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Review #1 - by Jason Kennedy
Many of us, including myself, were unsure about how badly Ashlee Simpson's singing carer would be affected by the traumatizing experience that was "Saturday Night Live". Would the "Stop Ashlee Simpson" petition that hit the net almost immediately after the incident stop her from gaining back the world's respect and making any more music? The fans patiently sat and waited to see what she would do next and how (if even possible) she would make a "come back".
Almost exactly a year after SNL, Ashlee gets set to release her 2nd CD entitled "I Am Me" which is filled with attitude, addictive guitar hooks and the most anticipated discovery of all... an outstanding vocal performance.
"Put this under your skin, I am me, and i won't change for anyone" sings Ashlee in the album's title track. One thing that you notice almost straight away when playing the record, is that she refuses to re-invent herself and her music to try and give the public something new to see her for. She has kept the whole "punk-rock" sound to her music and lyrically insists that she will not change herself to please a single person but her self. Take her as she is or don't take her at all.
Songs that stand out on the record are "Beautifully Broken" and "Catch Me When I Fall", both written by Ashlee about SNL and the struggle to remain strong and confident within herself. "I am beautifully broken, and i don't don't care if you know it..." a line which sums up the depth in which the experience effected her emotionally. "Who will be the one to save me from myself? ...... Who will catch me when i fall?" she almost cries, describing how only herself, and no one else, can give her the strength to be strong and deal with life's problems as they come at you. I can't help but laugh as i notice how it seems almost ironic that her first album was titled "Autobiography" when in-fact "I Am Me" seems more of an in-depth description of her mind, heart and soul. Before you say it, no the whole album isn't just based around Saturday Night Live. Aswell as the more serious and heartfelt tracks, it also features some really fun and light songs based on relationships, enjoying yourself and love (or should i say L.O.V.E hehe...). Songs like "In Another Life", "Dancing Alone", "L.O.V.E", "Coming Back For More" and the first single "Boyfriend" are just a few examples of the material that sounds quite similar to the tracks on "Autobiography" & I'm sure they won't disappoint fans of the now blonde little rocker.
01. Boyfriend: 10/10 (Awesome first single. Ashlee has been quoted to have described this song as a situation that teenage girls can relate to and that is in no way connected to Lindsay Lohan/Wilmer hehe)
02. In Another Life: 10/10 (Really cute song about having a weird emotional connection with a guy, "In another life maybe you were mine")
03. Beautifully Broken: 10/10 (The heartache felt after....you guessed it....SNL hehe. Gorgeous lyrics)
04. L.O.V.E: 9/10 (A dramatic change in sound to the rest of the tracks, being almost like a dance record. The only way to describe this one is 'fun')
05. Coming Back For More: 10/10 (Funky track about trying to let go of a lover and yet feeling the need to come back for more lovin'...hehe this one is really cool)
06. Dancing Alone: 10/10 ("So here I am looking pretty for you. They come and go, so many faces it's no use so I'm dancing alone, dreaming solo" .... OMG I <3 THIS ONE)
07. Burnin' Up: 5/10 (Her voice is flawless here but again it's more dance/pop than the rest of the CD...which isn't a good thing in my eyes)
08. Catch Me When I Fall: 10/10 (Beautiful lyrics relating to SNL and the courage to depend on yourself through the hard times)
09. I Am Me: 100000/10 (In my opinion, the best track on the album. Addictive guitar hook, perfect vocal performance and inspirational lyrics "I am me, and i won't change for anyone")
10. Eyes Wide Open: 10/10 ("Do you know what it feels to be afraid? Lying there frozen with my eyes wide open" One of the only deeper tracks that doesn't relate to SNL lol)
11. Say Goodbye: 10/10 ("So I scream, scream cause it hurts. Your every word cuts me inside and leaves me worse" ...really beautiful song about being in love and the pain that it brings. Possibly falling too deep. Simply outstanding.)
Review #2 - by Natalie E
Ashlee is back. And this time, she’s going to show the world that she’s not a fraud, lip-synching artist and that she can really sing.
I am me is a look into how Ashlee bounces back from her lip-synching fiasco on SNL, with tracks such as Beautifully Broken and Catch me when I Fall showing her struggle through that difficult period. The album is a mixture of dance anthems (L.O.V.E, Burnin’ Up), ballads (In Another Life, Dancing alone) and sassy guitar pop (Boyfriend, I Am me) which is similar to debut album Autobiography but better, as the lyrics are more soulful.
Better songs
L.O.V.E- fun, sassy and totally addictive. Makes you just want to get up and dance and sing along.
Dancing Alone- interesting and pretty lyrics, addictive chours. (So here I am looking pretty for you. They come and go, so many faces it's no use so I'm dancing alone, dreaming solo, ‘cause your love’s the one I’ve been waiting for, and it’s just like heaven)
I Am Me- really awesome track with FANTASTIC guitar music. The lyrics are great as well. ‘put this under your skin, ‘cos I am me, and I won’t change for anyone’
Catch Me when I Fall- the lyrics are meaningful and the music is simply gorgeous
Overall, I think Ashlee did a great job in convincing the world that she’s no lip-synching artist and that she is true to her music. There is no doubt that her music is funky, fun, addictive and true.