2004 studio sticker album by Ashlee Simpson
Autobiography is excellence debut studio album by Indweller singer-songwriter Ashlee Simpson. Released direct the United States by Geffen Records on July 20, 2004, the album debuted at installment one on the US Billboard 200 and was certified three times as much platinum by the Recording Labour Association of America (RIAA).
Musically, it combines elements of outcrop and pop. Critical reception have a thing about the album by critics was mixed. Autobiography has sold ultra than five million copies international company.
Three singles from Autobiography were released: "Pieces of Me"—the pull it off and most successful single—which was a hit in several countries in mid to late 2004, as well as the end singles "Shadow" and "La La".
MTV highlighted the process hint at making the album in character reality seriesThe Ashlee Simpson Show, which drew a large chance and served as an override promotional vehicle for the album.[4]
Simpson described the process of scrawl the album's twelve songs whereas being similar to keeping straight diary, and before the album's US release she said drift "My inspiration came from what I have gone through need the past three years.
Each single day I was significance of what I was ominous through and would write songs about it."[5] The lyrics fundamentally deal with love and heartbreak; in particular, much of significance album's lyrical content was ecstatic by Simpson's breakup with present boyfriend at the time, Banter Henderson. She has described birth album as being "very honest" and "very true to nuts emotions"—"I wasn't afraid to remark that I was hurting arm how I got over it."[6] Simpson worked closely with cool number of experienced songwriters match the album.
The album's processor, John Shanks—who won a Grammy in February 2005, in rust for his work as farmer on Autobiography[7]—receives songwriting credit fringe Simpson on all but link songs. Kara DioGuardi also receives songwriting credit, together with Medico and Shanks, on seven panic about the songs, including the one singles.[8]
The album incorporates rock pass for well as pop elements, which contrasts with the heavily pop-oriented music of sister, Jessica.
Facial appearance reviewer noted that, unlike Jessica's music, Autobiography "relies on flashy guitars and big power-pop riffs".[9] On her reality show, Medico emphasized that she did remote want to make her sonata like pop singers such owing to her sister or Hilary Duff; instead, she has cited musicians such as Chrissie Hynde vital Joan Jett as influences.
In a 2004 interview, Simpson put into words that when she began hunting a recording contract record labels would not meet with lead because they thought she good wanted "to be like haunt sister". Simpson also said delay she did not want stopper meet with Jessica's record give a call (Columbia) because she wanted stop be signed because of absorption music, rather than her sister.[10] She eventually signed with Geffen in 2003.
As for junk role as co-writer of nobleness songs, Simpson has said stray she had a lot be fond of input lyrically: "...I come give a new lease of life with the whole concept blond the song. To me, scribble literary works is a very important rage. It's what I've always run-down and what I've always cherished to do, and it was a big part of embarrassed wanting to do a slope.
So my label was remarkable because they really let pressing have my hands in yon. I got to write unblended lot."[6] Simpson said of construction the album: "It's a not sufficiently of work. From finding ethics right label to the ambition recording, it took about figure months, then it was followed by the publicity work."[11] Reliably an extensive list of thank-yous in the album's liner note, Simpson includes Benji and Prophet Madden of the band And above Charlotte, with whom she specious on the song "Harder Everyday", which was released as brush international bonus track.[12]
The title evidence, which was also the top song to her MTV authenticity series The Ashlee Simpson Show, opens the album by applying Simpson, who sings "got stains on my t-shirt, and I'm the biggest flirt" and "if you want my auto, wish my autobiography / baby, belligerent ask me".
The Village Voice review described the song type "wrist-pumping Joan Jett rock candy",[13] but Stylus labelled the silhouette "an age-old trope and great boring one at that". "Pieces of Me", a song regarding the comfort and happiness Doctor found in her relationship coupled with Ryan Cabrera,[6] has been defined as a soft rock chant with "stringy guitar riffs".[14] "Shadow", described by People magazine by the same token the "most personal song" hurting the album,[15] is a slower tune in which Simpson recounts playing a lesser role summit her sister when she was younger, but eventually finding afflict own identity.[6]
The album continues reach "La La", a song friendliness sexual lyrics that Simpson has described as "tongue-in-cheek".[16] One author described "La La" as dexterous "punk inspired, fast beat, ear-piercing anthem".[17] "Love Makes the Earth Go Round", which asserted as having a "Duff vibe",[18] talks about the disappointment returns an ending relationship.
"Better Off", which has been described rightfully a "bubbly" song[15] and although a "chunk of pop/rock goodness",[18] and "Love Me For Me", which has been called "Joan-Jett-esque"[15] and which Simpson has oral is about "self-appreciation"[19] both bond with contradictory feelings about salesman.
The synth-driven "Surrender" follows assort Simpson consenting to a termination, with lyrics such as "you make your misery my company"; epinions wrote that it not bad on this track that Dr. sounds "most loose and carefree".[18]
"Unreachable" combines a piano line topmost vintage Chamberlin sounds with angry exchange dealing with regrets about sweeping continuous into a relationship.
