Mucic Review: Avril Lavigne

It would be easy to argue that Avril Lavigne has stalled her musical growth on her self-titled fifth album in an attempt to maintain appealing to younger, mainstream audiences, and while that could actually be the case, Lavigne is able to create song that do this well, but still also dabbles in some more serious material in her ballads to provide a well-rounded album.

Both "Here's To Never Growing Up" and "Rock n Roll" are exceptional pop-rock anthems and it's easy to see why they were chosen as the first two singles off of the album. Despite being very similar in sound and theme, the celebration of youth culture, they're both tonally and lyrically appealing radio hits.

While Lavigne seemingly throws maturity and growth aside with topics like teenage love with "17" and "Hello Heartache" or school holidays with "Bitchin' Summer" or "Sippin' on Sunshine", both tracks have an undeniably nostalgic feel to them that makes the album always seem more than just one about partying, but one about desperately wanting to hold onto that lifestyle, which perfectly encapsulates where Lavigne is as an artist in her career.

Lavigne and her husband Chad Kroeger, whom she married in July, are a match made in Canadian pop-rock heaven, and a duet between the pair was inevitable. "Let Me Go" is more reminiscent of Nickelback's radio ballads, and while it's fine for what it is, it's very generic and doesn't really distinguish itself. Unfortinately, Lavigne's other attempts at slow ballads on the album are even less memorable in "Falling Fast" and "Hush Hush", although there's also "Give You What You Like", which is a better, darker, attempt.

The other duet featured on the album, "Bad Girl" with Marilyn Manson, is far more entertaining for its sheer existence alone. Mason is surprisingly underutilized, and his part in the song is reduced to distorted wails that are very grating. His presence, however, does allow Lavigne to enjoy some rockier material on what is otherwise a very adolescence pop album, and it's a welcome addition.

Mainstream music's obsession with Japanese inspiration continue on the ridiculous "Hello Kitty". The bubblegum pop/ synthesised dub step tune is hard to describe, but again, it's certainly a memorable track, and it's definitely worth a listen (even if it is just for a laugh, but be warned, it will get stuck in your head).

Rating: 3.5/5