Customer Reviews

Best Damn Thing-Special Edition

5 star:		(58)
4 star:		(35)
3 star:		(34)
2 star:		(32)
1 star:		(39)

 

 

So much for the serious side of Avril Lavigne. Whether it is because she is now in her early twenties and a married woman or because she did like the way her last album resonated with her audience, the brat is back big time in her third album, "The Best Damn Thing." I would be in the camp that thought Avril Lavigne's second album, "Under My Skin," was a significant step up from her debut effort "Let Go." Fans who preferred the first album and thought "He Wasn't" was the best offering the second time around, will find "The Best Dam Thing" a return to her roots as an appealing brat (and proud of it). Those who would point to "My Happy Ending" as the best song on the sophomore effort will find this a mixed bag and contemplate the shift in Avril's songwriting partners from the likes of Chantal Kreviazuk to Lukasz "Doctor Luke" Gottwald (tracks 1-3, 9, 12), Evan Taubenfeld (tracks 7-8, 10-11), and Butch Butch Walker (tracks 4-6). Of course, Walker co-wrote "My Happy Ending" with Lavigne and their "When You're Gone" is the song here that most sounds like it belongs on "Under My Skin," along with "Keep Holding On," which came out last year as part of the "Eragon" soundtrack and seems a bit out of place since the message of its title applies equally well to fighting dragon slayers and enduring teenage heartbreak.

The dialectical tension between the bratty Avril and the serious Avril are captured on the first two tracks. In "Girlfriend" affirms that she is the "motherf___king princess" and is promising that she "can do it better," while on "I Can Do Better" the chorus is all about the angry aftermath as she yells out: "I hate you now, so go away from me/You're gone, so long/I can do better, I can do better." I like the energy of the latter song better, not to mention the rhetorical stance of the chorus. But then I am the father of two daughters and if the sentiments of Lavigne's "Don't Tell Me" could be programmed into the brain of every teenage girl in the country I would feel a lot better. However, I have no doubt those teenage girls are more drawn to such thoughts as "I just wanna scream and lose control/Throw my hands up, and let it go" ("Runaway") and "Waking up I see that everything is ok/The first time in my life and now its so great/Slowing down I look around an i am so amazed/I think about the little things that make life great/I wouldn't change a thing about it/This is the best feeling" ("Innocence").

But more often that not some guy comes along and messes everything up, which is why she ends up singing: "I hate you why are guys so lame/Everything I gave you/I want everything back but you" ("Everything Back But You"). The opening track matches up with the title song, which also mixes it what I want to call her "cheerleader rap," with its bratty declarations (e.g., "I hate it when a guy doesn't get the tab/And I have to pull my money out and that looks bad"). But then we get to the chorus and its infectious pop hook and the other side of her musical appeal. You will also find that the line of attack against certain types of women begun back with "Sk8ter Boi" continues here with not only "Girlfriend" (duh) but also "One Of Those Girls," which reminds us that Avril has drawn not only a vertical but a horizontal axis in the war of sexes. Whether you call it being empowered or being a brat, that overarching attitude is what ultimately connects all of these songs, summed up in the declaration "I'm the one I'm the one who wears the pants" ("I Don't Have to Try"). The bottom line would be that for me "The Best Damn Thing" is not on the same level as "Under My Skin," but I still find it worth listening to and if it takes her an album or two to grow into that serious side she revealed last time then I am willing to wait.

You are probably aware that "The Best Damn Thing" is available in both an explicit and a "clean" version. The four explicit tracks are "Girlfriend" (the aforementioned "mf" princess," "I Can Do Better" ("sick of this s__t"), "Everything Back But You" ("bitch, slut"), and "I Don't Have to Try" ("get ready motherf--ker 'cause I'm on the scene"). On the "clean" version of the album with the first two you basically have the __ parts inserted in the song, the third replaces the derogatory words with "hey, hey!" and the last one has the "get ready" repeated as a replacement, and this is how civilization is saved. The irony is that musically the clean versions end up sounding a bit better, because in terms of rhetorical implications it really strikes me that Avril is drawing a line of demarcation. If you are still on the other side of the great sexual divide and "Don't Tell Me" sums up your life, then you want the clean version. If you have crossed over and been seriously burned in a relationship (which almost always seems to be the case), then increasing the intensity of your vocabulary to describe the male of the species will sound like a good idea. All things considered, Avril's use of profanity indicates her target audience remains the legions of teenager wannabe brats, who will be thrilled by the dirty words even if they are thrown out inartistically. I would still say that on balance the attitude of these songs will outweigh the outbursts of obscenity for those fans.

