Avril Lavigne - Under My Skin

With her breakthrough 2002 debut, Let Go, Avril Lavigne tried to market herself as the bona fide alternative to tarty teen queens, Britney and Christina. Her guitar-pop hits were irresistibly bratty but the whole "Complicated" teen pose was a little hard to swallow, especially since two songwriters called the Matrix--who had at least twenty years on the Canadian singer--fed her most of the material. Having had the chance to live a little, Lavigne returns to make good on her angsty image with Under My Skin, an album rippling with delightfully dour melodies and heartfelt lyrics about loneliness ("How Does It Feel") and fractured relationships ("Don't Tell Me"). Is it clichéd? Sure. Will it scare off her necktie and t-shirt wearing fans? Possibly. But there's nothing quite as satisfying as watching a teen-pop icon actually reveal her soul. --Jaan Uhelszki Amazon.com

 Avril Lavigne Rocks
I'm a huge fan of Avril Lavigne, and I think she really shines in this album. The songs are amazing and catchy. She has a beautiful voice, she can carry a tune, she can hit the notes, she has a huge range, she's amazing. If you are looking for a new favorite singer, you've found one. I'd buy this album because I think the songs are better and she has a huge chance to shine. And trust me, she does. May 12, 2008

  Enjoyable and slightly darker themes than Her popular debut showcased. 3.94 stars.,
I really, really loved this CD once it hit store shelves back in May 2004. I still feel the same about it, really. It's kinda surprising.

*** Take Me Away...is one of Her most angst-ridden recordings, but it's OK I guess. Just don't plan on putting it on repeat.
**1/2 Together...is very forgettable. Forgot it!
****1/2 Don't Tell Me...This is quite the kiss-off!
*** He Wasn't...Meh/10
***1/2 How Does It Feel...Kinda mellow, to be honest. It's not too bad. Quite listen-able, and the lyrics are decent. It's a keeper, I suppose. ^_^
***3/4 Happy Ending...This is decent also.
****1/2 Nobody's Home...One of Avril's most insightful pop songs with a bit of meaning. Her best track here.
**** Forgotten...I really, REALLY like this song. It's kinda hard. And the lyrics are cool. Like the swagger on this one. And I'm no fan of Hers anymore.
***3/4 Who Knows...Pleasant pop tune.
***1/2 Fall to Pieces...Like this one too. Not as strong as Forgotten, or Nobody's Home, but solid nonetheless.
***1/2 Freak Out...Was cool and still is to just chill to.
***3/4 Slipped Away...Avril, if it does any good, I'm super sorry that You're grandpa died so suddenly. But it can't be worse then never knowing any of Your grandparents, which is the story of My life. But I'm still sorry, nonetheless.

47.25/12 = 3.9375
3.9375 = 3.94
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3.94 stars. November 11, 2007

 Love!
I love this CD, I listen to it day and night. She has some great songs in here. This is the perfect CD for somebody who just had a bad break up!! October 10, 2007

 Under My Skin
I love that this cd is a little head bang, a little ballad, perfect for all my moods. Rock on Avril! October 1, 2007

 Stop! Before I Begin . . .
Avril Lavigne's first album, LET GO, went quadruple platinum and was nominated for five Grammy Awards for 2002. Unfortunately, Norah Jones was also nominated for five--competing with Avril in several--and Norah swept her nominations, while Avril was left with none. I remember Norah was interviewed backstage and she admitted to strolling past Avril with an armful of grammies and saying something to rub salt in the wound, adding insult to injury, as it were.

Avril had something going there at first with her neck ties over T-shirt look on MTV, and her anti-Britney stance. But then she had to mispronounce David Bowie's name while announcing the Grammy nominations. The Lavigne backlash had begun. Next thing you know, a computer virus was named for her that forced you to go to her website. Why did things have to get so complicated?

Her sophomore effort, UNDER MY SKIN, was edgier, darker, and dare I say just a little more mature? Two whole years had gone by. As I write this, there are 1,122 customer reviews of it on Amazon, with 590 giving it 5 stars while 248 haters rate it only 1 star. Both are fun to read, the raves for the over-the-top enthusiasm, the youthful spelling and grammar errors, and the heartfelt appreciation of the music; and the pans for the sour grapes, the skewering of her naivite and foibles, and the clever put-downs. I am rating it 2 stars, merely because only 32 other people chose that number, and I figure it will be easier to find. You can search the reviews by the ratings. Most people either loved or hated her, so I will be luke warm, just to stand out in the crowd.

I really liked the song "My Happy Ending." I heard it on the radio. I was listening to a station that plays a mix of old and new music, and though they play thousands of different songs, if they put it in the rotation you are likely to hear it 2 or 3 times in a month or so. That was enough for it to stick in my head, and make me wonder who it was. Not surprised that it was Avril, in fact she was my first guess (her song, "Complicated" also stuck in my head after hearing it a few times). The `happy beginning' goes a little like this:

Lets talk this over
It's not like we're dead
Was it something I did?
Was it something you said?

Don't leave me hangin'
In a city so dead
Held up so high
On such a breakable thread

I really like the breakable thread image. The "In a city so dead" is my least favorite line. It doesn't really add anything, and distracts. Why is the city so dead? The song isn't really about the city, its mortality or lack thereof, and it seems like it was just inserted so the breakable thread line could rhyme with something. But I quibble. Don't know if Avril wrote this herself or not, but whoever wrote it has a way with words. I also like this verse, which is almost conversational, as it spins the story along:

You've got your dumb friends
I know what they say
They tell you I'm difficult
But so are they
But they don't know me
Do they even know you?
All the things you hide from me
All the shizzle you do

The music supports the song well, with a very dramatic build up, and a rousing, though somewhat ironic, chorus:

All this time you were pretending
So much for my happy ending
So much for my happy ending

Finally, due to her mispronounciation of David Bowie's name, I wonder if she is even aware of the great song writers of the past such as Cole Porter, who wrote "I've Got You Under My Skin," a song that was sung so well by Mr. Frank Sinatra? Was her album title a reference to it, or is she completely oblivious? I wonder, because each time I do, just the thought of you makes me stop--before I begin, `cause I've got Avril Lavigne UNDER MY SKIN.
Songs for Swingin' Lovers! September 2, 2007

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