NEW MUSIC WEEK: Jessica Simpson
Simpson’s post-divorce disc, A Public Affair, released today, is mostly about what a wild, sex-stuffed time the former Newlywed is having these days -- although a relatively sweet cover of the Dixie Chicks’ Let Him Fly is aimed straight at ex Nick Lachey ("And there ain’t no talkin’ to this man, he’s been trying to tell me so / It took a while to understand the beauty of just letting go").
Unlike her wee sis Ashlee, Jessica can hold a note. Unfortunately, the note she's holding is usually drool-inducingly dull. The bright spots are more like dim spots. A funk-disco hybrid called Push Your Tush is kinda fun in a horrific Girls Gone Wild sort of way. Vampy throwback Swing With Me might have been interesting if Christina Aguilera hadn’t done the dirrty-USO-girl thing 10 times better just a few weeks ago.
What's most disturbing about the album is its incredible lack of imagination. First single A Public Affair is a blatant ripoff of Madonna’s Holiday — until it turns into a blatant ripoff of Diana Ross’ Ain’t No Mountain High Enough. And a clunky cover of Dead or Alive’s You Spin Me Round (Like a Record Player) is a desperate attempt to cash in on the ’80s craze. I hate to say it, but Jessica Simpson makes Paris Hilton look like a pop genius.
Sean Daly is the pop music critic for the St. Petersburg Times. His CD collection -- from Journey to Dylan, Prince to U2, Public Enemy to Stan Getz -- is much bigger and better than yours.
yeah, but the kids who will buy this never heard holiday, much less someone named diana ross...
its what the music biz has always done: recycle for the next generation.
Posted by: chilledbongo | August 29, 2006 at 03:25 PM
Daly, make it stop! Isn't there any fierce anthem rock being released. This bubble gum crap is killing me. First Paris, then Jessica, who are you going to review next Hillary Duff?
Posted by: sparky | August 29, 2006 at 03:31 PM
You'll have to wait and see, Sparky. Three more days of NEW MUSIC WEEK...
(i hope i can find a picture of dylan in a bikini.)
Posted by: Sean Daly | August 29, 2006 at 04:03 PM
Sean, WTF? My album "Modern Times" comes out and it gets passed over for Jessica Simpson? Look, I thought by name dropping Alicia Keys you would pay attention. You sure did when I appeared on that Vicatoria's Secret ad. Come on, you teased my album but on the big day you gave it the big diss in favor of some pea-brain pop tart. What gives?
Posted by: Blind Boy Grunt | August 29, 2006 at 11:55 PM
Daly, what is today's new music review, could it be the Cheetah Girls or I hear that the Spice Girls are putting a greatest hits album out.
Posted by: sparky | August 30, 2006 at 10:14 AM