Album: In This Skin

Introduction
"In This Skin" is the third studio album by American singer Jessica Simpson, launched on August 19, 2003, by Columbia Records. The album marked a substantial modification in Simpson's musical direction, moving towards a more fully grown and adult modern noise, compared to her previous bubblegum pop albums. It includes a mix of ballads and mid-tempo tracks supported by a mix of strings, acoustic guitar, and soft keyboards. The album includes styles of love, relationships, and self-discovery, which heavily influenced the musical and lyrical content. "In This Skin" received combined reviews from music critics but experienced business success, peaking at number 10 on the Billboard 200 chart and accomplishing multi-platinum status.

Production and Collaboration
The production of "In This Skin" saw Simpson dealing with a range of songwriters and producers, including her then-husband Nick Lachey, who co-wrote the title track. Other collaborators consist of renowned songwriters and manufacturers such as Diane Warren, Andy Marvel, and Ric Wake. The album contains a mix of initial songs and cover variations, including the tracks "Be", originally carried out by Harry Nilsson, and "Take My Breath Away", a popular ballad by Berlin.

The collaboration with numerous artists and manufacturers assisted Simpson to develop a more mature sound and display her singing range. The album also serves as a reflection of her personal life, with tunes like "Sweetest Sin" and "In This Skin" exploring styles related to her marriage to Lachey.

Singles and Commercial Success
"In This Skin" generated 4 singles that added to the album's commercial success. The very first single, "Sweetest Sin", was launched in July 2003 and received mixed reviews from critics. The tune failed to attain noteworthy chart success, peaking only at number 37 on the Billboard Mainstream Top 40 chart. However, the second single, "With You", rapidly ended up being a hit and propelled the album's sales. The tune became Simpson's most significant hit to date, peaking at number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Mainstream Top 40 chart.

The 3rd single, "Take My Breath Away", also attained relative success, peaking at number 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The 4th and last single, "Angels", reached number 38 on the Billboard Pop 100 chart. The album's success was boosted by Simpson's truth television program with Lachey, "Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica", which brought her into the public eye and generated interest in her music.

Critical Reception and Legacy
"In This Skin" got combined reviews from music critics, with some praising the album's fully grown noise and Simpson's vocals, while others slammed the lyrics and production for lackluster creativity. Regardless of the combined critical reception, the album showed to be a commercial success, reaching number 10 on the Billboard 200 chart and eventually ending up being certified triple platinum by the RIAA.

The album's fully grown noise has had a long lasting influence on Simpson's music, with subsequent albums following a similar instructions and exploring personal styles. "In This Skin" stands as a turning point in Simpson's career, marking a departure from her previous pop noise and acting as a testament to her development as an artist.