I’ve had a very serious love/hate relationship with Avril Lavigne. The pop princess has always had this weird effect on me. She’s like that annoying little sister that steals your stuff and tries too hard to fit in with your friends.
Listening to her spew out ridiculous lyrics like “He was a boy, she was a girl, could it be anymore obvious?” makes me wish the faux punk brat took a different career path. But songs like “Happy Ending” give me that sweet Kelly Clarkson craving I find myself needing every now and again.
Now that she’s married, 22, and hopefully a few IQ points higher, one would think her 3rd album, “The Best Damn Thing,” would be her most grown up yet, but surprisingly, it’s the exact opposite. “The Best Damn Thing” sounds as though Lavigne reverted back to her 15-year-old self.
Her third time around, Lavigne comes fully equipped with Clarkson’s producer Dr. Luke, husband Deryck Whibley of Sum 41, Green Day producer Rob Cavallo, and Butch Walker who produced her second album.
A bratty, punk-rock loving cheerleader sound saturates the album from beginning to end, complete with Toni Basil-infused cheers, Sum41 rip-offs and the signature Lavigne ballads. The question is, does it work? It does, if you’re between the ages of 11 and 17. Adults, you might feel a little dumber after your first listen.
Most of the album is Basil-inspired with handclaps, throughout cheer-tastic anthems “Girlfriend,” “Best Damn Thing,” and “I Don’t Have To Try.” Lyrics like “She’s so whatever, I think you can do better,” and “I’m the one, the one who wears the pants. I wear the pants!” may induce severe cringing as well as the minute of Lavigne spelling out her entire first name. Beware fans of “Under My Skin.” This is not the Avril you’re used to.
Also, Avril finally ventures into the punk rock territory she so much claimed to be a part of in “I Can Do Better” and “Everything Back To You.” It works for her, but seems more like she’s trying too hard to be something she’s not. And I suppose that’s her gimmick.
Avril’s faux punk movement has made a huge impact that has spawned the careers of Ashlee Simpson and FeFe Dobson. Never in my nightmares did I think it would be cool to shout cheerleading cheers and call it punk rock. But Lavigne has basically made it OK to be a “poser,” which in my opinion, is an amazing feat.
So rock on Avril. You do what you keep doing, you’re sure to be a hit with the high school crowd, even if you are 22.
Crystal Olvera is a copy editor and music columnist for the Valley Morning Star. Read her blog at www.intothegroove.freedomblogging.com. She can be reached at crystalo@valleystar.com.
