The Best Damn Thing

Over the last 2 or 3 years I've become an Avril Lavigne fan (a Little Black Star), thanks to a friend of mine who would play her stuff when she came over to my house. I thought she was a little crazy, but she made me Smile, and the Girlfriend and What the Hell music videos were some of the funniest things I'd ever seen. In short; she amused me, and thus began the addiction. My Avril fangirling began in earnest about when I first heard Rock N Roll, about a week or two before the single was actually released. When I heard 'I don't care about my makeup ... I don't care if I'm a misfit, I like it better than the hipster -', I was like, heck yes! So I started checking for updates on avrillavigne.com, anticipating her new album. I'll admit I was pleasantly surprised when Let Me Go became the 3rd single (I was expecting it to be 17), but when I heard the Chavril duet, I was resolved: I was so buying this album. November 5th came, and before the day was done, I made over to a Walmart and returned with a copy of the album in hand. I was also very happy to find the store stocked with hard copies of the clean version. For a month, I listened to it pretty much nonstop, so when I spotted her first, Let Go, in the $5 bin, having heard great things about it, happily grabbed it. I was not very impressed, but appreciated the additions of Losing Grip, Sk8er Boi, and I'm With You to my collection. A week later, I dropped by Best Buy and took home Under My Skin, which has proved to be quite possibly my favorite Avril album (it's very hard to decide!), since I favor rock over pop anyway. After awhile of debate, I gave myself an excuse to buy Goodbye Lullaby by deciding to do a cover of Darlin for showcase. I don't understand why that album had such a bad reception. It's very sweet and just a little sad, and I love it. Anyway, I looked up the clean version of The Best Damn Thing on youtube, and despite how obnoxious and pop-py it is, I found my opinion leaning decidedly in favor of it. The only problem was, I couldn't find the clean version anywhere except iTunes. I'm a hard copy kind of person, so I finally got fed up, bought the clean versions of the ones who needed them off iTunes, and ordered the album. When browsing sellers, I caught the username MovieMars, who my dad had purchased So Cold EP (Breaking Benjamin) for me from about a year previously. So Cold EP arrived in practically perfect condition, so as a thank you, I chose MovieMars' copy and checked out. The Best Damn Thing showed up on my door a day early, and when I popped the CD in, lo and behold, it was the clean version! Somewhat irritated, but very happy, I have been addicted to the bouncy pop rocks tunes like Runaway, Contagious, and I Don't Have to Try, and When You're Gone, Innocence, and Keep Holding On really touched me. The least played song on that album, surprisingly, is Girlfriend. It's one of those songs that you have to have, but rarely want to listen to. I Can Do Better and I Don't Have to Try are so hilariously obnoxious! The concept behind the album art is okay (though I choke on pink every time I open the case) but it seems a little...cheesy? Underdeveloped? Unfinished? I don't know. Something about it is lacking. Maybe it's the font? ANYWAY, while I understand why so many Avril fans were so upset by this album (I too would love to see more of a predominant Under My Skin sort of style), I can also appreciate and love The Best Damn Thing. Honestly, I think her husband was a bad influence on her, but maybe it was just how she adjusted to turning 21. All in all, very happy with my purchase, and looking forward to hearing more from Avril. I thought she was mental at first, but the more I learn about her the more she strikes me as a very good person, and while I might not agree with all of the choices she's made, she's still doing better than most artists. ~EMi

