Timbaland is just what Ashlee needs

Ashlee Simpson

"Bittersweet World"

(Geffen)

* 1/2

Omigod did you hear who Ashlee has hooked up with? Really, he's so perfect for her -- anything she needs, there it is, just like that. He really takes care of her. And you know those problems she used to have with, you know, singing? He's got that covered too.

Who is it? You really haven't heard? It's Timbaland! Right, the hottest producer anywhere. Well, that's what I say, even though that English guy won the producer of the year Grammy.

This new album, out today (PayPal me for the plug, please), is just all these jammin' tracks. You know, she did that kind of Beyonce thing on her last album, in the middle of all that awful rock? Well it's almost all like that but better.

She's also got it going on with that guy from the Neptunes, Chad Hugo? Anyway, Timbaland is the man, believe me. It's weird, though, there's like a couple of ballads, but I bet her dad or the record label made her do that. She has to, you know, sing. You can tell she's not into it.

Of the Timbaland songs, though, there's club jams and even a couple of sort-of-rock ones, and a jazzy thing like Christina, and she just seems so, I don't know, it's like she's totally turned into Gwen. All that attitude. When she goes "Get outta my head" with that goofy voice, it's so cute.

This record is so Top 40, I can't believe she's not playing Wango Tango. But I bet she doesn't even care. She just glows. Did you see the cover of Cosmo Girl? She looks just like Jessica now instead of Kelly Osbourne.

-- Richard Cromelin

Bragg settles down a bit

Billy Bragg

"Mr. Love & Justice"

(Anti- Records)

* * 1/2

With eight years of a generally unpopular American presidency from which to draw, troubadour Billy Bragg's latest release, "Mr. Love & Justice," spends surprisingly little time mixing pop and politics. Instead, Bragg breaks his six-year recording silence with more intimate introspection than typical vitriol.

The opening track, "I Keep Faith," harks back to the sweet melodies and love-struck lyrics of Bragg's 1988 release "Worker's Playtime," although the perspective of this year's model seems to have matured on matters of the heart. Pining for the affections of a girl has given way to unconditional commitment: "Doesn't matter if this all falls off the cliff. Together we are gonna see it through."