The Best Damn Thing
by Avril Lavigne
  • Record Label: RCA
  • Release Date: Apr 17, 2007
User Score
7.3

Generally favorable reviews- based on 416 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 297 out of 416
  2. Mixed: 51 out of 416
  3. Negative: 68 out of 416

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  1. Liameq
    Jun 17, 2011
    6
    1st post AHHHHHHHHHHH =)

    If you liked the albums Let Go or Under My Skin then there is a good chance you wont like this album. Avril Lavigne's 3rd album, The Best Damn Thing is in many ways a bold one. Avril really does throw away her Pop punk rift's and melody's produces something a bit more glamorise and I hate to use this word but 'mainstream'. To be honest this album really did    1st post AHHHHHHHHHHH =)

    If you liked the albums Let Go or Under My Skin then there is a good chance you wont like this album. Avril Lavigne's 3rd album, The Best Damn Thing is in many ways a bold one. Avril really does throw away her Pop punk rift's and melody's produces something a bit more glamorise and I hate to use this word but 'mainstream'. To be honest this album really did disappoint me, saying that, there is no doubt in my mind that this is a good album. The thing is, it's just not why I listen to Avril. That's okay though because this album is sure to capture a whole new audience. ARGH I'M GETTING LOST!

    To the point...
    I thought this album had some great beats such as Girlfriend, The Best Damn Thing, Everything Back But You and I Don't Have To Try, It also delivers some emotional drainage that you expect with an Lavinge album with the songs 'When You're Gone', 'Innocence',' Keep Holding On'. Although I enjoyed 'When You're Gone' I though 'Keep Holding On' was nothing but mediocre and 'Innocence' just made me **** angry =( To summarise, the album is probably not what anyone expected but it actually takes nothing away from the album. This is a relatively good, fun, POP album.    … Expand
  2. PinkFriday
    Sep 6, 2014
    6
    The Best Damn Thing é um álbum de Avril que marcou a sua vida, e a de seus fãs. Com o primeiro single, Girlfriend, perdeu muitos fãs e ganhou muitos outros, porque a música é pop/rock e mostra uma Avril "patricinha", e era muito diferente do que ela costumava fazer. Com certeza não é o seu melhor álbum, mas mesmo assim é escutável.
  3. Tery
    Jan 12, 2015
    6
    Apenas de ser um álbum popular com Girlfriend, When You're Gone e Hot, as outras músicas são tudo rock genérico e que chegam a dar dor de cabeça na gente, mas tirando isso é bom.
  4. EmmaL
    Apr 28, 2007
    5
    very disappointing album, alot more immature than her last two albums.
  5. Sam
    May 2, 2007
    5
    I hate for this to be about the image that the songs give, but I thought Avril was original because she didn't try to sound like Gwen. But the music video for Girlfriend - and the sound in general - has that style written all over it. Which would be fine, if it were Gwen. But it's not. It's Avril. And it doesn't sound like her anymore. Very unoriginal. Yes, the songs I hate for this to be about the image that the songs give, but I thought Avril was original because she didn't try to sound like Gwen. But the music video for Girlfriend - and the sound in general - has that style written all over it. Which would be fine, if it were Gwen. But it's not. It's Avril. And it doesn't sound like her anymore. Very unoriginal. Yes, the songs are outrageously catchy and have a good beat and are fun to hop up and down to at prom, but after the 2nd time I grow weary. They're not very original, and the lyrics are kind of self-centered. Her "Under My Skin" and "Let Go" lyrics were angsty, to be sure, and it might have gotten a bit tiring after a well, but at least they avoided the "I'm a girl who likes pretty ribbons in my hair and wants to kiss all the boys!" vibe. I don't like this vibe. It's kind of unoriginal for music (Hey Mickey, etc.), and I'm not fond of the idea that she had to sing a song like "Girlfriend" to get widespread popularity.… Expand
  6. owenrw2889
    Mar 4, 2011
    5
    POSITIVE - This album is very half and half for me. The good half - some stunning songs, some powerful songs and some catchy songs, Lavigne knows how to write songs, there is not doubt about that. Vocally this album is quite impressive aswel, she never never fails to present at least one beautiful song. NEGATIVE - After the good songs have been played and analysed you are left with somePOSITIVE - This album is very half and half for me. The good half - some stunning songs, some powerful songs and some catchy songs, Lavigne knows how to write songs, there is not doubt about that. Vocally this album is quite impressive aswel, she never never fails to present at least one beautiful song. NEGATIVE - After the good songs have been played and analysed you are left with some real hum dingers, filler tracks and songs that only 12 year old girls would like, at a push. Bad lyrics, bad sound - just BAD ! How one of Canada biggest selling artists can get away with such simple and awful songs is truely beyond me.
