"Life's like this" intones Avril Lavigne at the start of her smash-hit "Complicated". It's a statement of experience and wisdom, something you might hear from an uncle instead of a diminutive skater-punk from Canada who isn't old enough to buy cigarettes yet.
That's a large part of the appeal "Let Go", the debut album from 17-year-old Avril who — decked in black, arms crossed - stares out defiantly from the CD cover. This bad-attitude waif swings a guitar (yes, she plays it) and belts out vocals with such disarming self-confidence, it would seem petty to criticize. There's no indication whatsoever that Avril would give a damn anyway. To be sure, there's a lot of immaturity in this freshman effort. The backbeat could have been filled by a drum machine. The arrangements are standard fare and the lyrics are often pedestrian ("He was a skater boy / She said 'see you later' boy). But then there's Lavigne's soaring voice, forgiving all sins. Her sharp, strong, vocals have been compared to fellow Canuck Alanis Morrisette, but they remind me of Suzanne Vega — clear and crisp, moving effortlessly from one octave to another, often overshadowing the lesser instruments in the song.
Along with "Complicated" the songs on "Let Go", written by Lavigne, speak to the themes of a high-school teenage grrrl. The uptempo "Sk8er Boi" deals with snobbishness and lost love while "Unwanted" speaks to social isolation. These cuts and several others ("My World") are delivered with grinding guitars and a touch of bitterness. But Lavigne also knows how to back off, revealing some vulnerability with the flowing "Tomorrow", "I'm With You" and the great "Anything but Ordinary" which should be her next single.
In a music scene crowded with well-coiffed, body-shaped, divas-in-training, Avril Lavigne offers a welcome alternative, and she has the talent to carve out her own niche without the help of Diane Warren. "Let Go" is her manifesto — join her at the party.
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Article comments
1 - Les
I agree with you, Avril's good - and she's got a hell of alot of potential. If she continues, she'll be one to watch in a few years.
2 - donna
AVRIL I WAY KOOL
3 - Jessica Lowe
this is a comment from my friend:
"Avril Lavigne is THE COOLEST singer/songwriter/guitarist on the planet! I say the people who critize her are the posers. they are just jealous of Avril because she's her own person and does her own thing. she doesn't need to depend on anyone like other people on this planet!!!!!!
she says what she feels and she's not afraid to say it. all the haters out there need to get over it. it's not Avril's fault she's better than you. p.s. Avril, if you're reading this, i am your biggest fan on the whole planet. if you ever get a break it would mean so much if you
wrote me a letter. here is my address................. Chyrl Holbrook
31 Louise Lane
Girard, Ohio 44420 (USA)
ROCK ON AVRIL!!!!!!!!
4 - Chyrl Holbrook
i wrote the comment posted by Jessica Lowe! i hope all the other Avril Lavigne fans agree with me!
5 - Kye Lee
AVRIL ROCK'S
she is really COOL!!!
she is the best rock artist for me...
i really like her style: the way she dress and the way she sings... she's the best!!! she's right, why do ya really have to make things complicated???
6 - alessia
avril i love ur cd let go i just listened to it to day.now it in my head
hope u write back
alessia
7 - Teenyboppersdeservetodie
Oh my god!! this album is so amazingly unbelievable!! Once again avril has produced a piece of work not dissimilar to the sound and appearance of raw human flesh being fed through a gramophone!!
Good work Avril, keep it up you slagfaced whore
8 - nugget
HAHAHAH!!!!!!!!!!!
9 - Bob A. Booey
Will one of you random anonymous editor types please edit out the address above? That idiot 13 year-old girl is putting her idiot friend's home address up for everyone on the Internet to see.
Thanks.
That is all.
10 - White~Wolf
Whoot! Go Avril!
11 - JESSICA S.
AVRIL ROCKS !!!!!!!!!!!!THE HOUSE ....! I LUV U SO MUCH.YOUR CD LET GO IS AWSOME.YOUR PRETTIEST AND KOOLIEST GIRL I KNOW HOPE YOU WRITE ME BACK
LOVE JESS U ROCK
12 - teesta
hey im the next avril
so h8ers f*** off OK!!!!!!!!!!
PEOPLE come 2 this site 2 wrte good thins
about avril so wats da use of u stupid guys here
avril u ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!!
i also think that u n dervyck r a perfect match for each other
have a nice wedding
luv n congrats
from
teesta
1/07/2006
oh by the way my bday is on 13/07
after 12 days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
13 - avril roxx
hey avril man u roc..... i luv ya... and congrats on ur wedin... u are the coolest person eva....
14 - Marissa
yup I also agree but she's my wife
15 - Erdem
Hi ı from TURKEY. I'm fan of Avril.I love her ... I think she is the best singer in the world...
I LOVE HER
I LOVE HER
I LOVE HER
I LOVE HER
I LOVE HER
16 - abhijit
whoever be the owner of this site pliz help me. i'm really in love with this girl.i love her very much,so much that i've got no words to express those . i need her addresss pliz .do help me...
17 - Jazz
avril ur the best i loved meeting u at the concert and thanx 4 sighning my poster and top U ROCK!!
thanx alot
luv from jazz
xoxoxox
18 - david
you rock i love youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu
19 - Avril fan number 1
avril rocks she's the coolest person in the worl! and beutifulest!