Hey! Hey! You! You!
Never paid much attention to Avril Lavigne before. But I had four hours to kill while taking my online Defensive Driving Course this weekend, so I popped the Canadian star's new CD into the player and turned it up. Go figure: It's not great by a long shot, but a few of the cuts rock and pop just right, like Toni Basil trolling a skate park. The following review won't run until next Sunday's white-hot Listen to This column. But unlike Steve Spears at Stuck in the '80s, I actually care about my readers. So here's an early peak...
Avril Lavigne
Album: The Best Damn Thing (RCA)
In stores: Now
Why we care: Now that she’s bleache-blond, married and shopping at Fred Segal instead of the Salvation Army, the 22-year-old Canadian pop urchin has been accused of selling out and losing her bite. Please. Although catchy and fun, her 2002 breakout hit Complicated was about as edgy as a spork. And besides, as a wise poet once said, naughty girls need love too.
Why we like it: Lavigne still has more chutzpah (and a far filthier mouth) than Hilary Duff or Hannah Montana. Her third album gets same-sounding after a while. But at its best, it blends the speed of the Ramones with the candy-apple smile of Josie and the Pussycats.
Reminds us of: “Oh Mickey, you’re so fine! You’re so fine, you blow my mind! Hey Mickey!”
Download these: Girlfriend and The Best Damn Thing
Grade: B-
Sean Daly is the pop music critic for the St. Petersburg Times. His CD collection -- from Journey to Dylan, Prince to U2, Public Enemy to Stan Getz -- is much bigger and better than yours.
It's Toni, Sean, not Tony.
Posted by: Toni B. | April 23, 2007 at 04:49 PM
Great catch. Thanks. I'm going in to tweak it now. But for the record, I suck.
Posted by: Sean Daly | April 23, 2007 at 05:32 PM
Speak not ill of Toni Basil.
Dated Bob Casale. Backed by Devo on much of her album. Covered a couple Devo tunes to fill out said album. (Said covers are Hi Larious.)
Posted by: Brad | April 23, 2007 at 10:05 PM