Avril Lavigne proved, with her debut LET GO, that she had what it took not only to be a pop star, but to be a real musical artist. Her follow-up, UNDER MY SKIN, had her delving into deeper, darker material, putting her in a more alternative-minded suit.

Apparently, she had enough of that. THE BEST DAMN THING is spunky, perky, happy-go-lucky sing-a-long that, definitely, is catchy as hell, but isn't near as good as what Lavigne can do. "Girlfriend" kicks off the album and sets the mood; several of the tracks sound like knock-offs of this tune (including the title track, on which she boldly declares "I'm the best damn thing that your eyes have ever seen"). Ironically, with a couple exceptions, Lavigne sounds at her best when she's in this spunky mood (the exceptions being the powerful ballads "When You're Gone" and "Keep Holding On").

Basically, this is an immature album from an artist we know is capable of mature material. She hints at it here and there ("Damn that boy can make me cry," she sings in "Contagious;" in the next verse, "Damn that boy can make me smile"). But basically, THE BEST DAMN THING is THE BEST DANCE THING, because that's what it'll make you want to do--dance. Lavigne's got a good voice on her, and she knows how to write a well-crafted song; hopefully, her next album will show her branching out. This album makes her out to be the "pop princess" persona she so adamantly defied earlier in her career.

Well, the first single, "Girlfriend," should give you a clue. For those of us who thought her last album, 'Under My Skin,' was a great step forward (from a decent debut album, 'Let Go') will lament this major step back. Apparently Avril really wants us to believe that she's punk; unfortunately this means immature cheerleading rants (think Gwen Stefani at her most annoying) with the opening track and repeated in nearly identical fashion in a couple other songs on the album, with obvious borrowings from Toni Basil's eighties hit, "Mickey" ("Hey, Mickey, you're so fine,..."). The rest of the album doesn't fair much better (with a few exceptions, like "Innocent"). Take the lyrics from "Hot" as a case in point:

"You make me so hot
Make me wanna drop
It's so ridiculous
I can barely stop
I can hardly breathe
You make me wanna scream
You're so fabulous
You're so good to me baby, baby"

Sorry, this is crap. The music isn't much more creative. There's a general banality running throughout the album that simply wasn't found on her last album, 'Under My Skin.' And I think it's interesting to note that 'Under My Skin' was co-written with Chantal Kreviazuk, a legitimate singer-songwriter, and co-produced by Chantel's husband, Raine Maida (of the brilliant rock band, Our Lady Peace) among others. The new album, however, was co-produced by Luke Gottwald (aka Dr. Luke) with such credits as Britney Spears, Kelly Clarkson, Lady Sovereign, Missy Elliott, Pink, Mos Def, The Backstreet Boys, Daughtry, and Paris Hilton. Uhhhh, no thanks.

I know this has been a harsh review, but I do this in hopes that the next album will be much improved. Avril is still young with a long career ahead of her.

Yo, what it is, my righteous punkerz? I just finished, like, totally watching TRL today and I found out about the new album by the best punk rock artist ever, Avril Lavigne! It's called The Best Damn Thing because, like, having the work "damn" in your title is, like, so PUNK RAWK!!!!! It's good to see her fighting the good fight with other anti-authority anarchists like Simple Plan, Plain White T's, Fall Out Boy and Good Charlotte to keep hardcore alive! The punk rock nation flips the bird and spits in the face of "The Man" anywhere and everywhere, because we're PUNK RAWK!!!!! We're rebellious and extreme because we knock over counters at grocery stores and push old people around because it's fun! I hope they continue to kick sand in the faces of these moronic faux-punk bands like Dead Kennedys, Black Flag, The Exploited, UK Subs, TSOL and Bad Religion - TRL doesn't play them because they're nothing but a bunch of dumb boy bands!

I really love the song "Girlfriend" because everything about the song makes me want to kick the person next to me in the face and mosh all day and night! I love lyrics like "She's like 'so whatever' / And you can do so much better / I think we should get together now / And that's what everyone's talkin' about" because they're so deep and profound and, like, speak to my inner soul and stuff. My mother loves the song "Keep Holding On" which is awesome - I never knew my mom was punk rock ... even more punk rock is that she stole the chorus from a 30 Seconds To Mars song, because stealing is like so uber-punk rock! All the other songs are about Avril loving and hating boys, which we all know have been the primary components of punk rock since 1984, when Avril was born. That's right, punks and punkettes - Avril Lavigne invented punk rock as soon as she came into this world! She put on a striped tie and Chuck Taylors and the first word out of her mouth was "Punk" - thus it was born! How cool is that? Long live Avril Lavigne and REAL punk rock forever!