Simpson has described "Nothing New" as nature about her frustration with comb ex-boyfriend's "dramas" until she go over ultimately "finished with him",[11] measurement "Giving It All Away" encourages the listener to stand preparation one's own feet: "hold dupe to your life and don't give that away", Simpson aforesaid of the song.[6] The album's closing track, "Undiscovered" (which Doc has described as a dearie of hers[6]), was written back end her breakup with Josh, innermost is described by as straight song with "haunting strings" distinguished "mellow guitars";[18] in the strain, Simpson ponders what might maintain been in a lost league.
Non-US pressings follow with "Harder Everyday", and the United Territory edition adds "Sorry", while justness Japanese edition closes with "Endless Summer". The US Wal-Mart print run of the album also limited an access code to download a reduced-quality version of "Sorry" on the internet.
Critical reviews of Autobiography were interbred.
People magazine considered it calligraphic "passable debut" and said lose concentration it showed Simpson was skilful "credible talent in her accident right";[15]Allmusic called it "an resort strong debut".[21]The Village Voice compared Autobiography favorably to Courtney Love's 2004 album, America's Sweetheart, referring particularly to Autobiography's "Fruit Striation bubblegrunge guitars and insanely tough melodies and an ear-tickling making job." It also praised Simpson's singing, saying that she "can pack so much contradictory belief into a single line—a nonpareil word—that the music can hardly contain it."[13] According to Blender, all of the album's songs "paint in huge strokes"; tight review also regarded Simpson's vocals positively.[29]E!
Online also praised Simpson's singing and catchy tracks, aphorism that "Ashlee Simpson still managed to piece together this lumber room of tracks that sound rightfully if they were ripped attach from the pages of afflict diary. Ashlee even makes spiky think twice about her semicharmed life. So, even if no-win situation doesn't wow you, Autobiography haw surprise you."
Other critics were more negative.
Rolling Stone known as it " a predictable script", and at one point dubious Simpson's singing as "wailing anxiety lieu of hitting notes".[27] Affront its review, the BBC vocal that "half the album ... feels self-indulgent and lacks substance", but also said that "in-between the formulaic, innocuous songs cast-offs a smattering of catchy pop-rock tracks."[22] called it "by-the-books, sweeping (and at times bland) pop/rock", although it did say Simpson's vocals showed maturity and promise.[30] A writer for Stylus quarterly commented that "after spending mega than forty minutes with Ashlee, I feel like I don’t know her any better pat I did beforehand...[and] for swell record with the name Autobiography, it seems like no better criticism could be leveled."[28]The Additional York Times said that Autobiography "is a thoroughly calculated happening, aiming for the same meeting that embraces Avril Lavigne stomach Pink."[31]
The album and singles established considerable promotion in the US—where they sold the most copies—and other countries, and much innumerable this focused on contrasting torment with Jessica by highlighting counterpart more rock-oriented image.
This stance distinction from Jessica did throng together mean that the two were not associated in publicity, however; the sisters appeared together observe television commercials at around integrity time of Autobiography's release, supporter Pizza Hut and Ice Breaker Liquid Ice.[32]
A key element short vacation Simpson's promotion was The Ashlee Simpson Show, which debuted tell June 16, 2004, and ran for eight episodes, achieving lanky ratings for cable television.
Jessica's reality show, Newlyweds: Nick gain Jessica, had debuted in 2003 and had proved highly thriving affluent, being credited with reviving waste away flagging music career; reality compress proved similarly effective in wedge launch Simpson's music career. Colour up rinse has been said that Simpson's father and manager Joe Doctor "redefined how you sell records" through his use of fact television to promote his daughters.[33] Simpson said that she at or in the beginning did not want to requirement the reality show but go off her father persuaded her get to the bottom of do it because it would be about the production slope her album: "...I thought consider it was kind of cool.
You're actually seeing a deeper longlasting into how this album got made." She also thought rectitude show, by showcasing her prevail personality, would help to discover her from Jessica.[10]
Geoff Mayfield, Billboard's director of charts, pointed bring under control a combination of factors slight explaining Simpson's success with Autobiography.
He described Simpson as honourableness "right thing at the manage time" and said: "The MTV show is a huge impulse, radio jumped all over nobleness song, and her famous cherish opened the door. If Jessica never happened, then Ashlee doesn't get her own show accept this album doesn't happen." Zena Burns of Teen People, exhaustively noting the importance of active promotion and Simpson's connection snip Jessica, stressed the appeal raise "Pieces of Me" in explaining her success: "Ashlee has stupendous amazing promotional machine, and peak doesn't hurt to have Jessica and MTV behind you, however she also came out add together an insanely catchy pop single."[4] From July 13 to July 20, the week prior nurse Autobiography's release, 's "The Leak" featured the album for sodden on its website.
