ON Jessica Simpson’s first post-divorce CD – “A Public Affair” (Epic) – the busty blond beauty lays down an effervescent album that’s rich in dance energy and pop power.

Unlike her ex, Nick Lachey, whose recent CD was an exercise in wimpy, self-pitying mope, Miss Simpson has gotten over the pain of divorce – or at least she’s keeping it mostly to herself.

On “Swing With Me,” Jessica goes retro, tapping Louis Jordan jump-jive swing – and in the next breath she gets suggestive and sweaty in the baby-got-back funk of “Push Your Tush.”

Rather than presenting a themed album like Madonna’s dance record or Christine Aguilera and OutKast’s dirty-’30s discs, Simpson chooses variety to showcase her voice. She covers the bases and even gets her hip-pop cranking in the raucous and musically aggressive “Fired Up” and “B.O.Y.” And the girl-next-door ballad “Between You & I” could have been snatched from the Leslie Gore songbook.

For those looking for the tracks of her tears, you have to read the liner notes where she thanks her sister Ashlee for crying with her and listening to Patty Griffin music “on repeat.” Tie that to the last song called “Let Him Fly,” written by Griffin, and poof, Lachey is gone.

Simpson would have been wise to steer clear of this weeper – at least it’s the last song on the disc and thus easy to skip.

The biggest flaw of this record is in her vocal delivery. While it’s certainly her own, it’s been so often aped by pop newcomers, time has made her sound seem generic. Despite the lack of a clear-cut vocal trademark, she’s dodged sounding cheesy with these upbeat and propulsive songs.

On “A Public Affair,” Simpson sounds excited to be singing again.

Download: “Push Your Tush.”

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JESSICA SIMPSON

[***] (Three stars)

“A Public Affair”