Ashlee Simpson’s latest foray into the world of pop music, Bittersweet World, had a lot going for it even before its April 22nd street date. For one, there was already a strong lead single/EP with the December release of “Outta My Head (Ay Ya Ya), and additionally there was all kinds of press regarding her engagement to Pete Wentz and a possible pregnancy. Was it a coincidence, or a clever marketing move by manager Papa Joe Simpson?

Well, it doesn’t seem to matter, because the album clearly speaks for itself. It’s a case of getting the right ingredients together and ending up with a tasty dish. And with ingredients like Timbaland, Chad Hugo, and Kenna at the helm, how could they go wrong?

Bittersweet World leads off with the single “Outta My Head (Ay Ya Ya), and to be honest, I wasn’t an instant lover of this song. However, after a few listens, and the fact that I couldn’t get it ‘outta my head’ later that night, I was hooked. Infectious beats, a catchy hook, and just enough ‘tough girl’ charm make this song a winner.

Next on the tracklist is “Boys,” in which Simpson definitely wears her musical influences on her sleeve. You can hear everyone from Blondie, to the Tom Tom Club, to even a dash of the Cardigans on this work of ear candy. And then there’s the plethora of double entendres.

The other standout song on the album is “Little Miss Obsessive” in which Simpson sings about post-breakup heartache. It’s definitely the most “alt-rock-sensible” chorus on the album, and harkens back to her “Autobiography” days at some points.

Overall, Bittersweet World is a very-easy-to-like third album from Ashlee. While most solo artists tend to go off somewhere in left field about this time in their careers, Simpson keeps first things first and delivers strong songs in a likeable pop format.

Enjoy the video of Ashlee performing "Outta My Head" live!