“Giving It All Away”
With its jangly guitars and breezy chorus, “Giving It All Away” is one of the more innocuous songs on the record. But Simpson’s impassioned belting as the song comes to a close shines.
Ashlee Simpson’s ‘Autobiography’: All 12 Tracks Ranked
Written by djfrosty on July 19, 2024
Two years after Avril Lavigne released her game-changing debut album Let Go, another pop-punk princess arrived on the scene and made quite a splash.
Unlike her sister Jessica, who had emerged as a more traditional pop artist, Ashlee Simpson came with an edge: jet black hair, grunge style, and an affinity for rock music. In the lead-up to the release of her debut album, Simpson chronicled her music-making journey on the MTV reality series The Ashlee Simpson Show and became one of the earliest reality TV stars — a tactic that helped give the singer-songwriter even more exposure before Autobiography got into the hands of fans.
Upon its release, her 2004 debut, Autobiography, became one of the definitive teen-angst albums of the early aughts. Written largely by Simpson, Kara DioGuardi and producer John Shanks, Autobiography evoked the sounds of Alanis Morrissette, Garbage and Hole, but with a pop mindfulness and plenty of personality. The record, which was meant to mirror Simpson’s diary, was a 12-track journey of self-discovery, brimming with heartbreak, starry-eyed romance, insecurity, imperfection and frustration.
While Autobiography earned the top spot on the Billboard 200, the album received mixed reviews upon its release. And although Simpson had a slew of devoted fans back in the early aughts, there’s been a newfound sense of appreciation of her impact among modern listeners, particularly in the wake of Gen Z’s pop-punk revival in recent years. With the rise of artists like Olivia Rodrigo and Meet Me @ The Altar, it’s become quite clear that the genre owes Simpson a thank-you for her mainstream impact a generation earlier.
In honor of the 20th anniversary of Autobiography on July 20, see how we ranked the 12 tracks of Simpson’s debut album.
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“Love Makes the World Go Round”
Despite being a breakup song, “Love Makes the World Go Round” feels almost too polished for a record that has so much pop-punk grit.
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“Nothing New”
“Nothing New” is a glimpse into Simpson’s internal chaos, as she grapples with being painted as the villain in a relationship. The singer-songwriter’s frustration fuels the song as she chides her lover: “Hey, so what’s my damage today?/ Don’t let me get in your way / Let it out like you always do.”
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“Unreachable”
On “Unreachable,” Simpson intrigues as she channels Fiona Apple and meditates on the consequences of a toxic romance. Unfortunately, the track is ultimately a bit more one-note than other songs on the record.
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“Love Me for Me”
“Love Me for Me” inherently projects the punk attitude of Autobiography, but isn’t quite as dynamic as some of the tracks on the record. The song, however, features some of Simpson’s best vocal work, and a chill-inducing squeal.
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“Shadow”
Despite being the second single on Autobiography — and arguably its most personal track — “Shadow” wasn’t quite as biting as the rest of the album. However, “Shadow” offered a refreshingly candid look at how Simpson felt her sister’s career eclipsed her — and the empowerment she found in her own self-discovery.
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“Better Off”
“Better Off” is a track that not only feels distinctly Lilith Fair-core but, in retrospect, could be a sister song to Avril Lavigne’s “Things I’ll Never Say.” The song, which tones down the grit, is largely underscored by similar softer acoustics and a similar sense of self-realization.
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“Autobiography”
Glimpsing at the more literal lyrics of the song, there couldn’t have been a more perfect opener for the record. From the anxious opening chords to Simpson describing the stains on her T-shirt and how she’s “the biggest flirt,” the song was the ideal snapshot of a 19-year-old girl and her inner psyche. Plus, it was insanely catchy as the theme song to The Ashlee Simpson Show.
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“Undiscovered”
Simpson saved one of her best for last with the vulnerable closer “Undiscovered.” On the dream-pop-tinged number, Simpson deftly captures the kind of post-breakup longing that’s specific to teen romance. “’Cause I can’t fake and I can’t hate / But it’s my heart / That’s about to break,” she croons with a breathy lilt.
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“Surrender”
While the snarling “Surrender” wasn’t one of the album’s singles, it remains one of the most thrilling moments on the record, harnessing the defiant spirit of Courtney Love and Joan Jett with swaggery power-pop riffs. Meanwhile, Simpson crafts an immensely satisfying breakup song where her optimism helps her land on top: “Oh you drive me crazy, oh you just bring me down/ Look out your window, my sunshine’s all around.”
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“Pieces of Me”
“Pieces of Me” was the quintessential anthem for those of us who were also “moody and messy,” and who also happened to love songs that mused about the days of the week (see also: The Cure’s “Friday I’m in Love” and Craig David’s “7 Days”). The swelling pop-punk lead single of Autobiography encompassed the angsty ethos Simpson aimed to capture in her debut, defined by her raspy delivery.
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“La La”
In the 20 years since its release, “La La” has become a quintessential karaoke song. Through an amalgamation of creative sexual fantasies, Simpson created a rollicking ode to pleasure, with the grit of Joan Jett and tongue-in-cheek lyrics that have remained ingrained in our heads since its release. “I’m like an alley cat/ Drink the milk up, I want more,” she snarls on the track. There’s a reason why the song has remained a hallmark of her career.