...

Ah, who am I kidding? Not only was typing like that difficult, but I think I lost a few brain cells in the process. Avril Lavigne's "hardcore punk muzik" will have the same effect on any willing listener. I pretty much mentioned everything wrong with it in the guise of high praise in the last paragraph - overproduced pop music masquerading as punk, bad singing, irritating hooks, and lyrics so bad and juvenile they make "My Humps" look like a work of genius. If that sounds like a ringing endorsement to you, feel free to jump in, but don't say I didn't warn you. I know that both Avril Lavigne's previous albums are Multi-Platinum so it appears that people actually enjoy shallow fluff - I guess ignorance really is bliss.

Congratulations, America - thanks to you, Avril Lavigne and her husband, Deryck Whibley of bubblegum pseudo-punk band Sum 41, have just moved into a $9 million mansion. Meanwhile, there are millions of people homeless and starving around the world. It's good to see that we are supporting people that have their priorities straight - forget about those who are less fortunate, it's more important to live it up, drink champagne and eat caviar instead! Because we all know just how "punk rock" it is to put material possessions over everything else in life. Right on, Avril and Deryck - rock on with your bad selves!

In summary: Just when you think Avril Lavigne's music had hit rock bottom, she puts out The Best Damn Thing and surprises us once again with her utter ineptitude. You people who still think that you're listening to punk rock should take a look at the "I'm so cute" cover photo, the lyrics of the songs (listen everybody - she's "precious" AND a "princess"!) and the choreographed dancing in the video - then you should realize that she's no different from Britney Spears, Jessica Simpson, Ashley Tisdale and all the other pop tarts. I highly recommend looking away from the Top 40, MTV and other outlets controlled by huge media conglomerates - they're just looking to push what they can sell to the lowest common denominator. I'm struggling to find even one good thing to say about this album, but I just can't. If you have money burning a hole in your pocket, check out anything else instead - maybe Joan Jett & The Blackhearts or the new Nine Inch Nails album for starters.

"Hey!" - the word of choice on this semi-concept album for Avril. Too many 'reviewers' here on Amazon are poo-pooing "The Best Damn Thing" without, perhaps, seeing the big picture. Avril is doing what a musical artist does and is their prerogative...reflect the times. She looks amazing and is her own person. People who are citing Britney as the epitome of current pop beauty are obviously outdated themselves since Brit's last real pop moment was years ago. I think that Avril let go just a tad bit of the slightly more acoustic/folky aspect of some of her tunes which were definitely prominent on her first album, "Let Go." The song "Sk8er Boi" stood out as a faster driving number on that first album, and I personally wished there were a ton more songs on that album with such speedy energy. Then came "Under My Skin" and she did speed it up again with "He Wasn't" but I still wanted more songs like those two.

Now comes "The Best Damn Thing" and it is nothing if but chock full of speedy tunes. Finally! Yay for me and those who like "Sk8r Boi." Avril herself says right on her liner notes (for those who actually buy CD's or at least download the complete album with the booklet from iTunes) "I hope you play this in your car, sing it in the shower, dance to it with your friends, and rock out to it at my concert." Well put. No problem, will do, Avril. She obviously had fun making this album and perhaps that's the view with which one should listen to it. Have a summer of fun. I plan on blasting this in my mom's convertible every chance I get.

So, if you liked Avril's earlier punky fast songs more than the slower ones, this is an album gift wrapped for you from her. Yeah the theme is a lot of "Hey! Hey!" and boy stuff, but that's what makes you want to chant and sing along at the top of your lungs and jump around like you were electrified. If you preferred her slower, more 'moody' songs, you can always revert to "Let Go" and "Under My Skin." However, if you need a soundtrack to the summer of fun - get this today.

Oh, and the first time you hear her say "I wear the pants!!" you will laugh and go...wow.

After the rather well- done album Under my Skin, I was hoping what I would continue to hear a more older and experienced Avril. Then I heard the terribly immature and overall lame single Girlfriend and just could not believe it. Where did her mind go- back to high school? I expect every artist to mature as time goes on and yet it seems although she goes on and on about how she has 'grown up' this album makes her sounds like she is 16; it's like she has seriously taken a step back age- wise.

