How does it compare to the artist's other releases
Outstanding
Value for Money
Advantages:
A mix of kind of poppy rock, easy to listen to
Disadvantages:
Occasional weaker track
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
Did everyone see the Brits the other week? Yes? Then you will have probably seen a young lass singing a well-known song with a grammatically incorrect title and being accompanied by about 15 drummers. Yes 15 drummers!
I am of course talking about Avril Lavigne and her performance of sk8ter boi at THAT prestigious awards show. So while she effectively 'rocked' then, does her album, released earlier this year do the same, or is it a one-track wonder? Well once again I have strived to provide you with the answer, in another of my definitive reviews. I hope you enjoy!
RUN OF PLAY
It appears to me that the best way to conduct an opinion to you, the Ciao members, on albums is via a guide through all of the songs themselves, giving you a in-depth feel of the album as a whole. I will therefore take each song in turn and provide you with a mini-review. So effectively your getting 13 opinions for the price of one! Now that's got to be better than a slap in the face!
Song 1 - Losing Grip - 3:53
This song provides a decent introduction for the rest of the album, and upholds Avril's rock-chick image. For pop fans among you this may get slightly heavy, but nothing at all to worry about. The song itself is quite slow-paced, but has a heavy baseline, and so feels very rock-esque, which is probably what you would expect.
This first track is about Avril's significant other effectively shunning her. She feels like she's "losing her grip" on him.
Not exactly my favourite song on the album, but certainly a good ice-breaker, and certainly gets you into the mood for what's to come next. Not a bad start at all.
Milky Malky rating - :):):):):):):) [7/10]
Song 2 - Complicated - 4:05
No not another headbanging song from blur, but the first song that Avril released, at least in the UK. People who listen to the radio or music channels will instantly know this one right from the outset. The intro of "a-huh"'s and "lalalala"'s will get you singing along straight away.
The song is about a man in Avril's life who keeps changing to try and always be 'in' with every crowd instead of being himself, ie he keeps being "so complicated" see?
For those of you who haven't heard this song, then it is another slow-ish song, with loud drum and guitar parts, giving it a very slow rocky feel. There is a constant beat throughout the song, which may see you tapping your hand and feet, or who knows maybe even the odd headbang lol! The lyrics are easy to follow and sung with an accomplished ability. A good strong song.
Milky Malky rating - :):):):):):):):):) [9/10]
Song 3 - Sk8er Boi - 3:23
This is the song that Avril performed at the Brits, and was her second release here in the UK. This song is of a much faster pace than the previous two, and starts with a quick drum fill-in, and is then accompanied by the guitars. Then Avril cuts in with the lyrics.
She dictates a story about a boy and a girl (can she make it anymore obvious?), who like each other, but never get together because they have different interests, ie the girl does ballet, and the boy enjoys skating etc, hence he is a skater boy, or as the title calls him a sk8er boi.
The fast pace makes it much easier to tap along and really enjoy the song. This increase in pace however does not ruin the lyrics. They are incredibly easy to follow, and you'll know them within minutes. Another example of Avril doing what Avril does best - rocking.
Milky Malky rating - :):):):):):):):):) [9/10]
Song 4 - I'm with you - 3:44
All of a sudden after three very pumping and rocky songs, the fourth track on the album is completely different. It is a ballad track, with a very mellow and soft sound that shows a completely different side to Avril's repertoire.
This song see's Avril pouring her heart out about her loved one and telling him that "I'm with you" probably forever.
This track surprised me. And it was one of those pleasant surprises, like when you get more than one Bertie Basset in a bag of Liquorice Allsorts. It shows that Avril is not just another run-of-the-mill teen out to make a buck, she can actually sing, and well, and she can also produce songs of different styles and pull them off excellently. Probably my favourite song on the album this, and I think it is about to be released as a single here in the UK soon too.
Milky Malky rating - :):):):):):):):):):) [10/10]
Song 5 - Mobile 3:31
Another change in style slightly. This song is a much more upbeat jiggy kind of song. A very 'soft-rock' kind of song, that is easy-listening. Kind of like a ballad with a beat. This is again a style that Avril does well.
