
Ashley Tisdale - Guilty Pleasure (2009)
We were recently given an exclusive listen to Ashley’s new album, by our good friends at Warner Bros. Records. Check out our exclusive review below.
Forget the bubble gum, cutesy blonde from the epic “High School Musical” phenomenon. That girl has definitely graduated from the halls of “East High” and is hotter than ever! Ashley Tisdale is back with not only a darker locks, but a whole new sound. Ashley’s latest album with Warner Bros. Records, “Guilty Pleasure” introduces us to a fresh and edgier pop-rock sound that definitely fits Ashley‘s new look and current place in her life. This new album is a mix tape that is sure to fit everyone‘s musical needs. With guitar driven anthems like the lead single, “It’s Alright, It’s OK” and the old school sounding “Masquerade,” it’s hard not to rock out along with Ashley. Don‘t think that Ashley is a one trick pony when it comes to music. “Guilty Pleasure“ also has those ballads, like “Me Without You” and “What If,” that everyone who has been in a relationship can relate to. Last but, certainly not least, Ashley puts an unexpected twist to her rock star album with the sexy club banger, “Crank It Up,” which is sure to be a club favorite. To put it shortly, “Guilty Pleasure” is a pop-rock masterpiece that no fan should be without.
Acting Out: “Set me free / I’m ready to show you / This is what I need. It’s time to get dirty / I’m gonna show you what I’m talking about / It’s another side of me, I’m acting out.” One of the songs that Tisdale co-wrote and the first track on “Guilty Pleasure,” “Acting Out” is the a fair indication of what the rest of the album will be: pure pop-rock awesomeness.
It’s Alright, It’s OK: The first single off the album, Ashley delivers the ultimate break up anthem with “It’s Alright, It’s OK.” With the catchiest of choruses, Ashley proudly declares that she’s more than alright and okay, she’s “so much better without you.” I guarantee that you’ll be reciting this song after you’ve heard it. This upbeat single proves that Ashley is more than ready rock out with the best of them.
Masquerade: This is the dark, but catchy head banger that you can‘t help but rock out to. “Hip shaker, dream maker, heartbreaker, earthquaker / I can be anything you want me to.“ Ashley channels her inner “Pat Benetar” for this old school rock track. “Here’s my formal invitation / You and me go masquerading / Lose ourselves in this charade and is this love we’re imitating?” Ashley invites us into her twisted love that may or not be the real thing, but we‘re more than eager to attend. Ashley described this song as one of her most personal, and I have to agree. Ashley delivers with this pop rock masterpiece. “No more disguises / Let true love decide if we should be together.”
Hot Mess: With racy lyrics like, “You wake up in your bra and your make up” and “Car’s in the driveway parked side-ways,” Ashley proves that she has indeed grown up. This sexy track about the bad boy who makes you do things you wouldn‘t normally do, shows a whole new side of Ashley, and well….we love it! Ashley‘s never made the term hot mess, seem so….hot! “I’m leaving every piece of my conscious behind / I’m such a hot mess with you.”
What If: Ashley proves that she isn’t just another pretty package. This girl can definitely sing and she proves it with her beautiful ballad, “What If.” Ashley leaves the guitar and is accompanied by a beautiful piano and drum combo for this track. She sings of the untimely end of a relationship. “What if I need you baby? Would you even try to save me, or would you find some lame excuse to never be true? What if I said I loved you? Would you be the one to run to? Or would you watch me walk away, without a fight.” Ashley leaves the traditional mushy ballads behind and gets deep with this beautiful track. Grab your box of tissues. This is gonna be the one you end up crying to.
Hair: Ashley’s known for having the some best hair in Hollywood, so why not have a song about it? Totally kidding. This fun track is all about letting your hair down and just being yourself around the one you love. “I like what you do to my hair / Who knew that looking a mess could feel so good?” This is the fun track that you can’t help but clap and sing along to. This is the one that will put a smile on your face.
Delete You: “Burning up all your pictures, tearing up all your letters, ripping up all your sweaters / This is for the better, slashing up all your tires, smashing up all your flowers, grabbing back all my power….delete you.” This is yet another break-up anthem from Ms. Tisdale. Grab that box of stuff that your nasty, ex-boyfriend gave you and go all out “All I need from you is to not be here / I guess it’s time you got the news, gonna replace you, erase you, delete you.”
Crank It Up: This hypnotic dance track left me pleasantly speechless. Although Ashley’s new music is mostly pop-rock, she switches things up with this sexy club banger. With breathy vocal sexy lyrics, like “This beat is hypnotic / I wanna ride it like a cyclone,” Ashley gives us a sexy track we can dance to in the clubs. She sings, “Let’s crank it up, till the walls cave in,“ and that is exactly what you will do when this track comes on. This is the song you’ll surely listen to with the volume all the way up over and over!
The Verdict: Tisdale definitely delivers with this amazing album. This is the album we’ve all been waiting for from Ashley. I highly recommend this album to everyone who is into pop-rock music. “Guilty Pleasure” is Ashley’s best work yet.