Avril Lavigne - Under My Skin
By sharifa May 19, 2004 | 46 out of 55 found this Under My Skin review helpful
Pros: All Pros
Cons: No Cons
Avril Lavigne - Under My Skin ReviewAvril Lavigne appears clad in a black tutu on the cover of her new album, Under My Skin. While on first glance this looks to be nothing more than a generic album cover, further analysis will reveal a poignant insig...ht into the psyche of Avril and the theme of the record. For, externally Avril might appear standoffish, dark, rebellious, and anti-everything (as portrayed by the pseudo-goth duds), beyond the media misinformation she is simply a shy, vulnerable, impassioned little girl searching for her piece of a fairytale (hence the tutu).There are songs on Under My Skin that play to both sides of Avril. Dont Tell Me, the first single, quite obviously fits in the former category. Co-written by Avril and her guitarist Evan Taubenfeld before Complicated was even released, Dont Tell Me is a pro-abstinence power anthem designated as a bridge single to bring fans of Avrils old material into her new, more mature sound. Other members of this group include the following: He Wasnt touted Sk8er Boi part II; Who Knows an utterly catching song with all the markings of a radio hit; Freak Out a divinely innocent track reminiscent of Green day; and I Always Get What I Want Avrils attempt at poking fun at her media image. It is in the latter grouping of songs where the heart of the album can be found. Under My Skin opens hard and heavy with Take Me Away. This track reveals the inner conflict within a girl wanting to protect her heart from being broken, while letting her love take her away. Next is Avrils personal favourite, Together. The only mot juste for describing this song is perfect, although perfection hardly does the song justice. It is here that Avril defines herself and establishes a sound that is distinctly hers. Another such track is Forgotten a raging tirade that will rape you of your soul and leave you incensed, unhinged, and yet fulfilled. My Happy Ending, the second single to be released shortly, illustrates Avrils romantic inner-self, and the failure of her partner in meeting her idealized standards. While some passion is lost in the final production of the song, this is a brilliant example of Avrils growth since Let Go.The four remaining songs are softer, slower, but still forceful. How Does is Feel is a subtly emotional and beautiful ballad that pulls at your heartstrings with each of its many rises and falls. Then there is Nobodys Home a collaboration with Ben Moody formerly of Evanescence, and a likely next single. This is the only song on Under My Skin where the subject is not Avril herself, which seems to grant Avril the freedom to create a despondent character and employ imagery beyond her usual capacity. Fall to Pieces is another romantically inclined ballad expressing Avrils desire to keep alive the flame of a failing relationship. The album ends with a magnificently painful ode to Avrils recently passed-on grandfather entitled Slipped Away. You can hear the tears in her voice, and anyone equipped with a heart cannot help but shed a tear at this sonorous eulogy. Under My Skin is an emotional, dark, and rapturous creation that, in a mere 45 minutes, captures many of the thoughts we find impossible to express. In this more organic sophmore attempt, Avril proves her talents when she is given the artistic freedom to create an album free of external pressure. Those who explore the CD for themselves will be rewarded with an intelligently written and well-executed album, which is sure to become the soundtrack of a generation. As the promotional tag says, Avril Lavignes Under My Skin is sure to get under yours. Read more Less
