Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Way back in July 2004, riding on the coattails of her sister's meaningless success in reality television, Ashlee Simpson coughed up the #1 cash cow release of the season with her debut LP, "Autobiography," despite the immediate recognition of critics and music lovers alike that she simply could not sing. After the notorious SNL debacle in which Simpson was caught lip-syncing, however, one would think that those who dubbed her a non-talent would finally be taken seriously. However, the general public has a memory span of three seconds, and so the recent release of "I Am Me" made for another #1 debut. One only needs to know the title of the album to sense that it is smothered in self-indulgence and pretense. After listening to the first few tracks, as well as glancing at the cover in which the back-to-blonde and expressionless Simpson is almost eclipsed by darkness, this is confirmed. To be sure, after the third track "Beautifully Broken" slides by, the essence of what "I Am Me" is all about has been revealed. What is that? Pure pop, written by pure pop tunesmiths, those being John Shanks (Kelly Clarkson, Michelle Branch) and Kari DioGuardi (Marc Anthony, Kylie Minogue), soaked in layer upon layer of clamorous, headache-inducing production that conveniently keeps Simpson's obviously studio-assisted vocals in the backseat for half the ride. This is not to say that there is anything bad about pop music. It just so happens that this pop music, which Simpson would insist is "rock," is frivolous, unmemorable drivel that will not be remembered one year down the road, much less twenty. There are meaningful lyrics and catchy melodies here and there, but ultimately none of the eleven tracks stick due to the hideous production that makes them sound like one long, winding cloud. This contrasts with her debut, which, for all its faults, still contained a handful of tracks with catchy hooks. One of those, "Love Makes the World Go 'Round," is recycled here as "Dancing Alone." Most importantly, people who can actually sing and write songs do the job better, and deserve a slice of Simpson's spotlight. Ultimately, Simpson's declaring "I am me, and I won't change for anyone" is all well and good, for those are respectable words indeed. However, no matter how noble her words are nor how kind a person she may be, these things have not kept her from churning out CDs that ought to sprout legs and jump into the nearest furnace. The perfect recommendation instead of "I Am Me" is Liz Phair's latest record, "Somebody's Miracle." A fine mixture of pop/rock by a songwriter with true personal style and an imperfect but endearing voice, she is everything Simpson is touted as being but is not.