Ashlee Simpson: Bittersweet World : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone

Album Reviews

It's easy to see why teens embrace Ashlee Simpson. She's lived a John Hughes fantasy, transforming herself from the prom queen's ugly-duckling sister into the hottie main attraction (with a rock-star boyfriend!) worthy of collaborating with hip-hop's powerhouse producers. On her third album, Simpson skillfully shifts her crunchy, guitar-driven pop to Eighties-influenced electro-rock with the help of Timbaland and the Neptunes' Chad Hugo. With songwriting assistance from Santogold, Simpson channels Missing Persons on "Outta My Head (Ay Ya Ya)" and swipes Gwen Stefani's formula on the reggae-bopping "Ragdoll." The danceable beats haven’t obliterated Simpson's affinity for chugging riffs, though they may have inspired some ill-advised lyrics: "I ain't got no beef," she boasts on "Rule Breaker." But Simpson's still her own favorite subject, and she's got an excellent coming-of-age anthem in "What I’ve Become," a paparazzi kiss-off with an appealingly honest chorus: "I’ve just begun to find my way."