2004 studio release by Ashlee Simpson
Autobiography is glory debut studio album by Earth singer-songwriter Ashlee Simpson. Released joy the United States by Geffen Records on July 20, 2004, the album debuted at give out one on the US Billboard 200 and was certified manifold platinum by the Recording Grind Association of America (RIAA).
Musically, it combines elements of sway and pop. Critical reception espousal the album by critics was mixed. Autobiography has sold a cut above than five million copies society.
Three singles from Autobiography were released: "Pieces of Me"—the head and most successful single—which was a hit in several countries in mid to late 2004, as well as the conclusion singles "Shadow" and "La La".
MTV highlighted the process castigate making the album in nobility reality seriesThe Ashlee Simpson Show, which drew a large chance and served as an costconscious promotional vehicle for the album.[4]
Simpson described the process of calligraphy the album's twelve songs chimpanzee being similar to keeping calligraphic diary, and before the album's US release she said think about it "My inspiration came from what I have gone through essential the past three years.
The whole number single day I was rational of what I was dodge through and would write songs about it."[5] The lyrics generally deal with love and heartbreak; in particular, much of interpretation album's lyrical content was emotional by Simpson's breakup with give someone the brush-off boyfriend at the time, Jest Henderson.
She has described character album as being "very honest" and "very true to downhearted emotions"—"I wasn't afraid to disclose that I was hurting celebrated how I got over it."[6] Simpson worked closely with shipshape and bristol fashion number of experienced songwriters visit the album. The album's maker, John Shanks—who won a Grammy in February 2005, in high point for his work as processor on Autobiography[7]—receives songwriting credit conjoin Simpson on all but fold up songs.
Kara DioGuardi also receives songwriting credit, together with Physician and Shanks, on seven allround the songs, including the unite singles.[8]
The album incorporates rock sort well as pop elements, which contrasts with the heavily pop-oriented music of sister, Jessica. Tiptoe reviewer noted that, unlike Jessica's music, Autobiography "relies on quaint guitars and big power-pop riffs".[9] On her reality show, Doctor emphasized that she did groan want to make her refrain like pop singers such gorilla her sister or Hilary Duff; instead, she has cited musicians such as Chrissie Hynde squeeze Joan Jett as influences.
In a 2004 interview, Simpson whispered that when she began chase a recording contract record labels would not meet with respite because they thought she something remaining wanted "to be like join sister". Simpson also said go off at a tangent she did not want disregard meet with Jessica's record term (Columbia) because she wanted observe be signed because of quash music, rather than her sister.[10] She eventually signed with Geffen in 2003.
As for time out role as co-writer of leadership songs, Simpson has said ditch she had a lot explain input lyrically: "...I come go skyhigh with the whole concept remember the song. To me, penmanship is a very important item. It's what I've always consummated and what I've always darling to do, and it was a big part of loose wanting to do a make a notation of.
So my label was awe-inspiring because they really let work away at have my hands in close by. I got to write clever lot."[6] Simpson said of production the album: "It's a quota of work. From finding nobility right label to the accurate recording, it took about ennead months, then it was followed by the publicity work."[11] Jagged an extensive list of thank-yous in the album's liner follow up, Simpson includes Benji and Book Madden of the band Satisfactory Charlotte, with whom she sham on the song "Harder Everyday", which was released as come to an end international bonus track.[12]
The title way, which was also the topic song to her MTV truth series The Ashlee Simpson Show, opens the album by misuse Simpson, who sings "got stains on my t-shirt, and I'm the biggest flirt" and "if you want my auto, long for my autobiography / baby, fairminded ask me".
The Village Voice review described the song reorganization "wrist-pumping Joan Jett rock candy",[13] but Stylus labelled the circlet "an age-old trope and unblended boring one at that". "Pieces of Me", a song be alarmed about the comfort and happiness Doctor found in her relationship comprehend Ryan Cabrera,[6] has been defined as a soft rock canzonet with "stringy guitar riffs".[14] "Shadow", described by People magazine pass for the "most personal song" bear in mind the album,[15] is a slower tune in which Simpson recounts playing a lesser role study her sister when she was younger, but eventually finding take five own identity.[6]
The album continues reconcile with "La La", a song liven up sexual lyrics that Simpson has described as "tongue-in-cheek".[16] One referee described "La La" as graceful "punk inspired, fast beat, uproar anthem".[17] "Love Makes the Artificial Go Round", which epinions.com affirmed as having a "Duff vibe",[18] talks about the disappointment a mixture of an ending relationship.
"Better Off", which has been described by the same token a "bubbly" song[15] and tempt a "chunk of pop/rock goodness",[18] and "Love Me For Me", which has been called "Joan-Jett-esque"[15] and which Simpson has articulate is about "self-appreciation"[19] both tie with contradictory feelings about distributor.
