Young Canadian Shows She’s Anything But Ordinary

Avril Lavigne. It’s a name you better get familiar with. After taking off from her home town of Napanee, Ontario and eventually capturing the attention of record producer Antonio “L.A.” Reid, this new face in the crowd might have what it takes. With a video already making its way on MTV and a hook that is lodging itself into the brains of radio listeners, her first single “Complicated” is undeniable, flawless pop/rock. The first time I heard this song I immediately found myself unable to forget it. I was shocked when I saw the driving force behind this song was a mere slip of a seventeen year old.

Her voice definitely isn’t typical. Combining admirable range with rough edges, Lavigne manages to carve out a distinctive niche from the other girls saturating the media currently. I have to say I am impressed with the newer batch of teen queens who at least can pick up an instrument, write their own songs and have something different to say. I think Lavigne shows her different direction in the savvy words to “Complicated” A nice wailing guitar sound combined with her youthful voice make a great combination. Giving a surprisingly insightful view into the guy who always has to pretend to be cool and unaffected, I can think back and relate to this song very easily. Managing to be charming yet effectively adult the songs just comes out about perfect. I personally love the line “take off all your preppy clothes”. Because it reminds me of this guy in high school who was never really a prep but did his damn best to keep up the image.

The album opens with the rocking ballad “Losing Grip” and as she wails to her audience you immediately feel her words. She actually sounds faintly like Delores O’ Rierdan from the Cranberries on this interesting composition. Definitely capturing the essence of anguish with this song, the song also has a great hook and makes for a great opener to the album. I am not sure it would make a great radio release but sometimes the best songs wouldn’t.

“Sk8r Boi” is very punk oriented with the typical three-chord sound. Normally, I am not overly into this type of sound (although I did manage to get into a few songs by Green Day) but since her talent has already been established I view it more as a nice little novelty. A lot of girls are going to love this song and I can see my sister-n-law loving this song already. Definitely not as mature as the other tracks, but she’s sure having fun. Basically it’s about this girl who dumps a skater boy because her friends don’t like him. Then he becomes a star and Lavigne is now dating him. The girl is sad because now all her friends think he’s cool.

At this point in the album I am happy that every song has been so different. It’s great to hear an album with such variety. “I’m With You” is really the first ballad on the album and I love the sound of it. I am not sure why but it actually recalls some of the early Bangles I loved so much when I was a teenager. I believe it’s the melody and the way she carries it. Anyway, I like this song as well. The chorus of this song is really haunting and the words are simple but effective.

Another song I can see a lot of teenagers relating to is “Mobile”. Talking about the world changing around her and being mobile within it, most teenagers will probably understand the feeling of a world that revolves around them and a world they revolve in. The music and melody to this song is a little more typical but it still works nicely.

“Anything But Ordinary” is another winner on the album with its laid back feel and honestly simple lyrics. There is a hint of Paula Cole in the way she soars on the vocal line in the chorus. Once again it’s a song a lot of girls could relate to in a positive way and I am really impressed. “Things I’ll Never Say” is a nice little song and she talks about all the things she thinks about that she’ll never say to her boyfriend. The song is catchy and the lyrics are so easy to relate to. I relate to it more looking back but many girls will be right in the moment. (I already said them and got my man!)

Avril Lavigne is definitely going to be a force to be reckoned with. She recalls flecks and pieces of writers ranging from Jann Arden to Lisa Loeb. Vocally she is like a cross between Delores O’Rierdan and Alanis Morrissette. I hope this girl has a long career and if you go out and buy this album, she’ll get a good start. The album is only $9.99 at Target

Go ahead. Are you still here?