What is there to really say about it? It is nothing but a loud mess of an album with really lousy or just cliche kind of lyrics you expect on a debut album possibly but not on the third damn album. The only thing this album proves is that Avril refuses to grow up. I can't find one real good song on here I can actually listen to all the way through without cringing or getting so annoyed with.

Avril will probably pick up plenty more young teens sure with this album since it does appeal to that age group- and her old fans nonetheless will buy it due to years of love for her past, and much better, albums- so this album will bring success for her sure. But the older fans who listen to the album, and actually claim that this one surpasses the first two albums, I'm sure will be in the minority. Some like I even will find it complete trash, wondering what the hell happened to Avril's direction between this album and Under My Skin, an album that showed some promise of further growth.

I am very disappointed overall the way Avril went with her music and I just hate this album. I am just so glad I decided to borrow this album from a friend before even considering buying it.

1/5

I own both "Let Go" and "Under My Skin," both great albums, in my opinion. When I heard about this album, I was very surprised at this move Avril made. Intsead of following the deep and darker lines of "Under My Skin," she went back to "Let Go" and has given us "The Best Damn Thing..." a collection of rock, pop, and cheerleader anthems that... which, to be honest, are very disappointing. I do not own this CD, but I have downloaded several of the songs and have listened to samples and read the lyrics of the rest. After doing all of that, I had one question left... Why Avril? Does she think she'll gain more popularity? Does she think she will appeal to a broader audience? By making this album, her audience range went from about 13-20 year olds to about 13-14 year olds... if even that, knowing all of the language in this album.

Now, not every song on this album are bad. That is why it has earned two stars. "Keep Holding On," "When You're Gone," and "One Of Those Girls" are all great songs... all without language. That's another thing. Does Avril really think it's necessary to blurt out "I'm the motherf---ing" princess" on "Girlfriend?" Besides being completely annoying, it just doesn't make sense. She also uses the s-word as if it's nothing more than the word "food." Besides those three songs, and maybe the exception of "Innocence," this album is filled with annoying melodies, raw language, and stupid lyrics that sound like they were written by 3-year-olds.

I'm sorry to be so harsh, Avril. But I really enjoyed your previous work and this completely steered you off the right path. As for everyone else... do what you would like with this CD, but I will not be downloading anymore than five songs off of this CD as basically every other song is filled with language. Not to mention the crappy lyrics. I'm sorry... better luck next time around, Avril.

Avril Lavigne. Everyone has an opinion on Avril, some love her and some hate her and she knows that and she'll sing about it, she's not afraid of the public and I don't get the idea she's afraid of record sales...I think she really just wants to make a good record and a record she can be proud of. Avril is a genuine artist with so many appealing qualities it's hard to hate her but also hard to love her. Personally, I love her.
Now, Onto the review. Let's start at the begining:

"Girlfriend" - Everyone knows this song by now. When I first heard it I really did love it. Don't get me wrong, I love sullen, mellow, angry Avril as much as the next...But "Girlfriend" shows her, pardon my pun, but Spit In Your Face attitude that we associated with the younger Avril. It's a great up-beat song to dance and laugh to...as well as get really drunk and have an awesome time. 9/10

"I Can Do Better" - My personal favorite on the album right now. The chorus is probably one of the catchiest, un-forgettable, can't get out of your head for days that i've heard in a long time. I also know that Avril is partial to this track as well and who could blame her. It's pure bratty fun pouring out of the speakers and into the air. I love the bridge when she get's rowdy and screamish...it's adorable. She should probably think about realeasing this as a single. 10/10

"Runaway" - This is another great song. What i've picked up from this song is that you can have this crappy day where nothing goes right but at the end of the day you still feel alive. I especially love the lyrics in this track, simple and well defined.

