By: Hope Ankney
For better or for worse, Avril Lavigne has existed as an artist frozen in age and time by fans and critics alike. Hitting the scene at only 17 with her smashing debut, Let Go, she made quite the statement of being the spunky brat that kicked ass and took names. She ruled this persona, pouring it into her image and music for years before stepping out of the angst-ridden comfort she had cozied into to experiment on the lighter and brighter side of pop. This was where her true battle of wading through the industry without curdling into cookie-cutter territory started. Even though Lavigne has proved her versatility in genre jumping and transformation throughout her career, she’s, unfortunately, been sealed shut in a box where so many refuse to see that she’s a 34 year old woman with outpouring facets that grew and blossomed past the tie-wearing, punk-blazing, bratty-spirited 17 year old girl that’s been stamped to her forehead.
Six years between her last record – 2013’s self-titled and newest drop, Head Above Water, a lot has been at play in Avril Lavigne’s life. This includes her marriage deteriorating with Chad Kroeger, creative tug-o-wars with BMG, and her tumultuous battle with Lyme Disease. In fact, it’s the opening stunner that is the title track that tackles this time period in her life head-on. Proving to be the perfect representation of what Lavigne is bringing to the table, “Head Above Water” is an intimate and completely naked version of her craft as she desperately searches for strength to push through her past circumstances. The rock-led power ballad channels a new level of vigor every time it’s played with lyrics like “God, keep my head above water/don’t let me drown” that Lavigne cries out in anguish, gifting it it’s well-deserved respect.
But it’s tracks like “Tell Me it’s Over” and “It was Me” that breakout among the rest of Head Above Water. Very reminiscent of Lavigne’s early work like “Keep Holding On,” these songs showcase the lofty vocals and slow-burning musicality that remind fans of why she’s considered such an iconic artist. The two perfectly encapsulate the raw talent and fervor Lavigne has always had regarding her lyrical and performing prowess.
Overall, Head Above Water isn’t revolutionary by any means, but it’s promising. After six years, Lavigne’s return to music is jam-packed full of the potential in everything Lavigne stands for regarding her past, present, and future. A collection that allows Lavigne to push past the frozen image her fair-weathered fans and critics ignorantly see her as and truly marry all the versions of herself into one mostly cohesive body of work. At its highest, Head Above Water revs forward with its melancholic and emotionally wounded tracks while, at its lowest, Head Above Water leads astray with inconsistencies in flow and sonic landscapes that Lavigne proves she can overcome. It’s the gloom of Lavigne’s records that always bring out the best material, so it’s tough to say but perhaps, bratty upset is her sweet spot to continue plucking from.
