I will be the first to admit that I initially wrote Hilary Duff off, especially after one of her biggest hits to date happened to be a kind of annoying song called “So Yesterday”. However, when I heard the lead off single for her new album Dignity,
called With Love, I was instantly intrigued; could there be more to this girl than I once thought? Well, after hearing the song over and over, I really started to like it, and I pledged myself to give Hilary another chance. What I came to realize when I got Dignity, was that there really was more to Duff than I had previously thought.
Now, let me get this out of the way, before those that are scratching your head wondering why Hilary Duff’s album is on my best of list wonder just what brought me to this inclusion; despite what you want to think, this album has more than a few hits. Is the album perfect? No. In fact, there are other albums that have hit the list earlier in this countdown that are much better than this album; but there are songs on this record that really garner more attention, and therefore, cause me to play them more. In fact, one of the songs in particular, Outside of You, is one of the best pop songs I have heard in years, and it is for star performances like that, the Dignity finds itself among my top records of this year.
While listening to Dignity, you really do realize that Hilary Duff isn’t totally like those other “Hollywood Starlets”; she doesn’t seem interested in the parties and paparazzi like other stars her age, and she is here to sing about why. Many of the songs exude a big F-U to that whole “attention-whore” attitude that many young stars seem to seek, and with more than a few tart-laced lyrics, Hilary clearly wants to separate herself from that lifestyle. She seems more intent on finding love, living her life, and just having a good time; all without the flash bulbs, problems, and pitfalls that afflict other girls her age that experience the same fame that she has found. While I can see how someone might think that she is being a bit hypocritical at times, I definitely see where she is coming from; Hilary hasn’t been to rehab, and isn’t flashing her cooch on the cover of a magazine, and that is because she has made a conscious effort to avoid it (unlike many of her Hollywood peers). Making it a main theme of her record is her way of saying how she feels about the whole thing, and I say good for her.
The other themes of the record clearly highlight some of what she went through when she broke up with Joel from Good Charlotte. When you hear what “really happened”, it reminds you that you never know what people go through; and especially famous people, because the all the media does is spin things for the purpose of a story. Again, this highlights the “problem” with being famous; you have to pay a price to get that fame, and Hilary is here to sing about her experiences. What’s great for the listener, is that she does it with a great affinity for pop; some of these songs are really great, despite a troubling story, or frustrated rant being the topic of discussion. There are a few duds on this record, but those are mostly overshadowed by the great production of the massive pop anthems that pop up throughout the record.
Having only seen her videos for Stranger and With Love, I am wondering why this record hasn’t propelled her higher as a pop singer, because there is more than enough material to rocket her into the pop spotlight. I for one, am glad that I gave Hilary another shot when I did, because Dignity is a great record, both for the way she tells her side of the story, and vents her frustrations with fame, as well as the superb production value on some pretty amazing pop songs. Seriously, some of these songs just demand your attention, and I am still surprised we haven’t heard more from this “new” Hilary on the charts and the airwaves; there is some really great material here, and it deserves to be heard.
My favorites from Dignity:
Outside of You (BEST song on the record, not to mention, one of the best pop songs in a long time), With Love, Stranger, Dreamer, and Between You and Me. (again, songs with links will take you to youtube-video-goodness!)
Rating: 