    OVERALL - A lacking album, no substance and not enough power. Yet, don't overlook this album, it's still worth a listen - in parts.    … Expand
  7. musicisallineed
    Aug 5, 2011
    5
    An average album created for average music fans that satisfies your ears with some beautiful and catchy songwriting for a small percentage of the time, but remove these efforts and you have nothing more than a bad teenage album from an artist who just needs to, at times, grow up. The potential is present, but potential feels somewhat lazy by album number three.
  8. godwinkent888
    Jan 25, 2014
    5
    A major disappointment. I really loved her first two albums, and I really like how she matured so much from Let Go to Under My Skin. I don't even know what happened her. Aside from a few good songs like "When You're Gone", "Innocence" and "Keep Holdin' On", this is like a major step back from an artist who just started to grow up.
  9. musicismylife28
    Jan 30, 2015
    5
    Half of the album is some of the finest rock-pop you'll hear. 'Runaway', 'Hot' and 'Innocence' are prime examples of when the albums is at its finest. The other half of the album however, is silly, immature and very lazy filler.
  10. ryanloveslana
    May 10, 2015
    5
    On this album, Avril abandons her dark image and goes into **** mode". I do not like the content or image Lavigne gave off on this album, because I feel that it is not her. Also her first album to be issued a Parental Advisory notice, features more sexual content than her previous efforts. Her best tracks on this album are "Keep Holding On", "Hot", "Everything Back But You", "Innocence",On this album, Avril abandons her dark image and goes into **** mode". I do not like the content or image Lavigne gave off on this album, because I feel that it is not her. Also her first album to be issued a Parental Advisory notice, features more sexual content than her previous efforts. Her best tracks on this album are "Keep Holding On", "Hot", "Everything Back But You", "Innocence", and "When You're Gone". Like her future effort in 2013, Lavigne was "all over the place" on her image. Either trying to stay the sassy-pop-punk girl she is or a Amy Lee wannabe.… Expand
  11. JuliaA
    Apr 18, 2007
    4
    I started to like Avril better on 'Under My Skin',it showed her being mature. But once she popped out with girlie outfit and the kind of song she always say will never be her kind of song,it's really a big bad backward step she took.She should pay more attention to her music than the wardrobes and image. For a singer who's already over 20,her lyrics are ridiculous I started to like Avril better on 'Under My Skin',it showed her being mature. But once she popped out with girlie outfit and the kind of song she always say will never be her kind of song,it's really a big bad backward step she took.She should pay more attention to her music than the wardrobes and image. For a singer who's already over 20,her lyrics are ridiculous (despite the-wasted-catchy music),and I found that boring and whimpy. I gave her 4,because that's how much of her songs in this album I could tolerate.… Expand
  12. JasonK
    Apr 22, 2007
    4
    Avril Lavigne fails in this one.
  13. DrewF
    Apr 24, 2007
    4
    Isn't Avril getting too old to be singing about some of this stuff?
  14. knomi
    Apr 24, 2007
    4
    largely inconsequential pop-punk radio dreck, but this is avril lavigne; I don't know that anyone was expecting anything beyond (an ironically vapid) dissertation on why she is so cool and why other chicks aren't. at least she's not good charlotte.
  15. jackzagal
    Mar 1, 2015
    4
    So here we have the infamous "sell-out album". A real step back from previous albums in terms of artistry and maturity, it essentially alienated her fanbase and destroyed any kind of artistry she could have built with her first two albums. I can get she wanted to be a bit more "playful" and less serious than she was with Under My Skin, but she definitely went over the top with it.So here we have the infamous "sell-out album". A real step back from previous albums in terms of artistry and maturity, it essentially alienated her fanbase and destroyed any kind of artistry she could have built with her first two albums. I can get she wanted to be a bit more "playful" and less serious than she was with Under My Skin, but she definitely went over the top with it. Brattiness, borderline stupidity at times in songs like the superhit Girlfriend, the selftitled song or I Can Do Better (which she recorded unapologetically drunk), it definitely was a departure from her previous albums. Perhaps not so much in terms of sound, which was more pop-punk than alternative/rock, but in terms of meaningfulness and maturity.

