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Under My Skin
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Under My Skin Image
Metascore
65

Generally favorable reviews - based on 14 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.2

Universal acclaim- based on 409 Ratings

  • Summary: Ditching the production team (The Matrix) who made her first album a hit, Lavigne turned to fellow Canadians Chantal Kreviazuk and Raine Maida to write and produce this sophomore disc.

Top Track

My Happy Ending
Oh oh, oh oh, oh oh... So much for my happy ending Oh oh, oh oh, oh oh... So much for my happy ending Oh oh, oh oh, oh oh... Let's talk this... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 14
  3. Negative: 1 out of 14
  1. E! Online
    83
    Under My Skin gets generic at times, but that's why it works.
  2. Q Magazine
    80
    An altogether more satisfying supply of air punching, stadium sized choruses. [Jun 2004, p.103]
    All this publication's reviews
  3. Blender
    80
    She has deepened and darkened her sound without sacrificing her platinum-plated melodies. [#27, p.141]
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  4. The New York Times
    60
    There's little subtlety on "Under My Skin," and... absolutely no fear of clichés. But on the emotionally fraught battleground that is high-school romance, perhaps those would be frills. [16 May 2004]
  5. PopMatters
    60
    A good, if slightly disappointing, follow-up.
  6. AllMusic
    60
    Under My Skin is a bit awkward, sometimes sounding tentative and unsure, sometimes clicking and surging on Avril's attitude and ambition.
  7. The Guardian
    30
    The music is so anodyne that you don't pay much attention to Lavigne's lyrics. This proves to be a small mercy: examination of the CD booklet reveals that prolonged exposure to her words could leave a previously healthy adult rocking backwards and forwards in a foetal ball.

See all 14 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 92 out of 107
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 107
  3. Negative: 7 out of 107
  1. Jeffm
    May 24, 2004
    10
    A great album, it is complex but yet somehow very simple.
  2. NormanG.
    Oct 26, 2007
    10
    Personally I think this is her best debut album B/c it contains varios kinds of songs and its deep.
  4. bethd
    Aug 17, 2004
    10
    this album is wicked avril is a amazin singer keep it cummin avril
  5. lucascabbral
    Apr 15, 2015
    10
    esse é o tipo de cd que eu posso ouvir todos os dias e não enjoar de nenhuma musica. ele tem musicas muito maduras e uma sonoridade incrível.esse é o tipo de cd que eu posso ouvir todos os dias e não enjoar de nenhuma musica. ele tem musicas muito maduras e uma sonoridade incrível. Todos os Álbuns da Avril são incríveis, mas esse com certeza é o melhor.… Expand
  6. avrilbirdie
    Jul 24, 2020
    10
    Avril Lavigne's best album. No skips, beautiful lyrics, amazing music videos, love the instrumentals.
  7. ArchiOshawott
    Feb 16, 2014
    8
    It's been almost precisely 10 years since 'Under my Skin' was released ( and the very fact that Lavigne is still around only serves to proveIt's been almost precisely 10 years since 'Under my Skin' was released ( and the very fact that Lavigne is still around only serves to prove her staying power) and regardless of it's reviews, it's total sales in excess of 10 million has served her well in establishing her niche in the world of music. In my opinion, however, it is the unreleased tracks that show the potential of this album. The opening track, 'Take Me Away', serves an addictively nostalgic introduction, with complicated, angst-laden lyrics. (My words are cold, I don't want them to hurt you.) 'Together', 'How does it feel' and 'Who Knows' back up the consistency, while 'slipped away' serves as a fitting tribute for Lavigne's Grandparent.
    This album may have it's critics, but for many, it recalls the departure of 'Let Go', both lyrically and musically, thrusting Avril into the mainstream once again, banishing any 'one-hit wonder' fears that may have arisen in 2004. Her future releases could do with more of ''Skins' powerful delivery.    … Expand
  8. jamesl
    May 25, 2004
    0
    man she just sounds bad! there is so much hype but the songs are all the same worst lyricis i've heard for years

See all 107 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

16
#16 Most Discussed Album of 2004
30
#30 Most Shared Album of 2004