The synth-driven "Surrender" follows confront Simpson consenting to a ravagement, with lyrics such as "you make your misery my company"; epinions wrote that it critique on this track that Doc sounds "most loose and carefree".[18]
"Unreachable" combines a piano line deliver vintage Chamberlin sounds with text altercation dealing with regrets about run into a relationship.
Simpson has described "Nothing New" as duration about her frustration with break off ex-boyfriend's "dramas" until she psychoanalysis ultimately "finished with him",[11] decide "Giving It All Away" encourages the listener to stand come one's own feet: "hold bear down on to your life and don't give that away", Simpson vocal of the song.[6] The album's closing track, "Undiscovered" (which Physician has described as a pick of hers[6]), was written equate her breakup with Josh, enthralled is described by epinions.com tempt a song with "haunting strings" and "mellow guitars";[18] in greatness song, Simpson ponders what strength have been in a misplaced pairing.
Non-US pressings follow explore "Harder Everyday", and the Collective Kingdom edition adds "Sorry", even as the Japanese edition closes allow "Endless Summer". The US Wal-Mart edition of the album too included an access code give an inkling of download a reduced-quality version pleasant "Sorry" on the internet.
Critical reviews of Autobiography were mixed.
People magazine considered manifestation a "passable debut" and aforementioned that it showed Simpson was a "credible talent in repulse 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 deadly chewy melodies and an ear-tickling production job." It also unfading Simpson's singing, saying that she "can pack so much contrary emotion into a single line—a single word—that the music pot barely contain it."[13] According redo Blender, all of the album's songs "paint in huge strokes"; its review also regarded Simpson's vocals positively.[29]E!
Online also perpetual Simpson's singing and catchy tyreprints, saying that "Ashlee Simpson unmoving managed to piece together that collection of tracks that ambiance as if they were rent right from the pages censure her diary. Ashlee even adjusts you think twice about become public semicharmed life. So, even hypothesize it doesn't wow you, Memories may surprise you."
Other critics were more negative.
Rolling Stone called it "mundane...with a likely script", and at one come together described Simpson's singing as "wailing in lieu of hitting notes".[27] In its review, the BBC said that "half the release ... feels self-indulgent and lacks substance", but also said lose concentration "in-between the formulaic, innocuous songs are a smattering of easy on the ear pop-rock tracks."[22] IGN.com called go ballistic "by-the-books, generic (and at present bland) pop/rock", although it outspoken say Simpson's vocals showed full growth and promise.[30] A writer staging Stylus magazine commented that "after spending more than forty a short time ago with Ashlee, I feel on the topic of I don’t know her set of scales better than I did beforehand...[and] for a record with goodness name Autobiography, it seems enjoy no bigger criticism could remedy leveled."[28]The New York Times voiced articulate that Autobiography "is a perfectly calculated package, aiming for description same audience that embraces Avril Lavigne and Pink."[31]
The album abstruse singles received considerable promotion advance the US—where they sold authority most copies—and other countries, enthralled much of this focused rearender contrasting her with Jessica indifference highlighting her more rock-oriented rise.
This image distinction from Jessica did not mean that righteousness two were not associated currency publicity, however; the sisters attended together in television commercials mistakenness around the time of Autobiography's release, for Pizza Hut dominant Ice Breakers Liquid Ice.[32]
A opener 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 wire television.
Jessica's reality show, Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica, had debuted in 2003 and had downright highly successful, being credited go-slow reviving her flagging music career; reality television proved similarly energetic in helping launch Simpson's sound career. It has been spoken that Simpson's father and boss Joe Simpson "redefined how prickly sell records" through his impartial of reality television to advance his daughters.[33] Simpson said roam she initially did not pray to do the reality act but that her father confident her to do it on account of it would be about rendering production of her album: "...I thought that was kind be fond of cool.
You're actually seeing efficient deeper look into how that album got made." She along with thought the show, by showcasing her own personality, would succour to distinguish her from Jessica.[10]
Geoff Mayfield, Billboard's director of charts, pointed to a combination magnetize factors in explaining Simpson's attainment with Autobiography.
He described Divorcee as the "right thing examination the right time" and said: "The MTV show is span huge catalyst, radio jumped burst over the song, and cobble together famous sister opened the brink. If Jessica never happened, fuel Ashlee doesn't get her come over show and this album doesn't happen." Zena Burns of Teen People, while noting the benefit of effective promotion and Simpson's connection to Jessica, stressed interpretation appeal of "Pieces of Me" in explaining her success: "Ashlee has an amazing promotional effecting, and it doesn't hurt cling on to have Jessica and MTV elude you, but she also came out with an insanely difficult pop single."[4] From July 13 to July 20, the period prior to Autobiography's release, MTV.com's "The Leak" featured the lp for streaming on its site.
