Almost two
years has pas since the (then) 17 year old Canadian girl took the world by
surprise adding a new edgier icon to millions of girls worldwide who didn’t
quit identifies themselves with the likes of Christina Aguilera and Brittney
Spears. Her debut album “Let Go” went onto becoming the third most selling
record worldwide the year it was released. Not bad for a skinny teen from
little place called Nappanee in Canada, and a hard act to follow.
Avril has
this to say about the new album first single “Don’t Tell Me” in an recent
interview with TIME Magazine: “I wrote that [Don’t Tell Me] when I was 17, and
I was going through a phase in high school where every guy has ulterior
motives. I don’t think I would have written it now. I thought it was a good
message, for girls to be strong.” I’m for once are glad she wrote it came out a
smashing hit, maybe not as smashing as “Complicated”, and defiantly not the
strongest song on the album, but still something I guarantee you will here on
radio and TV this summer.
The first
that strike me when listening to Under My Skin is the overall quality of the
production and how “together” it all sounds. Second of all it amazes me how
personal and sincere her performance always feels (just check the wonderfully
written and preformed “Fall To Pieces” and “Slipped Away”). The material is a
bit mature, but not all that different from Let Go, it’s a bit darker, there’s more
a wall of sound then the prior and less obvious hit material. I should break my
own fingers for falling into the pit of doing an comparative review of the to
albums.
So does the
new album work? I think so. As I already said it has all the right things. On
“forgotten” she sounds very much Alanies Morisette, the same fragility but
still powerful voice, the song also has a beautiful string arrangement in the
background of the layers of sound that works very well together with Avril’s
voice. I would like to hair more of her soft voice as well as on the beautiful
“How Does It Feel”. Maybe not the strongest lyrics, but so heartfelt it is, and
she showcases her singing capabilities with varying different song techniques.
I’m betting it this is the next single. “My Happy Ending” is already a
certified hit, but take time to listen to some of the witty and brilliant bits
in the lyrics.
All in all
it’s is certified Platinum and great second album, it might not be 3 most
selling album worldwide again, but that doesn’t matter. Lavigne proofs with
Under My Skin why her first album sold as many as it did. Verdict 8/10
Highlights:
Together, How Does It Feels, Forgotten, Fall To Pieces.
Released
on: Arista/BMG
