Avril Lavigne

Under My Skin

Much More Meaningful Than Her Debut. (4.5 Stars)

Review Score:

(8/10)
I'm sure many people wondered what happened to Avril Lavigne after her 2002 debut, "Let Go". She had a great deal of success with her singles and her debut in general which was a good thing considering how entertaining her album was. Just when some people were beginning to think that Avril would be a one-album-wonder, she struck back with a sophomore album, "Under My Skin". Compared to her debut, "Under My Skin" is much darker and deeper. Avril wrote or co-wrote every song and enlisted the help of Chantal Kreviazuk, bandmate Evan Taubenfeld and former Evanscence co-founder, Ben Moody. The result was an even better pop-rock offering. Avril is still in no way a punk artist nor is she pure pop or pure rock. Despite how you categorize her, this album is definitely worth a listen and may even surprise some.

The album opens with a song that is probably as far from the style of "Let Go" as possible. With lyrics written by Avril herself, "Take Me Away" starts the album off with angsty pop-rock that works. While it is not the best song on the album per se, it is still an awesome song and better than most pop-rock songs out there. "Together", the first song that was co-written by Chantal Kreviazuk, follows. It's simpler lyrically but still a personal favourite. The song describes how Avril feels better when she is by herself than when she is with her man. The subject matter is slightly overused but the style more than makes up for it. Next up is the first single, "Don't Tell Me". It has a more mature message than, say, "Sk8r Boi". This song is about a boyfriend who keeps pressuring Avril to sleep with him but she refuses. At first, I didn't like this song as much as I liked Avril's other singles, but it quickly grew on me.

"He Wasn't" is a favourite among fans, probably because it's closer to the style of Avril's debt. Many people compared it to "Sk8r Boi" but I do not see the resemblance. This song was produced by Raine Maida of Our Lady Peace, and co-written by Chantal Kreviazuk but unfortunately its lyrics are much weaker than other songs on the album. ("This is where I start to bite my nails, and clean my room when all else fails"). It is a fun song, but we know that Avril can to better. "How Does It Feel" is much mellower and while many complain that it has weak lyrics ("How does it feel to be, different from me?") I think they actually suit the song quite well. This was also co-written by Chantal Kreviazuk and Avril sounds great at this calmer style. A personal favourite, and the second single, "My Happy Ending" is up next. Lyrically, it's one of the best songs on the album and Avril sounds genuinely angry. The bridge in particular sounds great although the vocals throughout the song are remarkable.

Possibly the strongest song on the album, co-written by Ben Moody (formerly of Evanescence), follows and is entitled "Nobody's Home". This song is nothing short of deep and I was surprised to find out that Avril wrote the lyrics all on her own. The lyrics are descriptive and melancholy yet beautiful and touching at the same time. Though simple in places, they express the meaning of the song exceptionally. The next track, "Forgotten" has the same feel as "Unwanted" off of Avril's debut. Also co-written by Chantal Kreviazuk, this song has a more angsty feel. The lyrics aren't quite as strong however that may be because it was placed after the two best songs on the album. Avril's vocals are a little more subdued in this song, giving more of a grudging vibe rather than straight anger. "Who Knows" could have been great, but suffers due to a weak chorus. The verses are well-written and the chorus tries hard to be inspiring ("Who knows what could happen, do what you do just keep on laughing"). Unfortunately, the inspiration comes across as trite and forced and Avril would have been better off continuing the song in the same vein as the verses.

"Fall To Pieces" is similar to "How Does It Feel" in the sense that it has simple lyrics that express the meaning of the song impeccably. This song was co-written by Raine Maida and it is Avril's delivery that makes the lyrics work. It is a nice change to hear Avril sing a sweet love song though she never goes so far as to lose her usual style (which is a good thing). "Freak Out" is probably my least favourite song on the album simply because it seems out of place. Whereas many of the other songs showed some depth and meaning, this one settles for being upbeat and catchy. We already know Avril can manage this style and it sounds like this song was more suited for "Let Go". "This song is dedicated in loving memory to my Grandpa" is written above the lyrics to the final song, "Slipped Away". This song is a sweet, emotional piano ballad that, obviously, is about the death of Avril's grandfather. While the lyrics are simple, they are expressive and you can really feel Avril's grief.

Overall Mark: 4.5/5

While some listeners may still be caught up on the fact that Avril is not a punk singer as most people think she should be, Avril really proves herself a competent writer and singer with her second offering. As much as I enjoyed her debut, this album is even better simply because of the improvement in the lyrics. Avril seems more at home on this album and as a result, she suits the songs far better. A couple of songs suffer from weak choruses but Avril can usually make it work for the best. Personally, I would be happy if she continued working with Chantal Kreviazuk and Ben Moody as they usually bring out her best work.

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