Irresistible [Import CD]

About Irresistible [Import CD]

Irresistible is the second studio album by American recording artist Jessica Simpson, released on May 25, 2001, through Columbia Records. Simpson, who began working on the project in July 2000, contacted already established writers and producers to collaborate on the project, including Cory Rooney, Rodney Jerkins, and Walter Afanasieff. In contrast to her debut album Sweet Kisses (1999), which included more ballads, Irresistible explored hip hop and R&B genres of music. Simpson described the material as "Mariah Carey meets Britney Spears", indicating the soulfulness of the songs as well as their contemporary appeal. Lyrical themes addressed in the album include love and heartbreak, sexuality, and self-respect. Sweet Kisses, which was aimed at an older audience, did not perform well commercially, and so Simpson re-evaluated her career. At the suggestion of her label executives, Simpson modified her image and sound in Irresistible, deciding to delve more into the teen pop and R&B genres, as she felt that restyling herself to match the image of her contemporaries—Spears and Christina Aguilera—would help rejuvenate her career. After its release, Irresistible received mostly negative reviews from critics, most of whom were disappointed by the music; some of them also felt it was too generic and over-produced. The album debuted at number six on the US Billboard 200 but quickly fell down the charts afterward. Though the albums initial chart placement was an improvement from her previous endeavor, it failed to match the commercial success of her contemporaries, as the album went on to sell only about 850,000 copies in the United States, and two million worldwide. It was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipments of 500,000 copies. Elsewhere, the album was not as successful, reaching number thirteen in Canada and barely cracking the top forty in Sweden, Japan and Germany. more »