Ashlee Simpson’s ‘Autobiography’: All 12 Tracks Ranked

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 Morissette, 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.