Autobiography (by Ashlee Simpson, Pop)

On AUTOBIOGRAPHY, Ashlee Simpson is portrayed as an edgy romantic whose primary object of affection seems to be herself. For the most part, lyrics are pretty tame, with the exception of an occasional "sh*t" or "a*s." The sexiest song on the album, "La La," is filled with lusty kink-lite innuendo that will zoom right over the heads of younger kids. Older teens, especially those engaged in their own odysseys of self-absorption, will find a lot to relate to, and the music is well-played rock & roll. So let your kids kick off their shoes, pump up the volume, and have fun listening to this CD. Then remind them to do something nice for someone else.

It's hard to imagine how any one person could be that interesting, yet a lot of the album works. Sweetly breathy vocals are mixed high above well-performed instrumental tracks. Unlike big sister Jessica, Ashlee can actually sing, and her vocal strengths are showcased on her original tunes. She also has a better-than-average band backing her up. But the real stars are producer John Shanks and recording engineer Jeff Rothschild, who created this impeccably produced CD

Released on: August 2, 2004
Label: Geffen Records
Genre: Pop