"The best damn thing," mega popular singer Avril Lavigne's third album is packed with fun songs and heartful ballads that will appeal to any teen girl. The smash single "Girlfriend" is the first song, and invites you into this album as an energetic and powerful song. "Runaway" is milder in terms of energy and topic, but is fabulous to listen to anyway. "The best damn thing" is reminiscent of cheerleaders, and is just as fun as "Girlfriend." "When you're gone" is one of the first slow, meaningful and almost-sad songs that are included. "Innocence" and "Keep holding on" are similarly categorized, but each unique and show case Lavigne's talent. "One of those girls" and "Contagious" as well as "Hot" are like "Runaway"- catchy and addictive and perfect for preteens and early teenagers that do not like songs that are overly hyper. I love them all. And then we have "I can do better," "Everything back but you" and "I don't have to try." A bit frantic sounding, but are still a good, quick listen. Out of all of the songs by Avril Lavigne, the most that I like are definitely in this album, as I like every single one. My favorite songs by her is "Girlfriend," "Runaway," "Contagious" and "Keep Holding on." More favorites include "My Happy Ending" and "Complicated," which I believe to be the best songs on her previous albums. Here are my ratings and short descriptions. 1) Girlfriend (10/10) Extremely fun and catchy and great as a ringtone 2) I can do better (7/10) Not bad, but not a favorite. This is one of those songs where I like the verses better than the chorus, partly because of the lyrics, and partly because of its similarity to some other songs. 3) Runaway (10/10) Love this song! Catchy and sticks in your mind long after listening. 4) The best damn thing (9/10) Energetic and fun 5) When you're gone (10/10) A song that is relatable and shows true vocal talent. 6) Everything back but you (8/10) A bit frantic paced, but not bad at all. I don't think it really sounds like her, though. 7) Hot (9/10) A lovely song that is both slow and fast and shows her versatility. 8) Innocence (10/10) Touching and serious and melodious. 9) I don't have to try (8.5/10) Interesting and different, which I like. Just a bit wild for my taste. 10) One of those girls (9/10) Perfect for many different audiences and has a great chorus and is surprisingly easy to listen to. 11) Contagious (10/10) Another fabulous song that I couldn't get enough of. 12) Keep holding on (9/10) Featured in the Eragon movie, this is a great and heart felt song. It feels like Avril Lavigne is really sincere and believes her words strongly. It almost made me cry. Avril Lavigne shows versatility and a wide vocal range and talent in this album. Perfect for most teenage girls ("Girlfriend," "The Best Damn thing," "One of those girls," "I can do better"), some preteens ("Hot," "When you're gone," "Runaway," "Contagious") and some young adults ("Innocence" and "Keep Holding on" Many of these songs are appropriate for other audiences. One more note: I've noticed that most reviews that are negative are not written by the target audience UPDATE: After listening to this album for several months, "When You're Gone," "Runaway," "Contagious," "The Best Damn Thing," and "Everything back But You," are my favorites, although I still enjoy all of the other songs. Definitely an album I'll still be listening to in the future.

Some of these songs, incl. here remind me, somewhat, of EARLY 1960s music. And a few of these songs could even remind me of Toni Basil's 1982 hit single "Mickey". This album is fun, actually comical @ times & yet it also contains some slower & pretty songs. I'd like to offer a song by song review, as follows: 1. "Girlfriend"...This song has a great beat & some funny lyrics. I love this song a lot & I remember it from 2007, very well. This song also reminds me A LOT of her LATER hit single, "What The Hell" from 2011. 2. "I Can Do Better"...This song also reminds me of where "Girlfriend" left off, meaning & beat wise. I really LOVE this song a lot, too. And again it has a great beat & funny lyrics. This song ALSO seemed as though I've it heard before, it was just that FAMILIAR to me. 3. "Runaway"...I like this song a lot, it's pretty good, too. 4. "The Best Damn Thing"...Now this song, the Title Track, reminds me of where "Girlfriend" & "I Can Do Better" left off, musically & beat wise. I like this song a lot, it's pretty good. 5. "When You're Gone"...I believe that THIS song was the SECOND single, that was released from THIS album. I also remember this from 2007. This song is more like a ballad & it's quite pretty. I really do LOVE this song. 6. "Everything Back But You"...This song has a fast paced beat & some real pissed off, yet funny lyrics. But I also like this song quite well. 7. "Hot"...This song also seemed so FAMILIAR to me, when I first played this album. And come to find out, that it WAS a very brief hit, stalling @ only #95 on the charts. However, I still enjoy this BRIEF hit, when I listen to it. 8. "Innocence"...This song is one of PRETTIER & slower songs, that I also enjoy listening to. 9. "I Don't Want To Try"...This song is pretty good. 10. "One Of Those Girls"...This is also a good song. 11. "Contagious"...I like this song a lot, it's pretty good. 12. "Keep Holding On"...This song, I also believed that I've heard before, it was very very familiar. It is very pretty & it really has a positive & uplifting message to it. And it also happens to be my TOP favorite song on this ENTIRE album. By the way, this song would be perfect for Taylor Swift to perform, it seems like HER type of song. I think that "Keep Holding On" also came from a movie in late 2006. This 2007 album by Avril Lavigne IS most definitely recommended. ...