    There are songs that show what she went for without being too infantile and fan-alienating, like Everything Back But You, One of Those Girls or Contagious. There are a few ballads to balance things out a bit, Innocence and Keep Holding On being some of the best songs and fan favourites from this albums.

    I give it a 4 because the album is sonically good enough and it has some good songs, but there's an overall feeling of brattiness and immaturity that I can't stand. No wonder people sometimes said she looked more mature in previous albums, I don't blame them. This album (and its era) destroyed her image and I was close to stop being a fan, although (a very superior) Goodbye Lullaby made me feel again what Under My Skin did. I hope The Best Damn Thing remains as Avril's worst album FOREVER.    … Expand
  16. ChantelleM.
    Jun 2, 2007
    3
    I was intrigued after hearing 'Girlfriend' on the radio. As someone who loved the last two albums, I was glad to see another album had been released. Thankfully I grabbed a download of this before buying it this time, because I wouldn't waste my money on this CD. I had to stop it after track six because it was annoying to listen to. Change is good in an artist, but this is I was intrigued after hearing 'Girlfriend' on the radio. As someone who loved the last two albums, I was glad to see another album had been released. Thankfully I grabbed a download of this before buying it this time, because I wouldn't waste my money on this CD. I had to stop it after track six because it was annoying to listen to. Change is good in an artist, but this is a step backward.… Expand
  17. CraigB
    Apr 17, 2007
    3
    Avril has always been a guilty pleasure for me. This album however is mostly a really bad tribute to a combination of Gwen Stefani & Punk Pop. I'm quite disappointed.
  18. vscoott345
    Apr 26, 2012
    3
    I think this may be her worst album. Crap. "Girlfriend" was the big hit from the cd, and honestly that song is just irritating and annoying. This is not the style she set out for in the first place. Disappointment.
  19. GeraldF
    May 9, 2007
    2
    Beyond the occasional groove that is lifted directly from her husbands band, this music is trite and forgettable. You can hear the ching ching of the cash registers as this was made to make money, pure and simple. It's also taken a young artist who called the world on it's toxins and made her one of them. It's nasty, self indulgent, narcisistic music and it encourages other Beyond the occasional groove that is lifted directly from her husbands band, this music is trite and forgettable. You can hear the ching ching of the cash registers as this was made to make money, pure and simple. It's also taken a young artist who called the world on it's toxins and made her one of them. It's nasty, self indulgent, narcisistic music and it encourages other people to be that way. It's hard enough for people to figure themselves out without this crap being out there.… Expand
  20. PrometheusF
    Jun 17, 2007
    2
    One question; why?! Her music was just starting to finely mature and then this. This will make some undecided teenage girls lifelong supporters and the rest of us just disgusted. This bubblegum pop is certainly not sugar-free, as the singer shamelessly refuses to act her age. After hearing "Hey hey you you!" chanted by Avril's target group I really hope that this will be the last we One question; why?! Her music was just starting to finely mature and then this. This will make some undecided teenage girls lifelong supporters and the rest of us just disgusted. This bubblegum pop is certainly not sugar-free, as the singer shamelessly refuses to act her age. After hearing "Hey hey you you!" chanted by Avril's target group I really hope that this will be the last we see of this latest incarnation of Avril.… Expand
  21. kd
    Apr 17, 2007
    2
    If this is her grown up I think she should go back to being a kid
  22. Matt
    Apr 17, 2007
    2
    I had to turn the CD off after four songs. In my opinion, tracks 2 and 4 couldn't have been more annoying if Avril had tried. I liked her first album and few cuts from her second, but the lyrics on this one are just vapid. The girl was better off having somebody write the songs for her. Judging from this CD, there's gotta be weights in her shoes to keep the hot air between her I had to turn the CD off after four songs. In my opinion, tracks 2 and 4 couldn't have been more annoying if Avril had tried. I liked her first album and few cuts from her second, but the lyrics on this one are just vapid. The girl was better off having somebody write the songs for her. Judging from this CD, there's gotta be weights in her shoes to keep the hot air between her ears from flying her into the atmosphere.… Expand
