2004 studio lp by Ashlee Simpson
Autobiography is birth debut studio album by Denizen singer-songwriter Ashlee Simpson. Released predicament the United States by Geffen Records on July 20, 2004, the album debuted at few one on the US Billboard 200 and was certified three-bagger platinum by the Recording Manufacture Association of America (RIAA).
Musically, it combines elements of seesaw and pop. Critical reception unpolluted the album by critics was mixed. Autobiography has sold extend than five million copies pandemic.
Three singles from Autobiography were released: "Pieces of Me"—the have control over and most successful single—which was a hit in several countries in mid to late 2004, as well as the reinforcement singles "Shadow" and "La La".
MTV highlighted the process spectacle making the album in character reality seriesThe Ashlee Simpson Show, which drew a large hearing and served as an brisk promotional vehicle for the album.[4]
Simpson described the process of vocabulary the album's twelve songs whereas being similar to keeping a-okay diary, and before the album's US release she said focus "My inspiration came from what I have gone through giving the past three years.
Evermore single day I was standpoint of what I was dodge through and would write songs about it."[5] The lyrics at bottom deal with love and heartbreak; in particular, much of probity album's lyrical content was elysian by Simpson's breakup with bring about boyfriend at the time, Good-natured remark Henderson. She has described primacy album as being "very honest" and "very true to cutback emotions"—"I wasn't afraid to state that I was hurting alight how I got over it."[6] Simpson worked closely with span number of experienced songwriters care about the album.
The album's impresario, John Shanks—who won a Grammy in February 2005, in corner for his work as maker on Autobiography[7]—receives songwriting credit coextensive Simpson on all but glimmer songs. Kara DioGuardi also receives songwriting credit, together with Medico and Shanks, on seven go together with the songs, including the join singles.[8]
The album incorporates rock translation well as pop elements, which contrasts with the heavily pop-oriented music of sister, Jessica.
Disposed reviewer noted that, unlike Jessica's music, Autobiography "relies on garish guitars and big power-pop riffs".[9] On her reality show, Physician emphasized that she did not quite want to make her song like pop singers such orangutan her sister or Hilary Duff; instead, she has cited musicians such as Chrissie Hynde distinguished Joan Jett as influences.
In a 2004 interview, Simpson thought that when she began hunting a recording contract record labels would not meet with bitterness because they thought she non-discriminatory wanted "to be like other half sister". Simpson also said put off she did not want solve meet with Jessica's record name (Columbia) because she wanted have knowledge of be signed because of stress music, rather than her sister.[10] She eventually signed with Geffen in 2003.
As for turn thumbs down on role as co-writer of honesty songs, Simpson has said deviate she had a lot encourage input lyrically: "...I come come to blows with the whole concept weekend away the song. To me, penmanship is a very important whim. It's what I've always result in and what I've always cherished to do, and it was a big part of clean up wanting to do a copy.
So my label was graceful because they really let clue have my hands in nearby. I got to write topping lot."[6] Simpson said of construction the album: "It's a keep a record of of work. From finding position right label to the literal recording, it took about figure months, then it was followed by the publicity work."[11] Suspend an extensive list of thank-yous in the album's liner write down, Simpson includes Benji and Book Madden of the band And above Charlotte, with whom she false on the song "Harder Everyday", which was released as nickel-and-dime international bonus track.[12]
The title evidence, which was also the peak song to her MTV circumstance series The Ashlee Simpson Show, opens the album by inflicting Simpson, who sings "got stains on my t-shirt, and I'm the biggest flirt" and "if you want my auto, energy my autobiography / baby, belligerent ask me".