Avril is apparently like a mobile in this song(no not the phone, but those spinny things that babies have above their cots) because here life is spinning around in circles.
As I said before a very jiggy of song this that will see you nodding your head to the soft beat. It's only when you listen to the lyrics that you realise that Avril is not comparing herself to a Nokia 7210 - so don't be fooled by the title. A good accompaniment to the album.
Milky Malky rating - :):):):):):):):) [8/10]
Song 6 - Unwanted - 3:40
This song is another slow-paced song - about the same speed as "I'm with You", but don't let that fool you. This is another very rocky song with heavy guitar and drum accompaniments. The way these are played makes the beat seem faster than it is.
This song is about Avril feeling "Unwanted", surprisingly. It's about her trying to fit in, and being left out and ignored instead.
The lyrics to this song are also very fastly paced, especially in the chorus, where lots of short sentences such as "don't ignore me" are said quickly. Much of the song is repeated numerous times, and this means that the words will become incredibly familiar after a time. A good song, but there are better ones on the album.
Milky Malky rating - :):):):):):):) [7/10]
Song 7 - Tommorow - 3:48
Another slow song this, and another ballad. My personal belief is that Avril does these incredibly well, and that focussing on these would not do her career any harm, but hey I guess she's got her image to think about...
The fact that tomorrow is another day is the premise for this song. Avril doesn't believe that (presumably) her relationship will be OK despite assurance from her boyfriend, perhaps it'll be OK tomorrow...
The chorus in this song is one of my personal favourites matched only by "I'm with you". It's slow, but her voice is incredibly powerful, and she really sets the mood for the song. It makes me all tingly. Ahem. The lyrics are easy to follow, and with the quiet drums and guitar in this song, this becomes an accomplished ballad. A very good song.
Milky Malky rating - :):):):):):):):):) [9/10]
Song 8 - Anything but Ordinary - 4:12
A very cheerful intro is presented in this song. It begins with a crescendo of soft-rock jiggyness, similar in a way to "Mobile". The song itself appears very cheery and well is, apart from one line in the chorus where Avril asks us to "rip my heart out and leave me here to bleed." Hmmm. Decide for yourself about that one.
This song is all about Avril's strive to be different, in fact she wants to be "Anything but Ordinary", please.
The lyrics themselves are somewhat depressing if you actually listen to what is being said, but the music that surrounds the song is quite different. The music is much more 'happy' - for want of a better word - than it's subject matter would suggest. A mix that might appear not to work, actually does, and the result is a decent song that you'll want to listen to.
Milky Malky rating - :):):):):):):):) [8/10]
Song 9 - Things I'll never say - 3:44
An incredibly upbeat song, that, judging by the songs that have been released, seems out of place on her album, but I believe it works brilliantly. The song begins with some incoherent "la"s or "da"s and "dum"s, and create an incredibly light and mellow effect before the main lyrics start.
The song is all about the things that Avril wants to say but can't. Stuff like her wanting to marry her boyfriend, and be with him forever. Aaaaaaaaaah.
The lyrics themselves are incredibly positive, and seem odd especially when they come on the back of the previous track, "anything but ordinary". But they are a refreshing chnage, and they, along with the music make an easy-listening song that is very enjoyable.
If I could give two songs on the album 10/10, then I would but I can't. Wait, what's that? I can? Well OK then!
Milky Malky rating - :):):):):):):):):):) [10/10]
Song 10 - My World - 3:27
Another up-beat and soft song this, with an almost indentical intro to "Thing's I'll never say". Due to it's similarities to it's predecessor, the same ideas apply to this song too. It will have you nodding your head and tapping along to the beat with uncanny frequency, as it's one of those songs that you just can't hate.
This song is all about Avril's life, detailing her past before she became a singer, as well as detailing the fact that her hair takes agaes to becomes straight.
