Since 2002, and the release of her 18 million selling debut 'Let Go', Avril Lavigne has been under constant scrutiny from almost everybody and anybody - there's the 'she's not punk' brigade, there's the 'look at that poser' brigade, and then there's the ones that just talk utter cr*p - but not yet has it got her down. See, our Avril is made of tougher stuff than her critics would care to understand, and when considered the stream of emotion that flows through both her debut 'Let Go' and it's predecessor, 2004's 'Under My Skin', it's no wonder she knows how to take a bashing and come back stronger. Where her debut offered up 13 tracks of sublime pop music (with a tinge of rock), the supposed 'sophomore slump' has been evaded, and instead 'Under My Skin' comes up as one of the top albums of the last year, delivering tracks with a far rockier feel, making reference to her own personal inspirations such as Green Day and The Goo Goo Dolls in the process. The one question that was posed Avril's way prior to the release of 'Under My Skin', was could she do it on her own, could this tiny 19 year old from little Napanee write her own record after relying on the writing duo of 'The Matrix' for the bulk of her debut, could she……
What must be kept in mind when listening to
Under My Skin, is that Avril was only 19 at the time of release, and therefore still suffering the torments of any typical teenager of her age…..except she had the added pressure of the worlds media following her every move at will. The record itself gets deeper into Avril's world, exploring places that 'Let Go' dared to venture - there's the realisation of a doomed relationship in 'Together', the lonesome journey of 'Nobody's Home', and the extremely personal ode to Avril's deceased grandfather, 'Slipped Away' - all makes for very interesting listening. The biggest talking point as regards the album was the track 'Don't Tell Me', a track that encourages teen abstinence - "Don't think that your charm and the fact that your arm is now around my neck, Will get you in my pants I'll have to kick your ass and make you never forget" - although lyrically weak, it sends out a positive message that should be commended. A personal favourite of mine, 'Nobody's Home' tells the tale from Avril's perspective, of a lost individual who simply cannot find her way through life and becomes stuck in a rut - "Open your eyes, And look outside, Find the reasons why, You've been rejected, And now you can't find, What you've left behind" - it's a song that appeals to your emotions as much as anything else.
The albums one downfall (to put it simply) is when Avril tries to rock just a little too hard - 'Forgotten', with it's screeched chorus, simply should have been forgotten as the title so implores. Evidently, Avril hasn't completely forgotten her pop-happy past, with 'Fall To Pieces' and 'Who Knows' sounding alike anything that made the final cut for her debut….but both sounding just as good as the other. In particular, 'Who Knows', with it's uplifting verse ("I think there's something more, Life's worth living for") is one of the few tracks to actually look on the brighter side of things, which is in itself very pleasing to hear. On the other hand, 'Fall To Pieces' talks of the more emotional side of a relationship, of admitting your feelings to yourself - "and I don't wanna fall to pieces, I just wanna sit and stare at you. I don't wanna talk about it and I don't want a conversation, I just wanna cry in front of you. I don't wanna talk about it, cuz' I'm in love with you" - it's something that although said before, is done well by Lavigne. 'Freak Out' provides a quick trip to the skate park, a sing-along anthem for the younger generation which is in general, very good both lyrically and musically (as is the majority of the work on 'Under My Skin').
'Slipped Away', as stated, is the most personal track Avril will ever be likely to write, penned in memory of her recently deceased grandfather who sadly passed away as she performed in New York in late 2003 - it's a genuine tear-jerker. Ending simply with the spoken words "I miss you", it represents Avril's new found maturity that was so missing on 'Let Go', and sends out an honest message to appreciate your loved ones whilst they're there….as they won't be forever. What is evident, is that Avril has indeed taken on board what she learnt from The Matrix (no, not the film), and used it as the instigator for her own work - work which, with a little further progression, could see her become something truly huge over the next 10 years, and re-spark those Alanis comparisons, but Avril is and always will be her own woman with her own ideals. Incidentally, the UK bonus track 'I Always Get What I Want' is effectively the nearest to 'punk' that our Avril will ever venture - "Get me what I want, Everything I don't got. Give me what I want, Cause I'm a big shot" - like I said, Avril's very grounded.
'Under My Skin' does contain it's weaknesses - sometimes scratchy lyrics, the odd bad moment ('Forgotten') - but in the main it's a sound sophomore record from one of the music industries big hitters. So to answer my question from the beginning of this review - could she do it on her own, could this tiny 19 year old from little Napanee write her own record after relying on the writing duo of 'The Matrix' for the bulk of her debut, could she……
Oh Yes !
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Repeat - Together, Don't Tell Me, He Wasn't, How Does It Feel, My Happy Ending, Nobody's Home, Who Knows, Fall To Pieces, Freak Out, Slipped Away, I Always Get What I Want
Average - Take Me Away, Forgotten
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Thank You
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This is a great review. Unfortunately, I hate Avril Lavigne so I'll not be listening to this any time soon (surely it's not possible for one disgruntled teenager to have that much angst?) xx
Under My Skin, the second album from Avril Lavigne, doesn't stray too far from the formula ... more
that made her debut, Let Go, a multi-million seller. Acoustic guitars bolstered by rock riffs in the chorus and sing-along vocals for angst-ridden teens confirm ...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Advantages: A brilliant second album, much more grown up Disadvantages: So radically different from her first album, it might drive away some of her fans
Advantages: A brilliant second album, much more grown up Disadvantages: So radically different from her first album, it might drive away some of her fans
Apr 18th, 2005
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