Under My Skin

Avril's defiant first album 'Let Go' won over legions of wannabe sk8er bois and rock chicks, sold fourteen million copies worldwide and earned the young rocker eight Grammy nominations. But, just as she seemed destined to be forever typecast as the poster-girl for teenage angst, she returns with a more mature sound in 'Under My Skin'…

Avril dumped her 'Let Go' producers to hook up with Butch Walker (The Marvelous 3), Raine Maida (Our Lady Peace), Don Gilmore (Linkin Park, Pearl Jam), and co-wrote all 12 songs on the album. But, there hasn't been a radical shift — the teen-centric lyrics still focus on boys and break-ups, and aren’t going to win high praise for their penmanship. But, her powerful vocals and the guitar riffs that dominate the album lift it out of obscurity.

"I grew up so much in the past two years," says the petite rocker. "I've been through a lot, I've learned a lot, and experienced a lot both good and bad. These songs are about all of that, and each is very personal to me."

"A lot" seems to mean fending off the boys as she does on the album's third track 'Don't tell me'. "Don’t think that your charm, and the fact that your arm is now around my neck will get you in my pants," she warns.

'He wasn't' is the loudest of the 12 tracks, and is most reminiscent of the more aggressive tone of 'Let Go', though echoes of 'Complicated' and 'Sk8er Boi' can be heard throughout this second album. She gives 'He wasn't' a good go, and again lashes out at some boy for not behaving as expected.

Two other tracks stood out for me — the moody ballad 'How does it feel', and 'Everything I wanted'. The strength and clarity of Avril's voice rings out in both; this girl can sing.

The ballady 'Slipped Away', dedicated to the memory of her grandfather, is the most revealing in terms of her emotional state, and ends the album off on rather a poignant note.

Avril doesn't do anything to alienate the anti-Britney brigade here, but uses her powerful voice to persuade you that she has more to offer than mere teenage angst, and enough attitude to go around...