As this song has distinct resemblances to the other song, you know that I am undoubtedly going to like this one. It is amazing how Avril's range of voice can cope so well with this beaty style of music, as well as the likes of "Sk8er Boi" and "Complicated". A very accomplished song. Better than a 9, but not quite a 10. So you know what that means...
Milky Malky rating - :):):):):):):):):): [9.5/10]
Song 11 - Nobody's Fool - 3:57
A much more rockier song this, and bizarrely enough, it fits in well after a few of those lighter songs. It's not incredibly heavy, but just does enough to differ from the previous songs. The "step-up" intro is interesting, if not entirely random.
This track is concerned with Avril's dislike to the fact that her boyfriend is trying to change her, and the fact that he shouldn't try to because she's not "Nobody's Fool".
Loud, but not overly-heavy drums and guitars, coupled with the lyrics sung by the lovely Avril make this song an accomplished one, but it misses that something special, that some of the previous ones have had, which is a shame. Not a bad song, in fact quite a refreshingly good song, just not quite excellent.
Milky Malky rating - :):):):):):):):) [8/10]
Song 12 - Too much to ask - 3:46
A slower paced ballad song again, but "Too much to ask" has slightly heavier accompaniment this time, so I kind of seems like a slow rock song. It's apparent from the beginning of the song that this song is one of the poorer ones. The words of the 1st verse don't seem to fit or to flow as well as the other songs do. Having said that the chorus is a vast improvement and flows and Avril's voice is suited perfectly.
The song itself is about Avril's boyfriend being too "tough" and not laughing or showing affection. She asks him if it is "Too much to ask" to change.
With a little bit more work on the verses, this song could have made more impact on the album and been a winner, however it suffers from what appears to be sloppy producing and/or writing that is only saved slightly by the decent chorus. A little disappointing, a stereotypical 'album track'.
Milky Malky rating - :):):):):):):) [7/10]
Song 13 - Naked - 3.27
Yeah, thought that title would wake you up! Unfortunately there are no photographic representations of any of the songs in the inlay that accompanies the album - damn! This song is another slowish song, with relatively loud acccompaniment, especially in between verses and choruses.
Unfortunately this song is not about Avril performing a striptease, but instead it is about her feeling so comfortable around her boyfriend, that she might as well be naked, because she effectively wouldn't care. (I don't think he'd mind either love!)
This song is a decent end to a pretty amazing album, it portrays Avril's voice well, and provides a strong finish to proceedings, and rounds things off nicely.
Milky Malky rating - :):):):):):):):) [8/10]
Phew! Now for those off you who are nodding off, or at the very least have acute eye strain and a growing pain in the back of their neck, I apologise, but that's the bulk of it over with.
PACKAGING & CONTENTS
The album itself comes in either CD or cassette format. My copy is CD, and comes with the mandatory inlay card. This folds out to reveal the lyrics of every song, as well as Avril's Thank Yous. Accompanying these are some damn nice shots of Miss Lavigne in various poses. Nice.
PRICE
The price of the album is the same as most recent albums and will normally set you back between £11.99 to £13.99. However if you can get it in a deal (like I did), where you buy 2 CDs for £22 or 3 for £30 it works out cheaper per CD.
WHERE TO BUY IT?
Well all good music shops is a start! The usual HMV, Virgin, WHSmiths would be a good place to start. However you may find it even cheaper in local music stores. It might also be worth looking for it on Amazon or Ebay on the net.
CONCLUSION
In my opinion I believe this album is an essential purchase. There pretty much is something for everybody in here. The fact that all of the songs that I rated did not get lower than 7/10 is not due to my biased opinion writing (I heard that!), but is a testament to it's sheer quality and variety.
Avril Lavigne, love her or hate her, has a fantastic voice, and this is shown in her album. The sheer plethora of styles completed to such a high standard should be enough to silence any critic. A must buy album, you'll be sorry if you don't!
Thanks for reading
MilkyMalky :)
More details
How does it rate alongside the competition
Outstanding
Cover / Inlay Design and Content
Outstanding
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