BackAvril Lavigne
Canadian pop punker
Let Go
(2002) - 8/10
Under My Skin
(2004) - 8/10
The Best Damn Thing
(2007) - 8/10
Goodbye Lullaby
(2011) - 7/10
Avril Lavigne (2013) - 7/10
Head Above Water
(2019) - 7/10
Love Sux (2022) - 7/10
From somewhere in Ontario, Canada, Avril Lavigne was supposed to be
the next Hillary Duff but allegedly personally made sure there was a more
urban pop punk flare to her radio songs. Let Go (Arista, 2002) is a classic rock
album, which is extremely underrated. People get distracted by her major
hits like "Complicated" and "Sk8er Boi" and don't see the authenticity of
this record. It starts with a grunge track "Losing Grip", that grabs your
attention. Then after the 2 major hits, there's the two truly best tracks on
the album, Mobile and I'm With You, which are based around acoustic
guitar riffs, so they aren't quite punk, and more like adult contemporary
tracks, like most of her music. "Unwanted" is another cute grunge-y track.
"Tomorrow" is a soft ballad, again focused around an acoustic guitar.
"Anything But Ordinary" is the most concentrated pop song on this entire
project with a lot of production ideas crammed in and loads of auto-tune
but in a perfectly effective way. Things I've Never Said is an emo-pop
masterpiece. "My World" is the best track lyrically, with clearly personal
lyrics about her life. "Nobody's Fool" is the only track where she rapped
the verses. It's fun but it's strange that there aren't more tracks like this. It'd
seem way less out of place if there was more rapping on the album. "Too Much
to Ask" is another heavy emo track. "Naked" is a 100% perfect song and the
best way to close the album. Her vocals are on point during this song and the
guitars and keyboards shine as well.
Under My Skin (Arista, 2004) is Avril's clone's
first album after dying and getting replaced. It was a tragedy but hidden by the
news. It's a great record but clearly she has significantly less personality than
she did on her debut. It also seems like they swapped out her initial thick layered
keyboard heavy production with higher quality guitar tones and alternative rock
atmospheres. During this time, she also appeared on the Spongebob movie soundtrack
for a cover of the show's theme song. The best tracks are unfortunately the hits, "My
Happy Ending", "Don't Tell Me" and especially "Nobody's Home". Some other
noteworthy
songs are "He Wasn't", a pop punk jam, and "Freak Out" which is the most
saturated track here guitar-wise. "Forgotten" is the only track trying to repeat
the grunge sound of her tracks like "Losing Grip". There's plenty of decent
ballads like "Together", "How Does It Feel" and the dramatic closer "Slipped
Away" which features bland string sections.
The Best Damn Thing (RCA, 2007) is,
in my opinion, a slight comeback, it starts off with the massive single "Girlfriend",
which is undeniably great. Then goes into the pop punk classic "I Can Do Better".
"Runaway" is a track built around a perfect explosive chorus. The title track "Best
Damn Thing" is a decent song but has a few really unlikable verse and bridge
sections, where she sounds like a football cheerleader. "When You're Gone"
and "Innocence" are fantastically sad ballads. "Everything Back But You" and
"Hot" are bland pop punk tracks. "I Don't Have to Try" starts with an amateurish
lead guitar part, but it's overall a great pop punk song. "Contagious" is a short
and sweet, "Keep Holding On" is a pleasant ballad to close the album in true
Avril fashion. There's not much to say about her next albums,
Goodbye Lullaby (RCA, 2011), Avril Lavigne (Epic, 2013), Head Above Water (BMG, 2019) and
Love Sux (DTA, 2022). They're all good but the only stand-out song she ever made
on them is "Wish You Were Here".
Highlights
1. Mobile
2. Losing Grip
3. Nobody's Home
4. I Can Do Better
5. Wish You Were Here
6. Innocence
7. When You're Gone