The Best Damn Thing (Deluxe Edition) [PA] by Avril Lavigne (CD, Apr-2007, Arista Records USA)

Avril Lavigne proved, with her debut LET GO, that she had what it took not only to be a pop star, but to be a real musical artist. Her follow-up, UNDER MY SKIN, had her delving into deeper, darker material, putting her in a more alternative-minded suit.

Apparently, she had enough of that. THE BEST DAMN THING is spunky, perky, happy-go-lucky sing-a-long that, definitely, is catchy as hell, but isn't near as good as what Lavigne can do. "Girlfriend" kicks off the album and sets the mood; several of the tracks sound like knock-offs of this tune (including the title track, on which she boldly declares "I'm the best damn thing that your eyes have ever seen"). Ironically, with a couple exceptions, Lavigne sounds at her best when she's in this spunky mood (the exceptions being the powerful ballads "When You're Gone" and "Keep Holding On").

Basically, this is an immature album from an artist we know is capable of mature material. She hints at it here and there ("Damn that boy can make me cry," she sings in "Contagious;" in the next verse, "Damn that boy can make me smile"). But basically, THE BEST DAMN THING is THE BEST DANCE THING, because that's what it'll make you want to do--dance. Lavigne's got a good voice on her, and she knows how to write a well-crafted song; hopefully, her next album will show her branching out. This album makes her out to be the "pop princess" persona she so adamantly defied earlier in her career.

I`M A GREAT FAN OF AVRIL LAVIGNE, I LOVE THAT GIRL. IT IS RARE BECAUSE I LISTEN TO THE HARD ROCK MUSIC, BUT AVRIL IS SPECIAL (HER VOICE, CHARISMA, ETC) AND SHE`S SO BEATIFUL AND ORIGINAL. I BOUGHT THIS ITEM BECAUSE I PREFER THE IMPORT CD`S, AND IT IS THE CLOSER WAY TO BE WITH MY SWEETY AVRIL. THE BOOKLET HAS EXCELENT PICTURES, LYRICS. THE ONLY POINT THAT I DID´T LIKE IS THAT THE DVD DOESN´T INCLUDE THE "GIRLFRIEND" VIDEO, THAT WOULD BE AMAZING.

i bought this cd bec i love this artist and i wanted to hear the new side of her sep after marriage the cd was great just as i bought love her new songs esp keep holding on its like they how u feel like u can relate