Billboard CD reviews: Ashlee Simpson, Jeff Healey

ARTIST: ASHLEE SIMPSON

ALBUM: BITTERSWEET WORLD

NEW YORK (Billboard) - Ashlee Simpson trades in guitar pop for a few Timbaland-assisted dance beats in her follow-up to 2005's "I Am Me." The hitmaker adds his touch to the dark, hypnotic groove of "Murder," the Pat Benatar-like fist-pumper "Rule Breaker" and the manic "Outta My Head (Ay Ya Ya)." Elsewhere, Simpson goes the cheeky Fergie route with "Boys," disses teasing girls on "Hot Stuff" and tries out a piano ballad on "Never Dream Alone," with mixed results. "Bittersweet World" is a party worth attending, but not much is missed if your invite got lost in the mail.

ARTIST: FLIGHT OF THE CONCHORDS

ALBUM: FLIGHT OF THE CONCHORDS (SUB POP)

This self-titled debut album by HBO's kiwi wunderkinds is an intelligently playful parody romp through about 10 genres in 15 tracks. Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie set themselves apart from trashy pop-culture comics with lyrics that employ childlike wonder rather than childish humor. Album highlights "Hiphopopotamus vs. Rhymenoceros" and "Ladies of the World" lean on refreshing goofiness rather than offensiveness. There's something slightly missing for the listener who's seen them live or watched the show, as part of their charm is definitely in the visual delivery (and the spontaneous keytar solos). But the lyrics hold their own as comedy poetry, and the album as a whole is stuffed with feel-good laughs.

ARTIST: JEFF HEALEY

ALBUM: MESS OF BLUES (RUF)

Before his untimely death in March, Canadian blues guitarist Jeff Healey had been quite involved in jazz via band the Jazz Wizards (he played trumpet and clarinet). But he tracked this blues-rock CD in late 2007, and it's an outstanding farewell. The disc opens with a furious cover of "I'm Torn Down," followed by an equally formidable run through "How Blue Can You Get." It's a genuine pleasure to hear Healey's fluid, incisive lead guitar again, and his bandmates are rock solid. Outside the lines, Healey also works a sturdy cover of the Band's "The Weight" and a fine version of Hank Williams' "Jambalaya."