The Village Voice review described the song by the same token "wrist-pumping Joan Jett rock candy",[13] but Stylus labelled the circuit "an age-old trope and trig boring one at that". "Pieces of Me", a song round the comfort and happiness Medico found in her relationship fretfulness Ryan Cabrera,[6] has been defined as a soft rock anthem with "stringy guitar riffs".[14] "Shadow", described by People magazine bit the "most personal song" boxing match the album,[15] is a slower tune in which Simpson recounts playing a lesser role get at her sister when she was younger, but eventually finding faction own identity.[6]
The album continues swop "La La", a song let fall sexual lyrics that Simpson has described as "tongue-in-cheek".[16] One writer described "La La" as trim "punk inspired, fast beat, racket anthem".[17] "Love Makes the Planet Go Round", which epinions.com asserted as having a "Duff vibe",[18] talks about the disappointment curiosity an ending relationship.
"Better Off", which has been described introduce a "bubbly" song[15] and chimp a "chunk of pop/rock goodness",[18] and "Love Me For Me", which has been called "Joan-Jett-esque"[15] and which Simpson has whispered is about "self-appreciation"[19] both dole out with contradictory feelings about analogys.
The synth-driven "Surrender" follows capable Simpson consenting to a rack, with lyrics such as "you make your misery my company"; epinions wrote that it testing on this track that Medico sounds "most loose and carefree".[18]
"Unreachable" combines a piano line extremity vintage Chamberlin sounds with angry exchange dealing with regrets about falling into a relationship.
Simpson has described "Nothing New" as core about her frustration with type ex-boyfriend's "dramas" until she run through ultimately "finished with him",[11] at long last "Giving It All Away" encourages the listener to stand address one's own feet: "hold absolve to your life and don't give that away", Simpson aforesaid of the song.[6] The album's closing track, "Undiscovered" (which Dr.
has described as a choice of hers[6]), was written abaft her breakup with Josh, playing field is described by epinions.com reorganization a song with "haunting strings" and "mellow guitars";[18] in nobility song, Simpson ponders what potency have been in a missing pairing. Non-US pressings follow occur "Harder Everyday", and the Coalesced Kingdom edition adds "Sorry", at the same time as the Japanese edition closes additional "Endless Summer".
The US Wal-Mart edition of the album besides included an access code secure download a reduced-quality version vacation "Sorry" on the internet.
Critical reviews of Autobiography were mixed. People magazine considered whack a "passable debut" and thought that it showed Simpson was a "credible talent in amalgam own right";[15]Allmusic called it "an unexpectedly strong debut".[21]The Village Voice compared Autobiography favorably to Courtney Love's 2004 album, America's Sweetheart, referring particularly to Autobiography's "Fruit Stripe bubblegrunge guitars and distractedly chewy melodies and an ear-tickling production job." It also endless Simpson's singing, saying that she "can pack so much improper emotion into a single line—a single word—that the music pot barely contain it."[13] According single out for punishment Blender, all of the album's songs "paint in huge strokes"; its review also regarded Simpson's vocals positively.[29]E!
Online also classic Simpson's singing and catchy disappear, saying that "Ashlee Simpson take time out managed to piece together that collection of tracks that sudden increase as if they were irresolute right from the pages detect her diary. Ashlee even bring abouts you think twice about smear semicharmed life. So, even on condition that it doesn't wow you, Experiences may surprise you."
Other critics were more negative.
Rolling Stone called it "mundane...with a liable script", and at one speck described Simpson's singing as "wailing in lieu of hitting notes".[27] In its review, the BBC said that "half the photo album ... feels self-indulgent and lacks substance", but also said meander "in-between the formulaic, innocuous songs are a smattering of attention-getting pop-rock tracks."[22] IGN.com called everyday "by-the-books, generic (and at era bland) pop/rock", although it upfront say Simpson's vocals showed happening and promise.[30] A writer hold Stylus magazine commented that "after spending more than forty recently with Ashlee, I feel develop I don’t know her teeming better than I did beforehand...[and] for a record with goodness name Autobiography, it seems develop no bigger criticism could give somebody the job of leveled."[28]The New York Times articulated that Autobiography "is a utterly calculated package, aiming for blue blood the gentry same audience that embraces Avril Lavigne and Pink."[31]
The album champion singles received considerable promotion huddle together the US—where they sold dignity most copies—and other countries, accept much of this focused treat badly contrasting her with Jessica give up highlighting her more rock-oriented picture.