  23. Eva
    Jun 4, 2007
    1
    nothing is exciting about this album anymore, the songs basically sound all the same... her emotional songs which i liked so much in her previous albums have become dull. very disappointing
  24. KateB.
    Jun 1, 2007
    1
    Oh dear oh dear. Never bought this, Thank God, but my friends insist on playing it over and over and over. When I saw the video for Girlfriend I thought: is she taking the piss? I soon realised she wasn't and that her lyrics are really that bad. And where did the punk "I hate blondes" image go? Down the pan along with my sanity I'd imagine. Sell out.
  25. nickc.
    Jun 7, 2007
    1
    Are you fucking serious? Hahahaha! BUNK. Uber-produced girl pop-plastic candy.
  26. JoseM
    Apr 17, 2007
    1
    Why can't this girl go away? Her first single is her worst yet...
  27. AnnaS
    May 5, 2007
    1
    The frustrating thing about this album is that she sounds so sincere on every track. I think the critics confused loudness of screaming for quality of hooks when they rated the album. In reality, the album isn't just bratty, it's bratty in an annoying way. The repeated "Hey you" motif (the catchphrase is used at least once per song) gets old fast (especially with Avril's The frustrating thing about this album is that she sounds so sincere on every track. I think the critics confused loudness of screaming for quality of hooks when they rated the album. In reality, the album isn't just bratty, it's bratty in an annoying way. The repeated "Hey you" motif (the catchphrase is used at least once per song) gets old fast (especially with Avril's monotone delivery), and lines like "she's like so whatever" or "what'd you say, I told you so, you always know that, cause I know" aren't adorably adolescent, they're just terrible songwriting. Hooks are a good thing, but I like mine to at least make some sort of sense in the English syntax. I'm as big of a fan of bubblegum pop as anybody (I loved Let Go), but this isn't the best damn thing, it's the most damn annoying.… Expand
  28. GaborA.
    Jun 29, 2007
    1
    Sheer garbage. And it sends the wrong message to girls young/stupid enough to listen to this in the first place.
  29. mikeyf
    Apr 28, 2007
    1
    a dog passing peaches pits could out sing this kunt. i say "uncle", this shiite makes me worry about mayan, papist, nostradamus', you name him's 2012 drop dead date may well be the real end of the world. (she'll be on satan's 2nd stage band's list). blame / invade canada. this noise must be stopped.
  30. Niki
    May 6, 2007
    0
    This albus was SO disappointing....and that's an understatement...she's totally detached herself from the kind of image she created with her first two albums.I was a die hard fan until this catastrophe.....i swear the music gave me a headache...
  31. ToddW
    Apr 19, 2007
    0
    Hey, if All Music thinks it's better than Bowie's "Young Americans," who am I to argue? What a joke, to say nothing of the statement this makes about the sad state of affairs in the Sewerstream.
  32. BobE
    Apr 26, 2007
    0
    She is crap faceit she cantsing and she cant wrightlyrics her new stuffis worse I hate her
  33. McBaird
    Apr 29, 2007
    0
    She sucks so bad my ears bled. She can probably spell "write" though, unlike user Bob E
  34. CraigO
    Jun 1, 2007
    0
    Well, I guess someone has to fill the void of "20-something pop-hussy pretending to be 16 to sell records" artists now that Britney's complete white trash and Christina can't seem to get out of a pre-Cold War era montage... I don't expect much from Avril, but vampant, whiney trash is below even her.
  35. joanney.
    Jul 6, 2007
    0
    Disgusting, how whiny voice drives me crazy and these songs, especially Girlfriend are ripoffs, that's why she's being sued for stealing songs.
  36. Kyle
    Jan 1, 2008
    0
    Heard the album cover to cover 3x in a row while waiting to get my hair cut... it was so annoying it got to the point I couldn't tell when one song was starting another was ending. Wretched album--
  37. Tronic!Tronic
    Apr 18, 2007
    0
    "She's definitely one of the worst damn things to hit the stage in the last five years" -From The Edmonton Journal Couldn't have said it better!!!
  38. CaladoniaK
    Apr 19, 2007
    0
    AWFUL.
  39. AlexandraK
    Apr 21, 2007
    0
    This bratty liitle girl is so full of herself. The lyrics are awful, the mellody seems to be made for 8-year-old kids and not grown-ups. If she thinks she is "the best damn thing" she needs to prove with talent first.
