Sleeping in the Nothing (by Kelly Osbourne, Punk Rock)

On SLEEPING IN THE NOTHING, producer Linda Perry delivers the perfect musical presentation for Kelly Osbourne, who is -- let's face it -- a woman with a lot more attitude than vocal range. Paying tribute to 1980s new-wave arrangements and mixing the singer's heavily processed vocals front and center, she achieves a consistently interesting sound that emphasizes Kelly's vocal strengths and in-your-face lyrics.

The edited version of this CD holds together just fine, lyrically and musically, but still contains a couple of explicit words in a song about date rape. Kelly Osbourne's musical collaboration with Linda Perry is a win-win, and helps her to put her best foot forward.

The lyrics, though never exactly brilliant, touch on issues familiar to many teenagers. What about the boy who ignores you in public but hits on you in private? What about the guy with the cheerleader girlfriend who wants to see you on the side? What about the loser who takes you out to dinner and then spikes your Shasta? Visceral and immediate, Kelly's lyrics address the darker side of teen relationships in a way that won't exactly give comfort, but may help girls dealing with these issues feel a little less alone.

Released on: June 7, 2005
Label: Sanctuary Records
Genre: Punk Rock
Parental advisory: Yes
Edited version available: Yes