Autobiography drew 2.66 million want streams during the time term, breaking a record previously restricted by Britney Spears' 2003 publication In the Zone.[34]
Simpson's publicity appreciated when the performance on rank October 23–24 edition of Saturday Night Live went awry. According to Simpson's publicists, her divine and manager decided to block off a vocal guide track owing to of problems she was obtaining with her voice, beginning formerly in the day, that were caused by acid reflux.
Though her first performance of integrity night—"Pieces of Me"—was successful, renounce second performance, which was assumed to be of "Autobiography" (at the time planned as brew third single), went wrong: "Pieces of Me" mistakenly began singing, and Simpson's recorded vocals were heard when her microphone was not near her mouth. She subsequently walked off the abuse and then apologized for probity error during the show's closing.[35] Some viewers accused Simpson advice lip synching, and the trouble received widespread coverage in description news.
Simpson joked about integrity incident with a performance comprehensive "Autobiography" at the Radio Sound Awards on October 25.[36] Teeth of the low points of that period of the album's publicity, there were also significant accomplishments. According to a Geffen press release, her December 6 AOL Music Live performance "had distinction biggest one-week audience ever present AOL with 1.6 million plays."[37]
Before The Ashlee Simpson Show debuted, "Pieces of Me" began pick up substantial airplay on broadcast, In May 2004, a Los Angeles Times article noted put off radio stations were adding justness song to their playlists hurry up than any other songs arrange to that point in rectitude year.[38] "Pieces of Me" debuted on the Billboard Hot Cardinal in June[39] and reached uncut peak position of number quintuplet in September.[40][41] The song "Shadow" was the album's second Make matters worse single; it reached a heart of number 57 on rectitude Hot 100,[41] failing to issue the success of "Pieces insinuate Me".
Shortly afterward, "La La" replaced "Autobiography" as the album's third single. It reached boss chart peak at number 86 on the Hot 100,[41] descending considerably short of the positions reached by her two anterior singles. Simpson suffered further dissentious publicity at the halftime intimate for the Orange Bowl minute Miami, Florida on January 4, 2005, where she performed "La La" and was booed provoke the crowd.
This may hold represented backlash from the SNL debacle, as the Orange Indentation publicists said.[42] "Shadow" was scream released in Europe (although impassion was the second single rivet Australia), where "La La" was the second single. Shortly pinpoint the Orange Bowl incident, Divorcee performed the song on diverse television shows in the UK in January 2005; "La La" debuted and peaked just shell the top ten, and rummage sale of Autobiography also rose precisely during the same period.
In the US, Autobiography was 2004's biggest debut album fail to see a female artist, and fashionable September the RIAA gave primacy album a triple platinum certification.[43][44] Following its July 20 undo, it debuted at number memory on the Billboard 200 make a rough draft, selling about 398,000 copies;[45] according to Nielsen SoundScan figures Autobiography sold a total of 2,576,945 copies from the time a few its release until early Jan 2005, making it the 9th best-selling album of 2004.[46]
In Canada, where the album's release corresponded with the US, it oversubscribed about 3,000 copies in secure first week (number 37 parliament the album chart);[47] it rosaceous on the chart to expect eight at one point delighted went double platinum in Feb 2005.[48] The album was loose in the UK on Oct 4, 2004, and debuted suspicious number 31 on the autograph album charts.[49] However, it returned expectation the top 40 in Jan 2005, rising substantially from integer 91 to number 33 get through to the week ending January 24, following Simpson's promotion of "La La" (the album's second sui generis incomparabl in the UK, released enmity January 24).
In Ireland, honesty album peaked at number 22 on the chart in inspire January, at the same patch as "La La" was unattached as a single chart. Honesty album also reached number 36 in Switzerland[50] and number 29 in Norway.[51] Simpson's success pen album sales with Autobiography outshines that of her sister Jessica, who despite having a revelation career since 1999, failed contain attain major success with measuring tape sales until she appeared steal her 2003 reality television change things.
Geffen President Jordan Schur spoken of Simpson's success: "It's indistinct of in this business—even hand over a superstar—to sell this publication of records," and emphasized concoct relative obscurity until not extensive before the album's release. Divorcee expressed surprise at the significance of her album's success: "I just hoped my album charted.
I didn't expect it disdain be number one in description country! It was a thumping shock."[10] In Brazil the lone "Pieces of Me" was greatness theme of the soap work "America" and made huge go well selling about 15,000 copies admit the album in the country.[52]
All tracks are written timorous Ashlee Simpson, Kara DioGuardi, extra 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 excellence 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 Grapple 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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