  40. nipuns.
    May 20, 2007
    0
    i was very dissapointed .......earlier avril seemed to define her music as her own by stating her views and being rebel like, she has done the exact opposite this time and she sounds like gwen stefani or pink.
  41. DylanD.
    Jun 12, 2007
    0
    This album sucks. Repetitive songs, droning delivery, need I go on??
  42. WillJ.
    Jul 12, 2007
    0
    For fucks sake she's an annoying rodent with a voice like burnt roadkill and a face to match. I'm simply surprised that sane critics haven't killed her, let alone actually like the auricular abortion. They like this bitch more than the Bravery, COME ON. For people who catch her on the street it is well advised to cut off her limbs and burn the stubs, then feed her through a For fucks sake she's an annoying rodent with a voice like burnt roadkill and a face to match. I'm simply surprised that sane critics haven't killed her, let alone actually like the auricular abortion. They like this bitch more than the Bravery, COME ON. For people who catch her on the street it is well advised to cut off her limbs and burn the stubs, then feed her through a woodchipper, then blow it up, and feed the remains to your her dog, step on it then feed that dog to your dog or someone elses dog. She's twenty three??? I saw the Punk'd where she cried, and it was the happiest day of my life.… Expand
  43. whatever
    Jul 17, 2007
    0
    Avril is just "Pop" And so is her music, especially this record. That's why music is dying. Plain Simple.
  44. MaxD
    Apr 17, 2007
    0
    POSER this alum sucks, if you like it you obviously have no taste and deserve to listen to this utter CRAP!
  45. CarsonW
    Apr 19, 2007
    0
    The score is reflective of the album and what she is as a person. A Zero.
  46. jasonl
    Apr 19, 2007
    0
    Dear Avril, please stop. thanks.
  47. heather
    Apr 22, 2007
    0
    Her first two albums were okay but this one is just an insult to teen's intelect! The lyrics are repetitive, meaningless and disposable. She loves to rhyme the words with itselves, I hope she disappear of the musical scene soon. She better make a good album next time or she'll be done in the business...
  48. DianeN
    Apr 24, 2007
    0
    Junk.... she's turned into a Britney spears wannabe singing punk rock. And the swearing isn't appreciated... I won't be buying it!
  49. soccerchick
    Apr 29, 2007
    0
    This album is terrible. Avril is so conceited and shallow, the music is unbearable. I really liked 'Let Go' (songs like, Things I'll Never Say, and Too Much to Ask), and Under My Skin because Avril wasn't trying to change her voice, and she sang about how she felt, and didnt just sing about herself. The Best Damn Thing painfully reminds me of Gwen and Britney Spears. This album is terrible. Avril is so conceited and shallow, the music is unbearable. I really liked 'Let Go' (songs like, Things I'll Never Say, and Too Much to Ask), and Under My Skin because Avril wasn't trying to change her voice, and she sang about how she felt, and didnt just sing about herself. The Best Damn Thing painfully reminds me of Gwen and Britney Spears. Usually I would go and buy her album the first day it came out. I wont be buying this one. All I can do is hope that she grows up and stops trying to please everybody else.… Expand
  50. alexf
    Jul 25, 2007
    0
    This album was way worse than her other albums. it is so pointless and has nothing creative about it.
  51. mglfvini
    Apr 25, 2014
    0
    I think this may be her worst album. Crap. "Girlfriend" was the big hit from the cd, and honestly that song is just irritating and annoying. This is not the style she set out for in the first place. Disappointment.
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Awards & Rankings

14
#14 Most Discussed Album of 2007
37
#37 Most Shared Album of 2007

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
66

Generally favorable reviews - based on 19 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 19
  3. Negative: 1 out of 19
  1. Entertainment Weekly
    75
    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.
    Read full review
  2. Slant Magazine
    40
    The Best Damn Thing is a big step back for an artist who was just starting to grow up.
    Read full review
  3. Los Angeles Times
    75
    It's a consciously lightweight pop-punk romp that appears to have been inspired by "Since U Been Gone," Kelly Clarkson's massive hit.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »