Even Rolling Stone Likes Jessica Simpson
Wow. Even Rolling Stone, haters of almost all country music with a pop edge, is into Jessica Simpson's latest album, Do You Know. That's a really, really good sign. They call it the "most strong-footed move that Jessica Simpson has ever made." And they cite crisp melodies, chipper mandolins and fingerpicked guitars for backing her vocals so well. Take that naysayers.
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Vicki says:
If rolling stone usually hates country albums, then I wouldn’t really take too much from their review. i listened to it yesterday and it wasn’t for me. Nothing about it sounded right. For me, she doesn’t fit with the genre. And if rolling stone likes it soo much-let them buy the album.
Kit says:
Maybe she can pose for Rolling Stone, naked with a mandolin.
Diana says:
Rolling Stones is high on her album, hoping she will stay in country and not pop so they won’t have to listen to her sing anymore lol. JOke here. But seriously, anything RS reviews re. country music I take with a grain of salt. Im sure DaddyO and the label have “swayed” opinions over at the home office. If they can rate this album high and dish of some of the really good ones in the past, they lose their cred with me.
Kenny says:
Three out of five stars is what passes for a rave review now? And that “strong-footed move” statement was very much a back-handed compliment read in the context of their assessment of her “decade-long career (that) has been filled with film flops, failed romances and albums that vainly grasp for Christina’s range and Britney’s sex appeal…”
I know CMT is on the Simpson payroll, but this is really embarrassing. On the other hand, I guess this is one of the best reviews out there so far…
Aisha says:
Ha ha. The haters are reeling.Gritted teeth an all.
Seriously I was really impressed with the Album. Jessica is much more suited to Country music and really pulled out all the stops with this album.
wkz@netscape.com says:
I agree with Kenny. If Simpson’s most “strong-footed move” is to be average (3 out of 5 stars) according to Rolling Stone, that’s not really a great review.
naysayer says:
Slant Magazine makes official what so many of us “naysayers” have said about Simpson’s voice.
They gave her album 1.5 stars out of 5 and had this to say:
“Simpson isn’t able to salvage the effort with her performances either. She operates in precisely three modes as a singer: a mewling, whispered coo; a nasal, dead-eyed middle volume; and belting glory notes at full volume with a strangled, unappealing tone.”
“…but Do You Know only foregrounds her present limitations as a vocalist. She switches between her three approaches seemingly at random over the course of individual songs, gasps awkwardly for breath in the middle of lines, and mistakes singing loudly for emoting, never letting the lyrics on “When I Loved You Like That” or the title track have any impact on her histrionics. That she’s also audibly at least a quarter-pitch sharp on at least half of the album actually makes a good case for the use of Autotune.”
ToothGritter says:
Wow.
Entertainment Weekly says it’s a C+, and “we already have a Carrie Underwood, honey…and she probably turned these songs down.”
Entertainment Weekly is just jealous.
Hometown Paper says:
The Dallas Morning News says the album is a C-
Reviewer Mario Taradell notes that “her switch to country essentially reveals no artistry.”
Mario is a hater. And jealous.
Lovethealbum says:
As a person who has enjoyed some of Jessica’s music in the past (did not buy the Public Affair album), this CD is awesome! Jessica helped write most of the songs and you can tell she is really getting out some of her emotions and storytelling her last couple of years. I think country fits her just fine.
Houston, we have a problem says:
Joey Guerra at the Houston Chronicle sounds like a fan, but found the album disappointing and “generic.”
He noted especially that although “Simpson co-wrote several of the other tunes … there’s almost no emotional spark or sense of connection.”
I love it says:
I think the album is awesome! Definitely her best album. I don’t care what other reviewers say. Not everyone will have the same musical taste, duh! And guess what, the album is currently No.1 on iTunes Top 100 Albums! WOW!
You can hate her as much as you want but statistics won’t lie. Hah.
Go Jessica!!!!!
mia says:
she is roking it ;)
Lee Ann says:
Yeah, Rolling Stone who typicaly doesn’t promote country music has given her CD a good review…..SO WHAT? I agree with above comments….take with a grain of salt, and it means nothing……Rolling Stone is not the GOD of country music….obviously. The negativity whether it be a review from a magazine or newspaper, or from public opinion, FAR out weighs any positive remarks. We all have opinions…there is NO right or wrong…..it is what it is!! Just an opinion!!!
flutterfly says:
Well I’m sure that the Associated Press’s Michael McCall and All Music Guide’s Stephen Erlewine will be reconsidering their negative reviews of Do You Know now that the people who recently put the Jonas Brothers on their cover have weighed in with a mildly positive review! What does one decent but not great review prove especially when it’s been met with many many more negative reviews from the pros?
