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The Bottom Line

The followup single to "Boyfriend" is instantly more engaging. Ashlee Simpson sings the virtues of love and girlfriends to fall back on for support with a bouncy melody that avoids any real intensity. It's a swift 2 1/2 minutes of pleasing pop.

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Pros

• Light, singalong pop fun
• Ashlee's slight vocal rasp gives it a distinctive edge
• Great independent girl vibe

Cons

• Too fluffy to take too seriously - is that a negative?

Description

• Midtempo danceable beat that encourages group participation.
• A catchy bubblegum chorus.
• Just enough 'girl power' vibe to share with friends.

Guide Review - Ashlee Simpson - L.O.V.E.

In retrospect, this probably should have been the first single from Ashlee Simpson's solid second album I Am Me. Instead, hype won the day and the more bitter and attention-hungry tone of "Boyfriend" was first out of the starting block. The result was a single that barely reached the top 20, a far cry from the #5 peak of "Pieces of Me," the debut single from her first album.

"L.O.V.E." is altogether more charming and engaging. It's a great party song for dancing along with friends as well as outstanding singalong music in the car. Ashlee Simpson's slightly raspy voice makes it distinctive, and the brief 2 1/2 minute running time lingers just long enough to plant the melody in your head.

Radio balked at "Boyfriend," but there are signs they are starting to jump on the "L.O.V.E." bandwagon.

Only time will tell if this turns out to be another step on Simpson's rebound to artistic respectability or simply a fun single abandoned by a music world that has already lost interest in the I Am Me album.