I loved Avril when she first came out, but disliked her second album so much that I stopped buying her music. Which is why I didn't even look into The Best Damn Thing until late 2009. Well, I was blown away. I love the upbeat spunky feel (I really hated how moody and depressing her second album was). I also love the energy and the catchy cadences -- it's great music to go jogging to. She's also matured a lot in both her songwriting and her singing. I love the complex harmonies in Hot, and When You're Gone and Keep Holding On are beautiful. When I listen to her third cd compared to her first (think Sk8er Boi), it's really amazing how far she's come. My favorite tracks? The Best Damn Thing, Hot, Keep Holding On, and to a lesser extent Girlfriend (immature content, but great music).

So much for the serious side of Avril Lavigne. Whether it is because she is now in her early twenties and a married woman or because she did like the way her last album resonated with her audience, the brat is back big time in her third album, "The Best Damn Thing." I would be in the camp that thought Avril Lavigne's second album, " Under My Skin ," was a significant step up from her debut effort " Let Go ." Fans who preferred the first album and thought "He Wasn't" was the best offering the second time around, will find "The Best Dam Thing" a return to her roots as an appealing brat (and proud of it). Those who would point to "My Happy Ending" as the best song on the sophomore effort will find this a mixed bag and contemplate the shift in Avril's songwriting partners from the likes of Chantal Kreviazuk to Lukasz "Doctor Luke" Gottwald (tracks 1-3, 9, 12), Evan Taubenfeld (tracks 7-8, 10-11), and Butch Butch Walker (tracks 4-6). Of course, Walker co-wrote "My Happy Ending" with Lavigne and their "When You're Gone" is the song here that most sounds like it belongs on "Under My Skin," along with "Keep Holding On," which came out last year as part of the "Eragon" soundtrack and seems a bit out of place since the message of its title applies equally well to fighting dragon slayers and enduring teenage heartbreak. The dialectical tension between the bratty Avril and the serious Avril are captured on the first two tracks. In "Girlfriend" affirms that she is the "motherf___king princess" and is promising that she "can do it better," while on "I Can Do Better" the chorus is all about the angry aftermath as she yells out: "I hate you now, so go away from me/You're gone, so long/I can do better, I can do better." I like the energy of the latter song better, not to mention the rhetorical stance of the chorus. But then I am the father of two daughters and if the sentiments of Lavigne's "Don't Tell Me" could be programmed into the brain of every teenage girl in the country I would feel a lot better. However, I have no doubt those teenage girls are more drawn to such thoughts as "I just wanna scream and lose control/Throw my hands up, and let it go" ("Runaway") and "Waking up I see that everything is ok/The first time in my life and now its so great/Slowing down I look around an i am so amazed/I think about the little things that make life great/I wouldn't change a thing about it/This is the best feeling" ("Innocence"). But more often that not some guy comes along and messes everything up, which is why she ends up singing: "I hate you why are guys so lame/Everything I gave you/I want everything back but you" ("Everything Back But You"). The opening track matches up with the title song, which also mixes it what I want to call her "cheerleader rap," with its bratty declarations (e.g., "I hate it when a guy doesn't get the tab/And I have to pull my money out and that looks bad"). But then we get to the chorus and its infectious pop hook and the other side of her musical appeal. You will also find that the line of attack against certain types of women begun back with "Sk8ter Boi" continues here with not only "Girlfriend" (duh) but also "One Of Those Girls," which reminds us that Avril has drawn not only a vertical but a horizontal axis in the war of sexes. Whether you call it being empowered or being a brat, that overarching attitude is what ultimately connects all of these songs, summed up in the declaration "I'm the one I'm the one who wears the pants" ("I Don't Have to Try"). The bottom line would be that for me "The Best Damn Thing" is not on the same level as "Under My Skin," but I still find it worth listening to and if it takes her an album or two to grow into that serious side she revealed last time then I am willing to wait. You are probably aware that "The Best Damn Thing" is available in both an explicit and a "clean" version. The four explicit tracks are "Girlfriend" (the aforementioned "mf" princess," "I Can Do Better" ("sick of this s__t"), "Everything Back But You" ("bitch, slut"), and "I Don't Have to Try" ("get ready motherf--ker 'cause I'm on the scene"). On the "clean" version of the album with the first two you basically have the __ parts inserted in the song, the third replaces the derogatory words with "hey, hey!" and the last one has the "get ready" repeated as a replacement, and this is how civilization is saved. The irony is that musically the clean versions end up sounding a bit better, because in terms of rhetorical implications it really strikes me that Avril is drawing a line of demarcation. If you are still on the other side of the great sexual divide and "Don't Tell Me" sums up your life, then you want the clean version. If you have crossed over and been seriously burned in a relationship (which almost always seems to be the case), then increasing the intensity of your vocabulary to describe the male of the species will sound like a good idea. All things considered, Avril's use of profanity indicates her target audience remains the legions of teenager wannabe brats, who will be thrilled by the dirty words even if they are thrown out inartistically. I would still say that on balance the attitude of these songs will outweigh the outbursts of obscenity for those fans.

