Listeners have been dying to hear the nitty-gritty on Jessica Simpson’s relationship with ex-hubby Nick Lachey, and now their wait is finally over with Simpson’s latest effort, “A Public Affair.”

Fans will appreciate the album’s self-explanatory tracks: “Let Him Fly” and “I Belong to Me.” Though there are few heart-pouring songs about love and self- respect, tracks in this album do show off Simpson’s vocal dynamics, as opposed to her usual scream-fests.

The first single, “A Public Affair,” resembles Madonna’s “Holiday” on steroids, while other tracks ooze electronic techno over ’80s club beats. Simpson seems to have gathered inspiration from an eclectic group of pop artists, including the big band sound of Louis Prima, the Righteous Brothers’ pop-waltz style and Gwen Stefani’s speaking-to-music technique.

Perhaps Simpson is stabbing at larger issues than her divorce: everything pop music was, is and can be. Then again, maybe Ms. Chicken of the Sea isn’t that deep.

"A Public Affair" received 2 1/2 stars.