Plus that’s some sloppy research, Alison. Anyone who’s read RS reviews the last couple years would know they don’t hate nearly all country with a pop edge. They didn’t even give Rascal Flatts, favorite punching bag of every critic who hates pop country, a bad review (it was a good writeup with the same 3 out of 5 star rating).
Simpson fans and the Simpson payroll roster keep trying to make the ‘naysayers’ the story. That right there tells you the music isn’t enough to speak for itself. Maybe it’s time to consider that people have valid reasons not to be impressed.
Joan Romo says:
I got a free copy. I’m throwing it away!
Alison says:
By sloppy, Flutterfly, do you mean that I didn’t include the RS Rascal Flatts CD review from a year ago? Because I don’t think one or two good pop country reviews a year qualifies RS a cheerleader for the mainstream. They do about ten CD reviews an issue, and have about 100 issues a year. So that’s more than 1000 reviews a year. That said, I think their good review of Simpson’s album is even more significant.
They did like George Strait’s CD this year, but other than that one and Jessica Simpson’s, I’m not getting a sense that they value what’s on country radio as much as Nashville does. RS does love the fringe artists, like Mellencamp, Crow, Nelson, Earle and Harris. But I was talking about the country artists who are household names.
Connie says:
Rolling Stone like it. Yea! And didn’t Jessica have the highest debuting single by a woman who recorded a song in pink underwear on a Wednesday in a studio with two red cars in the parking lot. Everyone must love her. Keep spinning cmt, you may suck a few people in, or you might just make everyone nauseous. Especially those of us that don’t think Jessica’s farts smell like roses.
flutterfly says:
Alison, you also missed the positive reviews for Leann Rimes and Carrie Underwood’s albums from Rolling Stone. Both 3.5 stars out of 5 and both very good writeups.
There is a big middle ground between being “a cheerleader for the mainstream” and “haters of almost all country music with a pop edge”. Nowhere did I come close to saying RS is a cheerleader for the mainstream so for you to say that is setting up a straw man. What I did say is that it’s a sign of sloppy research that you said RS reviewers are “haters of almost all country music with a pop edge”. Their reviews of several high profile country pop releases say otherwise. There may not be many of them but that’s even more indication that your “haters” premise was inaccurate.
It takes a pretty torturous twisting of evidence and logic to see the RS review as significant when you consider that even RS ends its review by saying a better country singer could have done a better job on Remember That and when you consider that most of the reviews of Jessica’s album have been negative. Besides, the line you quote makes it clear that RS is framing its positivity in the context of Jessica’s previous work, which is considers awful. They appear to have set the bar pretty low for her.
barbara baer says:
what a poor excuse for a woman that trash jessica
is trying to bring down carrie.i dont think so
carrie has more talent in her pinky than jessica
has in her whole body. well educated smart and beautiful
she is not in carrie league….i saw her on opry live
what a disgrace she could never have the vocals like
carrie.
diane says:
why is it if we dont like jessicas music we are jealous and if a critic doesnt like it they are jealous..Jealous of what?? Listen to Jessica sing a song..then listen to LeAnn sing a song..wow no comparison..Forget Carrie..(who I love) but there are plenty of women who will whip her butt in the vocal dept…It is just that she is a media darlin right now and she has good promotion people…Still dont know how she got to sing at the opry..thought you had to earn that honor…alittle modesty would have been nice..she is a very pretty girl without the low cut dresses…geesh..
CJ says:
Jessica was a disgrace to the opry. No singers that are real country singers dress like that for the opry…A good country singer does not have to stoop to using such tatics.
Sami says:
Jessica sounds better on records than she does in person. She is pitchy and it is painful to listen to her singing. I love Rascal Flats, however I will not be going to any more of their concerts while they are touring with Simpson. She is not nor will ever be country.
CJ says:
Jessica is beautiful until she opens her mouth. there is some kind of fakeness to her.
Jackie says:
Jessica just don’t get it. If she was more confident with herself & her singing then she would not always be showing off her boobs and trying to be so sexy in her videos. And what is worst than that is to know that her dad is behind
all of this. I just can’t imagine my dad being a part of any of that. We were taught to have more class. I don’t
understand how she got on the Opry when she has not earned
it. Also does country now get pops rejects??????