Finally released after months of anticipation, this awesome special edition of Avril Lavigne's The Best Damn Thing is notable for the following: - The CD/DVD jewel case is enclosed in a cardboard package measuring 10.25" x 10.25" and includes a 20" x 30" folded poster. - The main 12 tracks are from the censored album version. - The beautiful ballad "I Will Be" is finally on CD, along with the other incredible single "Alone". These two fantastic songs should have been on the original album version from day one! - "I Can Do Better" (acoustic bonus track) is the only applicable audio track that is _not_ censored. - The bonus NTSC DVD includes the four song Orange Lounge performance from summer 2007, in gorgeous 16 x 9 widescreen compatible format. "Girlfriend" is _not_ censored. - The four music videos are not 16 x 9 widescreen compatible, although "When You're Gone" and "Girlfriend" with Lil Mama should have been. The original "Girlfriend" and "Hot" were not shot (or released) in 16 x 9, so that doesn't apply for those two. All in all, this is a terrific collector's item for any Avril fan!!!

If you are reading this review because you are trying to decide whether to buy it or not, BUY IT! This is her best CD ever and way better than the other ones, which are already good. Every song is so good that I can't figure out a favorite yet because each one I listen to makes me think that is the one. All of them are the one. Even if you don't think you like her, get it. We all have down days and on those, this music will pick you up from the ground, lift your spirit and fill you with energy. There is no way you listen to this and don't dance and sing along. Well, words alone cannot describe how amazing it it, so just get it! BTW, if you have heard that her music is just for teenagers, not true, I left my teenager years a while back (long while) and I love it!!!!! This will be the best CD in your collection.

Me encanto ❤️ es maravillosa

Amei o disco, é muito lindo! Relação custo benefício perfeita. .

とても良かったです。

Sorted

Très bon album d'Avril Lavigne qui est un peu plus pop que ses deux précédents albums. Le vinyle est de qualité, la pochette également. L'insert avec les paroles est un vrai plus.

Genial! En mi opinión es su mejor disco.