Avril Lavigne

Avril Lavigne's back on the scene, despite not actually being away for that long - with what seems like an endless stream of radio play, tours, and the odd divorce and remarriage, is Avril ever really off of our radar? Her self titled, fifth, studio album 'Avril Lavigne' - the newest record from one of pop/rock's favourite singer/songwriters - really is what it says on the tin; classic Avril Lavigne at, arguably her best yet.

We all fell in love with her striped tie, tank top, skater shoe wearing first album that catapulted a teenage Lavigne into the hearts of an army of angsty pre-teens and 20-somethings with Peter Pan Syndrome. Then came the emo-Avril of her 'Under My Skin' era, which although churned out a chain of more hits, including the chart topping 'My Happy Ending' and 'Nobody's Home', the panda-eyed, tutu clad teen tantrum anthems quickly got old...there's only so much eyeliner one can wear before acquiring some sort of pink eye.

Less pink eye, more pink highlights, a few dance routines, and a little emo-to-pop/grunge rebranding later, and out came 'The Best Damn Thing', that with dance floor fillers like 'Girlfriend' and 'Hot', finally captured a sound that was distinctively and indisputably Avril. Follow-up album 'Goodbye Lullaby' couldn't have been more aptly titled. Still bearing the trademark catchiness that Lavigne is so good at penning, but lacking the gutsy attitude that we had all come to love; frankly, it was a little dull.

So as we said Goodbye to the Lullabies of 2011-12, it's now hello to signature Avril Lavigne being back with a bang, and churning out the timeless, youthful riffs that make Avril herself seem like she never surpassed 18 - but in the best way possible.

With the help of newly tied down husband, Chad Kroeger of Nickleback, 'Avril Lavigne' is the perfect mixture of Lavigne's fun, feisty personality coupled with a talent for mind invading hooks that will either take you back to those memorable summers before exams, before 9-to-5s and before we swapped our Vans for Jimmy Choos; or simply just remembering that it's okay to take a timeout, rock on, and smile a little more (unless of course it's for a moody, instgram selfie you're taking whilst 'Complicated' plays in the background).

Track-by-track, the fun themed album begins with second single 'Rock N Roll', which is an anthemic, stadium-in-lights re-hash of Queens signature 'We Will Rock You' beat, topped with Lavigne's now trademark clap-a-long refrains. The first single to drop-off of the album acts as the second track and completely encompasses the theme of the album, with the stark reminder of the youth of 'Let Go', Lavinge sings of "boom boxes" and "listening to Radiohead", in statement track 'Here's To Never Growing Up'.

'17' (the age Avril was when she first launched her career) almost slides stickily into Taylor Swift terrority, with it's chanting of being young, "wild and free", although with a little more boot than Swift can deliver, probably due to the fact that whilst Lavigne was busy penning believable tracks that were the soundtrack to a decade of sought after pop/rock, Swift was busily seducing unsuspecting love bugs in order to forge a pop career out of her mildly interesting experiences.

'Bitchin Summer', is a standout happy anthem, doing for our impending winter, what Katy Perry's 'Teenage Dream', did for the summer of 2010; evoking the kind of summertime swooning, frolics, and road trips to remember that, when the pains of adult life are a drag, make the weekend come a little quicker - weekends that might well be filled with hitting the club, or if you're Avril Lavigne, breaking into a park to share drunken snogs probably under the light of a bonfire.

'Let Me Go', the third single from the album and a duet with new hubby Chad Kroeger, is a nice stray away from the party driven first few tracks, and with lashings of Nickleback stylistics, and the audible connection between the two - perfectly meshed vocals - this number is screaming to be the soundtrack to an impeding, moody teen drama (think Vampire Diaries or even Hunger Games).

'Bad Girl' takes a trip to a slightly darker side, vamping back up the album with Lavigne teaming up with Marlyn Manson to produce her signature shouty vocals that are sure to work well in a watered down mosh-pit.

'Hello Kitty' is probably the most surprising track on the album, stepping left of Lavigne's guitar and piano driven indie/pop, to provide a little electronic pop of colour to the album. A playful, yet pounding ditty about the famous Hello Kitty uses the vibrant, bassy beats of K-Pop, with the added bonus of Lavigne's chatty singing (bilingually to boot, to add faux-authenticity) and a dubstep inspired hook that fits in nicely with the current dance/pop trend, but is also sure to be a floor filler on a Friday night.

'You Aint Seen Nothing Yet', brings us full circle back to classic Avril; hookups, crushes, and the sexed-up arrogance that solidified Lavigne as a rock princess, and made 'Best Damn Thing' and 'Girlfriend' global hits.

'Sippin' On Summer' acts as another August anthem, reminiscent of Katy Perry's roar, minus the ballsy, empowering lyrics; because despite being on the cusp of the big Three Zero, Lavigne's nonchalant attitude to life (at least musically), is simply more fun.

Outro tracks 'Hello Heartbreak', 'Falling Fast', and 'Hush Hush', are sure to appeal to Lavigne fans that, just because she's so good at it, are suckers for a faintly brooding ballad or two, and round-up an album that, above all else, is about friends, fun, love, and just not taking things too seriously. She might have two marriages, a clothing label, and a more sexed up image under her belt, but with 'Avril Lavigne', turning 30 just became the new 21.


Avril Lavigne is Out Now!

Words by Taylor Parris