"The Best Damn Thing" - Not one of my personal favorites. It reminds me of a Gwen Stefani track, which is NOT a bad thing...It's just something that I've heard before. Is it still a good song?! Absolutly...the chorus is great. Just not one of my favorites. 6/10

"When You're Gone" - I LOVE THIS SONG. It's one of Avril's best ballads in my opinion. The lyrics can make anyone want to cry if they've been through a situation when they love someone and deep inside they want back and nothing makes sense other than the two being together. It's really beautiful. The opening line, how she sings it...I seriously got goosebumps, as simple as it is "I always needed time on my own" ...It's perfect. 10/10

"Everything Back But You" - This is just a great track to jam out to. It's got a punk-pop feel to it and the lyrics are, yet again, bratty and spiteful...but it's great. It's about a guy who's away and sends "Avril" a postcard that says "I Wish You Were Her" and he left out the "E"...It's really a clever song. 8/10

"Hot" - I didn't like this song when I first heard it, I found it rather forgetable...but the more I listen to it the more I like it. It took some warming up to...It has classic Avril voice in it. The lyrics are a bit predictable and immaturely written, but it's worth a listen. It's about puppy love and the great things that come along with it. 7/10

"Innocence" - This is a beautiful ballad. Avrils voice on this track is truely breathtaking. I believe this song is about the innocence of your first true love and how you never want it to end. The lyrics are also some of Avril's best. 10/10

"I Don't Have To Try" - This is my least favorite track on the album. The chorus is really good but that's about all it has going for it. It's spunky and fun, of course...It's a little "Rap-ish" ... but whatever...It's fun...just not my favorite. 3/10

"One Of Those Girls" - This track is forgetable for me. I never remember any words or melodies...It's about girls who only want a guy for his money. 3/10

"Contagious" - This is a fun track, yet again, a great chorus and some fun lyrics. Nothing much to say about it, though. 5/10

"Keep Holding On" - We all know this song. It's great...some of Avril's best lyrics. 9/10

Is it really "The Best Damn Thing" ... Sure, for me it is. I love Avril, and she'll keep on releasing great music for a long time...she'll grow as a lyracist and an artist. I don't believe this is her "Best Damn Thing" as of yet...I expect amazing things from Avril in the future . This album isn't for Avril fans who want Angry Girl Rock close to her sophomore album "Under My Skin" ... but her fans will love it, I love it...It's great. Give it a listen.

When I first heard her album "Under My Skin" I was in love with her new sound and was so glad she sounded like she was finally growing up. That album is her best and probably always will be. Ok, so, now about "The Best Damn Thing"......Well. When I first heard "Girlfriend" I was pretty disappointed. It's okay if you're in a goofy or excited kind of mood (OR if you're under the age of 16). So I thought maybe she just made a bad choice when deciding her first single..I bought the album anyway. Wow, what a waste of money. Her mature, deep rock sound is completely GONE!! This album is VEERY Blink-182/Sum 41-ish...very "punkish" and childish. I gave it 2 stars because there are a few songs..I think I kinda like maybe 3 or 4. But even those aren't worth bragging about. Don't think I'm saying this because i'm an Avril hater, i know there's a lot of those. I like avril..usually. I just am really disappointed with the sound and direction of her new album. She chants like a little 16 year old cheerleader and spits off snobby lame comments about hating boys. WWWWAAAIT, didn't she just get married like a year ago? You would think that would have made her LIKE them or made her MATURE..but it definitely didn't. Yes, she's happy now and everything (which is great) but she doesn't have to be "childish"...with lines like "I hate when a guy doesn't get the tab, I have to pull my money out and that looks bad" she's not going to get anywhere, except with pre-teens. My advice to Avril is to mature the music a little...she's 21 right? same age as I am. She sounds about 8 years younger. If you liked "under my skin" and most of her first album, this album is probably not for u. If you like "EVERYTHING AVRIL" go for it. but even you will probably be disappointed. The people with the reviews "Avril is the best, this album ROCKS"...they have to be like 14. There's no way anyone over 18 would say that, unless u dont know what real rock is. So the moral of this story is..I'm waiting for the next passing steam roller...

"Oh Mickey you're so fine"....Oh wait, that's not the song. I'm sorry it's "I could be your girlfriend," right? My question is, how has she not been sued for copyright infringement. The claps, the cheerleader-esque chanting, the chord progression. I know that everyone has influences, but this is taking it to a new level. I hate when people steal music from some other artist (who may or may not be brilliant, it doesn't even matter). Musicians who do things like this ruin the credibility of other GOOD musicians. I mean this is in the same league with Vanilla Ice's sampling. Looks like Avril ordered a sampler platter and just kept going until she had an entire song....that someone else wrote 20 some odd years ago. It doesn't stop there. Avril's five note repitoire and amateurish lyrics did enough to make me want to crawl into a deep deep hole for a number of years. At least until this pitchy Canadian two-faced theif is out of the business.