- Critic score
- Publication
- By date
-
True, this is far from deep but Under the Skin proved that a deep Avril is a dull Avril. The Best Damn Thing, in contrast, builds on every one of her bratty strengths which makes for ridiculously catchy pop - the kind of music that provides a soundtrack for teens and guilty pleasures for everyone else.
-
Crammed with hooks, The Best Damn Thing is a triumphant comeback.
-
A fun, engaging record.
-
The dumb, girly, giddy Best Damn Thing reembraces the 15-year-old pom-pom punkette within, with multitracked hand claps, Toni Basil-gone-bad cheers, and pep-rally-rattling guitars.
-
It's a consciously lightweight pop-punk romp that appears to have been inspired by "Since U Been Gone," Kelly Clarkson's massive hit.
-
It’s enormous, senseless, superficial, selfish, and cocky past the point of absurdity, but it’s never wrong.
-
The range of emotions and material on display make The Best Damn Thing a much easier listen than the monotonous angst of Under My Skin.
-
BillboardA mostly sassy'n'snotty affair on which she sounds even younger than when her debut album, 2002's "Let Go," went multiplatinum. [28 Apr 2007]
-
SpinThe Best Damn Thing rarely takes itself too seriously. [May 2007, p.89]
-
Lavigne's punk-lite cheerleader chic could well be tweens' first tantalizing steps down the primrose path to Patti Smith.
-
A boisterous and bratty collection of hook-swamped shout-alongs.
-
The songs are furiously bouncy and unbelievably vapid.
-
There are few surprises here, but The Best Damn Thing is totally fearless about targeting pop radio and rather expert in its execution.
-
The album is filled with strong pop-punk turns, offset by a handful of regrettable ballads.
-
As an album “The Best Damn Thing” is too relentless to be heard end to end. Its songs are expected to bring occasional jolts to a playlist. [16 Apr 2007]
-
The songwriting is weaker than on her previous two albums, though there are plenty of sugary pop hooks and a slick, punked-up guitar sound that exists solely in $1,000-a-day recording studios.
-
The Best Damn Thing is a big step back for an artist who was just starting to grow up.
-
The lyrics are brutal.
-
This is pretty fluffy stuff.
Awards & Rankings
User score distribution:
-
Positive: 297 out of 416
-
Mixed: 51 out of 416
-
Negative: 68 out of 416
-
Aug 5, 2011
-
Jun 17, 2011
-
henryg.Jul 11, 2007