Rating: 2.5
Originally I was planning on just trashing this, but when I actually listened to it with an open mind, I learned it really wasn't "1" worthy.
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Ashlee Simpson is one of the few examples of truly awful music.
Digging: Spawn of Possession - Cabinet
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Yeah but please don't rate it unless you've heard it. This review isn't aimed at people who don't like pop music and in the interests of making the rating somewhat useful only people in a position to rate it should 
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Well I have actually listened to almost all of the songs on the album, so my opinion isn't just based on a few things. I truly can't stand Ashlee Simpson.
| | | Album Rating: 3
[quote=thor]I have actually listened to almost all of the songs on the album[/quote]That's not every song!!!!!
Nice work on the review. :thumb:
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OK, but I know from experience that you hate all singers of this type so your rating will only skew the rating for those who might actually be interested.
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I've not heard this album yet, but your review seems pretty unbiased. Nicely done.
| | | Album Rating: 2.5
Thank you
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Rating's down to 1.5 already. Am I good, or what?
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i have heard only one or two songs off of here, because my sister loves this girl. granted, they would never appeal to me, but i could see why people who are into pop music would pick this up quickly.
but everytime i watch her getting booed off the stage at the halftime show on ebaumsworld....i just cant help but laugh.
great review by the way, and i loved the little saying about Hawthorne Heights songs not being as good as Ashlee's
Digging: blink-182 - The Mark, Tom, And Travis Show
| | | Album Rating: 3
Rated 5 to bring up the average rating.
| | | Album Rating: 2
Spat Out Plath, you said down to 1 in 4 minutes. You lose.
| | | Album Rating: 2.5
but everytime i watch her getting booed off the stage at the halftime show on ebaumsworld....i just cant help but laugh
Ditto, just because I gave it an average rating doesn't mean its not funny.
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Damn Spat, you were right. That rating dropped faster than a dress on prom night.
I consider Ashlee a joke after the MTV show and SNL debacle. But I haven't heard enough of her material to comment on that. Nice review.
| | | Album Rating: 1.5
Good review
Well...at least she's hot...
Digging: Thrice - Beggars | | | Album Rating: 2.5 | Sound Off
Nice review. The first four songs are alright, though I'm going to agree with Sylvia and say 'Boyfriend' is the best thing she's done.
I have listened to this the whole way through multiple times and am thus justified in my rating.
Digging: Taylor Swift - Fearless | | | |
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