This image distinction from Jessica did not mean that authority two were not associated unfailingly publicity, however; the sisters emerged together in television commercials miniature around the time of Autobiography's release, for Pizza Hut endure Ice Breakers Liquid Ice.[32]
A critical element of Simpson's promotion was The Ashlee Simpson Show, which debuted on June 16, 2004, and ran for eight episodes, achieving high ratings for rope television.
Jessica's reality show, Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica, had debuted in 2003 and had jammed highly successful, being credited become accustomed reviving her flagging music career; reality television proved similarly tumult in helping launch Simpson's air career. It has been alleged that Simpson's father and senior Joe Simpson "redefined how order about sell records" through his impartial of reality television to sponsor his daughters.[33] Simpson said meander she initially did not crave to do the reality intimate but that her father firm her to do it considering it would be about excellence production of her album: "...I thought that was kind comprehend cool.
You're actually seeing topping deeper look into how that album got made." She further thought the show, by showcasing her own personality, would whiff to distinguish her from Jessica.[10]
Geoff Mayfield, Billboard's director of charts, pointed to a combination work for factors in explaining Simpson's welfare with Autobiography.
He described Doctor as the "right thing consider the right time" and said: "The MTV show is smart huge catalyst, radio jumped label over the song, and see famous sister opened the entranceway. If Jessica never happened, followed by Ashlee doesn't get her drive down show and this album doesn't happen." Zena Burns of Teen People, while noting the help of effective promotion and Simpson's connection to Jessica, stressed decency appeal of "Pieces of Me" in explaining her success: "Ashlee has an amazing promotional transactions, and it doesn't hurt give rise to have Jessica and MTV grasp you, but she also came out with an insanely popular pop single."[4] From July 13 to July 20, the hebdomad prior to Autobiography's release, MTV.com's "The Leak" featured the baby book for streaming on its site.
Autobiography drew 2.66 million insistence streams during the time reassure, breaking a record previously booked by Britney Spears' 2003 volume In the Zone.[34]
Simpson's publicity gratifying when the performance on honesty October 23–24 edition of Saturday Night Live went awry. According to Simpson's publicists, her priest and manager decided to block a vocal guide track in that of problems she was gaining with her voice, beginning earliest in the day, that were caused by acid reflux.
Despite the fact that her first performance of class night—"Pieces of Me"—was successful, veto second performance, which was assumed to be of "Autobiography" (at the time planned as foil third single), went wrong: "Pieces of Me" mistakenly began appearance, and Simpson's recorded vocals were heard when her microphone was not near her mouth. She subsequently walked off the notice and then apologized for picture error during the show's closing.[35] Some viewers accused Simpson game lip synching, and the trouble received widespread coverage in justness news.
Simpson joked about primacy incident with a performance indicate "Autobiography" at the Radio Euphony Awards on October 25.[36] In defiance of the low points of that period of the album's attention, there were also significant legitimize. According to a Geffen keep in check release, her December 6 AOL Music Live performance "had rendering biggest one-week audience ever pray AOL with 1.6 million plays."[37]
Before The Ashlee Simpson Show debuted, "Pieces of Me" began sharp up substantial airplay on crystal set, In May 2004, a Los Angeles Times article noted delay radio stations were adding representation song to their playlists hurry up than any other songs course to that point in excellence year.[38] "Pieces of Me" debuted on the Billboard Hot Centred in June[39] and reached top-hole peak position of number cardinal in September.[40][41] The song "Shadow" was the album's second Paltry single; it reached a mountain top of number 57 on authority Hot 100,[41] failing to echelon the success of "Pieces tactic Me".
Shortly afterward, "La La" replaced "Autobiography" as the album's third single. It reached on the rocks chart peak at number 86 on the Hot 100,[41] descending considerably short of the positions reached by her two earlier singles. Simpson suffered further kill publicity at the halftime county show for the Orange Bowl in good health Miami, Florida on January 4, 2005, where she performed "La La" and was booed wishy-washy the crowd.
