In contrast to her debut album Sweet Kisses (1999), which included more ballads, Irresistible explored hip hop and R&B genres of music.

[1][2] Simpson described the material as "Mariah Carey meets Britney Spears", indicating the soulfulness of the songs as well as their contemporary appeal.

The title track, the album's lead single, was the most commercially successful, as it reached the top twenty in eleven countries, including no.

[8] The album featured mostly ballads, and was targeted at a more mature audience than the works of her contemporaries, such as Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera or Mandy Moore.

[11] While compiling songs for Sweet Kisses, she had expressed inconvenience when a track's lyrics were too suggestive or delivered a message she did not agree with and thus asked for its modification.

[14] Described as being very sexy and more grown up by Simpson,[15] the opening title track was written by the Swedish duo Anders Bagge and Arnthor Birgisson, in collaboration with English singer-songwriter Pamela Sheyne.

"[19] Cory Rooney wrote "Hot Like Fire" solely,[7] which Simpson described as "certainly not kid stuff", a song "with a lot of attitude.

Sony's C-800G Tube Condenser Microphone, equipped with a dual large diaphragm and electronically selectable pick-up pattern, was used to record the vocals.

"[20] For the Afanasieff tracks, the background vocals and overdubs were accomplished on the Oxford console at his Wally World Studio B, at San Rafael, California.

[32] Bob Waliszewski of Plugged In (publication) gave a similar observation of the lyrics, writing that they point to an imminent sexual compromise.

[5] "Forever in Your Eyes" explores elements of Latin music, as the song is backed by Spanish guitar and infused with hip-hop beats.

[24] The lyrics, sung with "hard edge vocals" over synth horns, hip-hop beats, and electronica rhythms,[22][33][37] demonstrate Simpson's annoyance at being cheated on by her boyfriend.

[34][37] Rick de Yampert of The Daytona Beach News-Journal commented that the song contained Stevie Wonder-styled funk music.

[5] The closing track, the cover of the hymn "His Eye Is on the Sparrow", is backed by a gospel choir and "praises God for watching over His children".

[7][41] The front sleeve cover shows Simpson, wearing heavy makeup and with blonde hair,[7] dressed in a semi-transparent shirt, raising it a bit to expose her navel.

[32] They stated, "If anything, Irresistible copes with temptation by yielding to it which, in conjunction with Simpson's general immodesty, models a dubious sexual ethic.

"[5] Canadian music magazine Chart also gave a negative response, writing "it takes more than wearing see-through clothes, with airbrushed, non-existent nipples, to show that you have matured.

[34] He concluded by commenting on Simpson's version of "His Eye Is on the Sparrow": "So if her pop fortunes fail, perhaps she'll find some contemporary Christian singers to imitate.

Exploiting every cliché in the pop 2001 handbook – florid ballads seemingly formulated for movie soundtracks [...] it quite literally hits you baby, and more than one time.

[57] Kirsten Koba of Popmatters commented that "Irresistible is more reminiscent of trips to the dentist's office, or any equally oppressive place that only plays adult contemporary schlock.

"[25] He concluded by commenting, "it's a bit of the inverse of Sweet Kisses, which was too heavy on ballads, and, like that record, this is the work of pros, so it sounds fine as it plays but it lacks a song as strong as 'I Think I'm in Love With You' to anchor it – so it floats away from memory.

"[25] Peter Marsh of the BBC said the album sounded like a mixture of Spears, Aguilera, Carey and Dion, and wrote that it covered all the "bases".

[84][85] As a part of promotion, Simpson performed tracks from the album on several televised appearances and occasions, including Macy's 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular,[86] in celebration of Independence Day,[87] and the 2001 Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve.

[88] In July 2001, she performed the tracks, including "Irresistible" at Wango Tango, an annual all-day concert organized by KIIS-FM, in California.

[90][91] In November, she joined the lineup of United Service Organizations' (USO) Tour, to entertain the US troops fighting in Operation Enduring Freedom.

In contrast to her previous co-headlining tour with 98 Degrees, Simpson wanted "DreamChaser" to present her as a singer and a performer, in the mold of Spears.

[95] The tour was set up on a portable stage called the "Extreme Mobile Venue",[96] with a capacity to hold 10,000 people, and ran in mall parking lots.

[109] The accompanying music video was directed by Simon Brand, and features Simpson dressed as a spy, trying to compromise some evidence in a laboratory.

[111] The song was used to promote Bally Total Fitness and thus, a limited CD single pressing was made available to people who joined the club.

[113] A music video, directed by Hype Williams, features Simpson dancing in a futuristic spaceship-like setting, with her backup dancers.