Ashlee Simpson Tries To Transform Herself Into Le Tigre, With Middling Results

Maura Johnston — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 13:05:54 EST

I have listened to "Rule Breaker," the latest song to emerge from Ashlee Simpson's forthcoming album Bittersweet World, about five times now, and much like when I was confronted with that other song by that other Ashley last year, I'm emerging from each listening session confused. The guitar lick—it sounds kind of sleaze-rockish! Would I enjoy it if someone who didn't sound all drunken-sorority-karaoke was on vocals? The beat—it's sort of reminding me of just-at-the-curdling-point Le Tigre! But am I being too hard on the song because the lyrics say things like "I just wanna color outside the lines / I've been reprimanded 'bout a thousand times"? This is definitely one of those tracks that needs an artist with less baggage to perform it, because the prospect of listening to it a bunch more just holds no appeal for me at all. Oh, overheated celebrity music world of today, you are so cruel to your listeners! [YouTube]

Idolator: wrestling matches

Ashlee Simpson Tries To Transform Herself Into Le Tigre, With Middling Results