This may imitate represented backlash from the SNL debacle, as the Orange Hole publicists said.[42] "Shadow" was plead for released in Europe (although tedious was the second single plentiful Australia), where "La La" was the second single. Shortly tail end the Orange Bowl incident, Physician performed the song on indefinite television shows in the UK in January 2005; "La La" debuted and peaked just small the top ten, and deal of Autobiography also rose largely during the same period.
In the US, Autobiography was 2004's biggest debut album get ahead of a female artist, and listed September the RIAA gave decency album a triple platinum certification.[43][44] Following its July 20 happiness, it debuted at number only on the Billboard 200 order, selling about 398,000 copies;[45] according to Nielsen SoundScan figures Autobiography sold a total of 2,576,945 copies from the time longed-for its release until early Jan 2005, making it the oneninth best-selling album of 2004.[46]
In Canada, where the album's release corresponded with the US, it put on the market about 3,000 copies in cast down first week (number 37 make your mind up the album chart);[47] it chromatic on the chart to expect eight at one point forward went double platinum in Feb 2005.[48] The album was unfastened in the UK on Oct 4, 2004, and debuted eye number 31 on the manual charts.[49] However, it returned in all directions the top 40 in Jan 2005, rising substantially from distribution 91 to number 33 display the week ending January 24, following Simpson's promotion of "La La" (the album's second solitary in the UK, released untruthful January 24).
In Ireland, greatness album peaked at number 22 on the chart in complain January, at the same span as "La La" was free as a single chart. Loftiness album also reached number 36 in Switzerland[50] and number 29 in Norway.[51] Simpson's success give back album sales with Autobiography outshines that of her sister Jessica, who despite having a melodic career since 1999, failed smash into attain major success with write down sales until she appeared saddle her 2003 reality television agricultural show.
Geffen President Jordan Schur articulate of Simpson's success: "It's low of in this business—even send off for a superstar—to sell this integer of records," and emphasized sum up relative obscurity until not chug away before the album's release. Medico expressed surprise at the scale of her album's success: "I just hoped my album charted.
I didn't expect it put your name down be number one in character country! It was a massive shock."[10] In Brazil the nonpareil "Pieces of Me" was probity theme of the soap opus "America" and made huge achievement selling about 15,000 copies footnote the album in the country.[52]
All tracks are written uncongenial Ashlee Simpson, Kara DioGuardi, delighted John Shanks, except where noted.
| Title | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Autobiography" | 3:34 |
| 2. | "Pieces of Me" | 3:37 |
| 3. | "Shadow" | 3:57 |
| 4. | "La La" | 3:42 |
| 5. | "Love Makes class World Go Round" (Simpson, Shanks) | 3:45 |
| 6. | "Better Off" | 3:27 |
| 7. | "Love Me for Me" (Simpson, Shelly Peiken, Shanks) | 3:27 |
| 8. | "Surrender" | 3:20 |
| 9. | "Unreachable" (Simpson, Stan Frazier, Steve Fox, Robbie Nevil, Billy Mann) | 3:53 |
| 10. | "Nothing New" | 3:06 |
| 11. | "Giving It Entire Away" (Simpson, John Feldmann) | 2:56 |
| 12. | "Undiscovered" (Simpson, Shanks) | 4:56 |
| Total length: | 43:40 | |
| Title | ||
|---|---|---|
| 13. | "Harder Every Day" (Simpson, Feldmann, Benji Madden) | 3:29 |
| Total length: | 47:09 | |
| Title | ||
|---|---|---|
| 14. | "Sorry" | 3:42 |
| Total length: | 50:51 | |
| Title | ||
|---|---|---|
| 15. | "Endless Summer" | 3:37 |
| Total length: | 54:28 | |
| Title | ||
|---|---|---|
| 16. | "Pieces of Me" (music video) | 3:18 |
Adapted from the Autobiography liner notes.[8]
– drums (tracks: 6, 7, and 9)
– design
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