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Product details
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Track Listings
| 1. Girlfriend |
| 2. I Can Do Better |
| 3. Runaway |
| 4. The Best Damn Thing |
| 5. When You're Gone |
| 6. Everything Back But You |
| 7. Hot |
| 8. Innocence |
| 9. I Don't Have To Try |
| 10. One Of Those Girls |
| 11. Contagious |
| 12. Keep Holding On |
Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
The first clue to the sound of Avril Lavigne's third CD, The Best Damn Thing, comes in the form of her kickoff single, "Girlfriend," which is filled with singing, clapping, and cheerleader-style chanting. The song is quite a sonic contrast to her previous disc, Under My Skin, which was considered to be Lavigne's more mature follow-up to her 16 million-selling debut CD, Let Go. Like that debut, The Best Damn Thing will be largely and deeply embraced by teenage girls, and is packed with songs that will create enthusiastic sing-alongs in concert. There are a handful of numbers that will appeal to a wider audience; "Innocence" and disc closer "Keep Holding On" would both fit perfectly in a Gray's Anatomy episode, while the sultry message and solid harmonies in "Hot" will appease ears of many ages. Lavigne's husband, Sum 41 frontman Deryk Whibley makes an appearance as producer and instrumentalist on a handful of tracks; their union, however, seems to have bred more than love. "I Don't Have to Try" and "Everything Back But You" both have a frenetic pace and chorus that is so eerily Sum-like that if they weren't married, a copyright lawsuit might ensue. That aside, the record oscillates between lyrically acerbic fare ("One of Those Girls," "I Can Do Better") and fluffy sugar-pop melodies ("Contagious," "The Best Damn Thing") delivering far more spunk rock than punk rock. --Denise Sheppard
Review
To while away the time before the arrival of Avril Lavigne's new longplayer, I imagined what the cover art might look like. In the end, I settled upon a reworking of Blondie's Parallel Lines with Lavigne taking up the Debbie Harry position, moody and 'tudey at the front. But instead of darkly besuited Blondie blokes in the background, stand a bunch of marketing bods, making percussion by clicking their Parker pens and printing out unit speculations.
But why'd I have to go and make things so complicated? It's hardly news that pop runs on bankable propositions. And if you're looking for the acceptable face of mass-marketed teen rebellion, Avril Lavigne beats the stripey socks off the competition. Let's face it, while there are mirrors in bedrooms and hairbrushes to be sung into, while The OC needs emotion-ridden soundtracks, we need teen rock.
So step up, Ms Lavigne. For, anyone who includes this amount of hand claps on a single record is OK in my book. The album kicks off with its first single release ''Girlfriend'', a piece of pep rally power pop which shamelessly drags Tony Basil's ''Mickey'' out of the crates and sets the standard for the rest of the record. Following this, the title track shakes its pom-poms with a 'give me an a-v-r-i-l' cheer. Later, ''I Don't Have To Try'' kicks off with the Peaches-like chant 'I'm the one, I'm the one who wears the pants. I wear the pants!'.
Alongside all of its bolshy, brattish choruses and boyfriend baiting, the album also offers surprisingly touching moments. ''Innocence'' features the endearing lyric 'This innocence is brilliant, I hope that it will stay... don't let it pass you by'. A rare oasis of calm amidst the stiletto-heeled frenzy that powers the album.
In all of its foot-stompin', hand-clappin' splendour, this parade of hollaback hymns to bad boyfriends, bad girlfriends and bad behaviour shows an Avril Lavigne who, on her third album, knows the secret to a great pop chorus and isn't taking herself too seriously. The Best Damn Thing might be taking it a bit too far. If she'd consulted me, I'd have called it 'How I Stopped Worrying and Learned to Love Lavigne'. --Nickie Latham
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
35 of 38 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Not a bad album, but be warned, this is a censored version. In order to get the explicit version you have to pay a few pounds more and get the "special edition". I'm not the world's biggest fan of unnecessary profanity, but I find silence in the middle of lyrics annoying.
Just be aware of this fact...
Just be aware of this fact...
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Right, I'm not female and I'm not a teen but I for one find this the most entertaining and refreshing of all Avril's albums with a more up-to-date sound. I think it has more of a punky feel than previous albums: it is ruder and more `shouty'. Great to listen to in the car, in the club or just when trying to write a difficult essay like I am now!
Having said all that, DO NOT buy this version! Look for `The Best Damn Thing [Explicit Lyrics]' (or in stores the one with the parental advisory on the front!) That is the real deal and the one I'm listening to. Steer clear of this annoyingly sanitised `clean version' - why release this censored crud as the main version? I guess that's just the world we live in - definitely not very punk rock!
Having said all that, DO NOT buy this version! Look for `The Best Damn Thing [Explicit Lyrics]' (or in stores the one with the parental advisory on the front!) That is the real deal and the one I'm listening to. Steer clear of this annoyingly sanitised `clean version' - why release this censored crud as the main version? I guess that's just the world we live in - definitely not very punk rock!
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
With the release of Girlfriend, I thought Avril was starting to sell out but now I find myself screaming "i love this song" every times it's played at a club. This albums brilliant if you want music you can relate too. Still believe her slower songs are fantastic, this is no let down by any means.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
My favourite album EVER!
Always been a fan of Avril Lavigne since 'Sk8er Boi' and so couldn't to get this CD (especially cos it was like £7.99 on iTunes and I was like uh NO way). Read more
Published 11 months ago by Mrs. D. P. Powell
A Good Album
Avril's third album has received mixed reviews from her fans but I really like this album. It's catchy and show's a lighter side to Avril. Read more
Published 13 months ago by ShamC
Misplaced title.....
This is a good attempt at a more mature pop sound but it just falls a little flat sometimes it can be repetitive and come across childish but then there are also moments where it... Read more
Published 14 months ago by Julia Havard
What happened?
I will be generous and give this a 2, as the songs do grow, but in comparison to the mature, thought provoking and just plain brilliant work Avril did on her first two albums, this... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Mr. C. Micklewright
Avril Lavigne
Had forgotten how exciting she sounds. Super vocal with first class backing. Cant wait till release of her latest album
Published 15 months ago by John Hartil
Avril Lavigne - Best Damn Thing
As a devoted Avril Lavigne fan, I can't help but feel slightly dissapointed with "The Best Damn Thing". Read more
Published 22 months ago by babycakes
Great album
Although this album is more up beat but it still contains elements of her previous 2 albums and there are some of the best ballads of her career. Read more
Published on 30 Mar 2010 by R. Nelson
The Best Avril Album
Avril Lavigne's album The Best Damn Thing is great, contains so many great tracks including Girlfriend, Hot, I Can Do Better, Runaway, Best Damn Thing, Innocence & finally my... Read more
Published on 23 April 2009 by HJ Bird
Amazon rocks ....
Amazon's MP3 downloader is just so superb, and oh so addictive ! Whenever I get a tune in my mind, I can buy it, download it and within a few minutes it's playing. Read more
Published on 26 Jan 2009 by Mr. Eran Elliott
Love so much I'm to listen to it AGAIN!
So glad I bought this, its been in the car on almost all the time for the last few months...
I wasnt keen on her last album, bit shouty & angry, but after reading some reviews... Read more
I wasnt keen on her last album, bit shouty & angry, but after reading some reviews... Read more
Published on 30 Aug 2008 by Emma
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