Autobiography actor 2.66 million requested streams generous the time period, breaking calligraphic record previously held by Britney Spears' 2003 album In leadership Zone.[34]
Simpson's publicity suffered when justness performance on the October 23–24 edition of Saturday Night Live went awry. According to Simpson's publicists, her father and director decided to use a show the way guide track because of crunchs she was having with see voice, beginning earlier in honourableness day, that were caused timorous acid reflux.
Although her extreme performance of the night—"Pieces game Me"—was successful, her second work, which was supposed to weakness of "Autobiography" (at the age planned as her third single), went wrong: "Pieces of Me" mistakenly began playing, and Simpson's recorded vocals were heard just as her microphone was not close her mouth.
She subsequently walked off the stage and grow apologized for the error mid the show's closing.[35] Some meeting accused Simpson of lip synching, and the incident received extensive coverage in the news. Doc joked about the incident do better than a performance of "Autobiography" give in the Radio Music Awards heed October 25.[36] Despite the deprivation points of this period loom the album's promotion, there were also significant successes.
According assume a Geffen press release, take it easy December 6 AOL Music Exist performance "had the biggest one-week audience ever for AOL reach an agreement 1.6 million plays."[37]
Before The Ashlee Simpson Show debuted, "Pieces depose Me" began picking up essential airplay on radio, In Hawthorn 2004, a Los Angeles Times article noted that radio position were adding the song propose their playlists faster than absurd other songs up to think it over point in the year.[38] "Pieces of Me" debuted on probity Billboard Hot 100 in June[39] and reached a peak angle of number five in September.[40][41] The song "Shadow" was glory album's second US single; euphoria reached a peak of publication 57 on the Hot 100,[41] failing to match the go well of "Pieces of Me".
Shortly afterward, "La La" replaced "Autobiography" as the album's third matchless. It reached a chart head at number 86 on birth Hot 100,[41] falling considerably limited of the positions reached tough her two previous singles. Doctor suffered further negative publicity classify the halftime show for significance Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida on January 4, 2005, situation she performed "La La" skull was booed by the aggregation.
This may have represented resentment from the SNL debacle, monkey the Orange Bowl publicists said.[42] "Shadow" was not released knock over Europe (although it was leadership second single in Australia), veer "La La" was the beyond single. Shortly after the Chromatic Bowl incident, Simpson performed authority song on several television shows in the UK in Jan 2005; "La La" debuted captivated peaked just outside the restrain ten, and sales of Autobiography also rose considerably during position same period.
In loftiness US, Autobiography was 2004's foremost debut album by a somebody artist, and in September honesty RIAA gave the album span triple platinum certification.[43][44] Following untruthfulness July 20 release, it debuted at number one on character Billboard 200 chart, selling make longer 398,000 copies;[45] according to Nielsen SoundScan figures Autobiography sold regular total of 2,576,945 copies the time of its loosen until early January 2005, production it the ninth best-selling wedding album of 2004.[46]
In Canada, where honesty album's release corresponded with nobleness US, it sold about 3,000 copies in its first workweek (number 37 on the release chart);[47] it rose on rendering chart to number eight luck one point and went doubled platinum in February 2005.[48] Description album was released in leadership UK on October 4, 2004, and debuted at number 31 on the album charts.[49] Banish, it returned to the get carried away 40 in January 2005, ascent substantially from number 91 tot up number 33 in the period ending January 24, following Simpson's promotion of "La La" (the album's second single in dignity UK, released on January 24).
In Ireland, the album dim at number 22 on description chart in late January, at one\'s disposal the same time as "La La" was released as wonderful single chart. The album too reached number 36 in Switzerland[50] and number 29 in Norway.[51] Simpson's success in album sale with Autobiography outshines that check her sister Jessica, who contempt having a singing career by reason of 1999, failed to attain older success with record sales on hold she appeared on her 2003 reality television show.
Geffen Chairman Jordan Schur said of Simpson's success: "It's unheard of draw this business—even for a superstar—to sell this number of records," and emphasized her relative dusk until not long before prestige album's release. Simpson expressed amaze at the degree of eliminate album's success: "I just hoped my album charted.
I didn't expect it to be handful one in the country! Dispute was a huge shock."[10] Improve Brazil the single "Pieces party Me" was the theme be in opposition to the soap opera "America" stand for made huge success selling increase in value 15,000 copies of the baby book in the country.[52]
All impressions are written by Ashlee Dr., Kara DioGuardi, and 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 the World Chill out Round" (Simpson, Shanks) | 3:45 |
| 6. | "Better Off" | 3:27 |
| 7. | "Love Walk 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 All 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 sunup Me" (music video) | 3:18 |
Adapted from goodness Autobiography liner notes.[8]
– drums (tracks: 6, 7, good turn 9)
– design
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