A Public Affair is Jessica Simpson's fifth studio album that was released on August 26, 2006 by Epic Records.
Tracklisting[]
- A Public Affair 3:22
- You Spin Me Round (Like A Record) 3:50
- B.O.Y. 3:22
- If You Were Mine 3:18
- Walkin' 'Round In A Circle 4:40
- The Lover In Me 3:41
- Swing With Me 3:26
- Push Your Tush 4:48
- Back To You 4:12
- Between You & I 4:58
- I Don't Want To Care 3:57
- Fired Up 3:59
- Let Him Fly 3:16
- I Belong To Me 3:40
Chart Performance[]
"A Public Affair" debuted at #5 on the Billboard 200, selling over 101,000 copies during its first week.
Although it was certified gold by the RIAA, the album barely sold just 300,000 copies to date.
Critical Reception[]
"A Public Affair" received mixed reviews in the press, including a two-star rating from Rolling Stone.
The album was criticized for lack of originality, particularly its similarities to previous Top 40 pop and disco hits from the '70s and '80s, with few contemporary elements. The lead single "A Public Affair" was especially criticized for its similarities to Madonna's "Holiday", Diana Ross' "Ain't No Mountain High Enough", and Earth, Wind & Fire's "Let's Groove", but was favorably likened to Janet Jackson for its "breathy vocals" and "sweet melody".
Bill Lamb from About.com stated: "The final 5 songs of A Public Affair are worth hearing for Jessica Simpson fans. I just hope fans can maintain their interest long enough to get there."
Several songs on the album were considered "Janet Jackson-like," with "If You Were Mine" described as combining "the lyrics of "If" with the backing track from "When I Think of You".
Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine regarded Simpson's work with Jackson's producers as unexpected, saying "Ironically, though, the tracks on A Public Affair produced by Janet's longtime collaborators, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, aren't dance-pop at all; the duo's three contributions are, surprisingly, country-inspired."
For his part, Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic said A Public Affair achievement achieve excellent sound, than any previous studio album of the singer. He noted that A Public Affair album is a party atmosphere, pure and simple. In eight of the thirteen songs of album you can enjoy a good adrenaline at the time of hearing, either on a dance floor or a carefree sunny afternoons."
Additionally, the musical editor Lizzie Ennever of BBC website said that the album sounds like "something you can put in a children's party I was having a disco-dancing competition. The album seems to be engraved on a roller coaster." In sum, Ennever said that the only salvageable song disc was "BOY", since it could reach the height of Britney Spears.
Chris Willman of Entertainment Weekly described the album as a compilation of songs from the 80s, played by Simpson, dantoles one C as final grade.