Shelley says:
I saw Jessica on ‘THE VIEW’ this morning promoting her album. She was horrible. She sang off key and was trying to deliver the lyrics too dramatically and failing badly. Actually I kind of felt sorry for her. I have yet to be convinced of her “singing abilities” especially in country. I give her album a “C-”. I am more convinced than ever that she is trying to damage Carrie Underwood’s reputation and maybe using Tony Romo’s name (Dallas Cowboys) to further her career. Sad and disgusting!!!
Texas2Step says:
I agree Shelley. Jessica Simpson and her PAPA seem to be trying to ruin Carrie. Jessica tries soo hard to mock her. In my book, Romo and Simpson deserve each other - they are nasty.
Unfortunately, we are finding out who can be bought $$$.
however, all the $$$ in the world CANNOT FIX STUPID.
Texas2Step says:
or BUY TALENT
Jenny says:
Texas2step, You have got it all figured out. Jessica pays people off to get what she wants. She uses peoples names to piggy back off their celebrity. She was a disgrace on the Opry stage. She only has #1 on itunes because whatelse came out? Patty Loveless (wonderful singer but not that mainstream)So Joe planned that pretty good. Lets take a look at album sales in a week and compare to Jewel a crossover and Julianne a newbie. Lets just see who did better. We are not stupid. Jessica was all off tune on the View this morning. I find it hard to believe Rascal Flatts would go out with her. Joe Don better get ready to smell a stage full of wieners cause thats what people are throwing these days especially cause jess likes meat so much.
RC says:
If Rolling Stone likes it that doesn’t say much. It’s a pop magazine. What do they know about good country music?
BAREFOOTN JESS on VIEW says:
–did y’all catch the poorformance on the view today - baaaaaaad.
but she was SHOELESS when she sang - y’know, cuz us hicks and honkytonks are barefoot…
Gawd, will she ever go away?
don’t believe her hype says:
Jenny, I agree with everything you said. Because Joe picked a slow week to release this, whatever fans she has left may even be able to briefly get her into the top ten, even if ultimately the final record sales are dismal.
She doesn’t need to sell very many albums to hit number one on the country chart this week… maybe 35,000. Before we are finally free of her, I fear we all may be subjected to stories about how she is the reincarnation of Patsy Cline because her small, but rabid fan base rushed out to buy an album that after this week, probably nobody else will.
jess dumbin herself down for us says:
The fake twang, no shoes, discussion of lower intestinal functions. So very insulting.
Lee Ann says:
Apparently even the POP world finds Jessica classless, disgusting, and an embarrasment….us country fans are the lucky ones to enjoy her now….whether we are considered POP Country or Country POP…..Jessica is running out of genres……..It is only a matter of time……..I would have to say that most of my guy friends find her disgusting….regardless of the size of her chest….even guys want a girl they can take home to the family and not worry about what is going to come out of her mouth!!!!
Butthead says:
Sounds like she squeezed out another big ole fart with this album. And the reviews (professional and amateur) aren’t comin’ up roses either! Don’t worry, the hype should last only another day or two, if even that. Everyone who’s going to buy this album did so in the first day or two. It will not continue to progess much further.
LOVES IT says:
I like her album, and I am not a Jessica Sipmson fan. She proved me wrong. I was one of ‘em who said…”we’ll see” and now, I am won over and pleasantly surprised. Give it a rest people. Stop being so shameful to our country music society. There is room for all in CM, and if you dont like it, then simply dont listen, but you all get WAY TOO Upset and waste WAY TOO much time talking about someone who you supposidly dont like. Lets show our southern charm a little better now!
Mildred says:
Jessica sing’s as well if not better than a lot of the girl singer’s today.Most of them would never have gotten a contract if it had not been that they were very attractive.I have heard her cd and it is very good.And by the way her father is a preacher.
yuk says:
no other comment necessary
Layne says:
Since when has Rolling Stone given a fart about country music? Oh wait, they do when it’s being sung by a failed pop artist whose “pretending” to be country. My mistake.
s.j. says:
I have always valued Willie Nelson and Dolly’s opinions, etc.. However, I think they may not have had their hearing aids in when they heard Jessica sing. If they had, I do not think they would have encouraged her to sing. They would have immediately picked up on her fake country twang, pitchy vocals, etc.. She does not belong in Country music—nor any other genre for that matter. I turn off the radio when her song plays and turn the channel when she is on tv. I definately would not purchase her album.
diane says:
I wish Diana DeGarmo would get her country cd recorded and released so she could blow Jessica out of the water..There would be another newcomer to follow and she doesn’t put down anyone..She has the utmost respect for Carrie and the like..I am SO SICK of Jessica discussing her boyfriend. What DOES he have to do you her country music career anyway??