Under My Skin

Description Introduction Avril Lavigne's long-awaited sophomore album, produced by Linkin Park's Don Gilmore, formerly of The Marvelous 3's Butch Walker, and Our Lady Peace's Rain Maida. Amazon Review With her smash-hit 2002 debut album, Let Go, Avril Lavigne sought to position herself as a true alternative to the sex-mongering teen idols of Britney Spears and Christina. Her string of guitar-pop hits was sassy, ​​and her "complicated" teen attitude was a bit hard to swallow. This was especially complicated by the fact that two songwriters known as the Matrix—who were at least 20 years older than the Canadian Avril—wrote most of her songs. Despite her slim chances of survival, Avril returned with Under My Skin, refining her angsty image. The album is packed with beautifully brooding melodies and poignant lyrics about loneliness ("How Does It Feel") and broken relationships ("Don't Tell Me"). Is it corny? Sure. Will fans who loved her T-shirt-and-tie look be put off? Probably. But there's nothing more satisfying than watching a teen pop icon truly bare her soul.