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by Tony Pascarella Published: September 7, 2004
Without banking on the success of her older sister Jessica, the 19-year old self-styled singer from Texas who crosses the genre gap between pop and rock with ease, has her own television show (a ratings boon for MTV) and a multi-platinum debut album that sold over four hundred thousand copies in the first week of release.While MTV took every opportunity to cram Ashlee Simpson's lead video (Pieces of Me) down the collective public's throats, the show itself served as more than able promotion for her debut album, Autobiography. Legions of die-hard fans and curious onlookers everywhere showed up at record stores en masse to pick up a copy of the album, which can only be defined as a cross between individuality and commercial success. Leading off the album is Autobiography, the title track. Generally, title tracks get a bad rap, but the complete opposite is in effect for this song. While her vocals aren't perfect on this song, the introspective look into Ashlee's life is both flashy and passionate. Alternating between happiness and singing about the bruises on her heart, it's a good icebreaker for the album. The only thing to perhaps spice it up a little more would be some better instrument work. Sure, it's decent, but not great. The second song on this album, just about everyone who hasn't lived underground for the past three months has heard numerous times. The hit single from Autobiography, called Pieces Of Me, is another song in which Ashlee sings about herself. On replay value alone, this song lacks; hearing it once or two hundred times really doesn't get you any more out of the track. It's well written and well-produced, but it's redundant after a while. Solid track, just not my choice for lead single. Shadow is the second single/video released from Autobiography. More low-key rock, Ashlee's voice is almost silky until she hits the first part of the chorus. Then she picks up and carries the song with deep emotion. The only thing that may need a little work is the little screech in her voice that pops up occasionally; it doesn't really fit the song. As a struggle for her independence, Ashlee demonstrates that she's finally broken free of the shadow of her sister. Speaking of breaking free, the next track, La La, is something that seems almost out of character based on the rest of the album. Including a heavy guitar rhythm, this song has one purpose, and that is to rock. Ashlee's lyrics are fun, sassy, and even risque; one can wonder whether her father had a heart attack after hearing that one. French maid, indeed. A music video for this song would go down in history alongside AC/DC's mechanical bulls and fishnet stockings. Love Makes The World Around is a well-sung, simple song. There isn't a whole lot that doesn't show up on the surface. The guitars are solid, as are Ashlee's vocals; there's nothing really to make you think. As far as simple songs go, this is a very good one. After a couple of listens, you'll definitely get into this song and probably have memorized the lyrics. While it's difficult to explain why Better Off is so good without the readers hearing the song, I'll give it a shot. This track will get to you subliminally more than anything. What you hear on the surface is some decent rock music with slightly breathy vocals. After you turn the song off, you really start to think about what she was saying. And it makes just about as much sense as artists who pride themselves on lyrics (Pearl Jam, Alanis Morissette, etc), but it's much more cut and dried. How toothpaste fits into this album is a bit of a mystery, but it is mentioned in what may be the most memorable verse of Autobiography. That said, Love Me For Me is a hopeful yet demanding song that has insightful lyrics. Her vocals (the execution of them, really) are a bit weak, however, but the track itself is sure to give you a chuckle or two. Surrender is about as close as Ashlee treads the line with her sister. It's got a poppy feel that everyone knows was going to show up somewhere on the album. The only problem with the track is that it could have been done by any one of a dozen female singers of today. There isn't anything that really sets it apart and will make you say, "Wow, that's definitely an Ashlee Simpson song!" While she does offer a valiant attempt, it falls a bit flat. Channeling yet another style of music, Ashlee's performance on Unreachable is admirable. This song is a lot like getting a gift wrapped in cool wrapping paper but the gift inside is one of those presents that wasn't what you expected, but it's still fairly decent; underwhelming might be a good way to put it. Odd analogies aside, this song is long and drawn out, although it's well-produced. Unfortunately, it really doesn't have anything to keep your attention, unless you're a Fiona Apple fan. The comparisons are definitely there, and there is just cause for them. Nice song, but some people may expect a little more. Nothing New is a rocker that takes time to pick up; it just doesn't captivate like it should. The song title fits perfectly; good instruments, just the vocals aren't good enough to measure up to the rest of Autobiography. Giving It All Away is a song that has slowly become a personal favorite. With this album, you never know what you're going to get, and the second-to-last track holds to that theory. Acoustic guitars make this song as good as it is. Each time she hits the chorus, the song becomes more powerful. This is definitely one of Ashlee's stronger songs vocally. The cracking of her voice when she hits high notes is nowhere to be found here, and it's very smooth. Excellent job, Ashlee. Closing the album is the unremarkable Undiscovered. A very low-key ending to what has been a more than good debut album. She just doesn't have anything to end the album with a great final note. The lyrics are just average, and nothing even close to upbeat. On the whole, Ashlee Simpson has released a debut album that her sister has been trying to make since the onslaught of so-called pop princesses a few years back. Having sold more than one and a quarter million copies in five weeks of release, her debut is evidently turning some heads and cranking up some stereos around the nation. She manages to transcend genres and musical comparisons with twelve fairly solid tracks overall. If this album were perhaps another track or two longer, I think the true range of her songwriting and performance ability would be evident. With Autobiography, the public is given a self-contained sample to get us ready for a future release. Of the new albums I've had the opportunity to listen to this year, Ashlee Simpson's Autobiography is both entertaining and fun while serious and internally contemplative. There are issues with her voice throughout the album and some tracks that come up a little short. On the other hand, this may be one of the best collections of songwriting out of the pop/rock genre in a while. Her lyrics aren't always elegant, but they sure do make an impact with even the casual fans. The instrument work is generally solid, although don't expect any miracles. After reading that paragraph and skimming down to the grade of this album, many readers may wonder how it earned such a rating. This album has capable lyrics from start to finish. Ashlee's voice is what makes a single track better than the rest, and she demonstrates that on quite a few occasions. Comparisons can be drawn to artists such as Sheryl Crow, Alanis Morissette, Fiona Apple, and even a bit of Avril Lavigne. She takes what are arguably the best elements from those artists and mixes in her own charisma to release an excellent but slighty imperfect album. One thing I can definitely conclude about Autobiography is that I'm greatly anticipating the release of her second album, whenever that may be. I definitely will list this album as one of the most enjoyable from this year so far that I have had the opportunity to listen to. Overall Grade: A- Official Ashlee Simpson Website: Click here Additional Links: CelebritySpider Pictures are copyright 2004, Geffen/MCA |
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