Appreciation for The Best Damn Thing (Album)

[TheCraziestFun]

I'm tired of everyone making stabs at The Best Damn Thing. It was Avril's signature sound. As a matter of fact, it's STILL her signature sound. Don't believe me? Type in "Princess of Pop-Punk" in Google images and 2/3's of the photos will be Avril. I want her to do some more pop-punk. I really don't care if anyone else thought TBDT was bad album or their least favorite. It was my favorite, and I bet I could find a few more bandaiders who agree with me.

[Kakarot]

Been there. Done that.

[TheCraziestFun]

Been there. Done that.

What do you mean? That this is just a phase that some Avril fans go through?

[Kakarot]

Well, I meant that there have been a lot of discussions about this. But I do agree with you. The album certainly isn't my favorite and I really believe Let Go is her signature album, but I think TBDT is very underrated and it has a pretty strong sound and image.

[TheCraziestFun]

Well, I meant that there have been a lot of discussions about this. But I do agree with you. The album certainly isn't my favorite and I really believe Let Go is her signature album, but I think TBDT is very underrated and it has a pretty strong sound and image.

Yes, I somewhat agree that Let Go (especially "Complicated") is sometimes thought of when thinking of Avril. The thing with that is... so many people similar to Avril's style came out around the same time (ex., Norah Jones, Michelle Branch, Vanessa Carlton, and SO many more) that she was unintentionally competing with them (and obviously won) but when she did her pop-punk sound, she was the ONLY female solo artist (as far as my knowledge goes) that was even doing pop-punk at that time. Nobody did this at the time, because they thought pop-punk was outdated and belonged in the early 2000's and late 90's. But when Avril did pop-punk, she didn't change her style to fit mainstream music; she changed mainstream music to fit her style. Nobody tried to copy it and nobody did anything to stop her reign. They knew it was something that only Avril could pull off, and they bowed down and gave Avril her crown which she still wears today.

[HBK-79]

but when she did her pop-punk sound, she was the ONLY female solo artist (as far as my knowledge goes) that was even doing pop-punk at that time. Nobody did this at the time, because they thought pop-punk was outdated and belonged in the early 2000's and late 90's. But when Avril did pop-punk, she didn't change her style to fit mainstream music; she changed mainstream music to fit her style. Nobody tried to copy it and nobody did anything to stop her reign. They knew it was something that only Avril could pull off, and they bowed down and gave Avril her crown which she still wears today.

And where does she go from there? The general public thinks that being a "pop-punk princess" is the only thing she's good at, and that she's destined to fade into obscurity because of that. People have this notion that she'll fail if she attempts to shed that label. WTH tried to ride on the coattails of Girlfriend, and didn't hit the mark.

I think Avril fans overrated the success of TBDT era. The core audience that that era catered to was mostly little kids. I shared TBDT with many 20- and 30-something adults, and they absolutely HATED the album. That era was defined solely by Girlfriend, the color pink, and cheerleaders. Nothing about that era earned her any credibility or authenticity.

Anyway, I give Avril props for changing her sound/style with TBDT. I love KHO, Innocence, Contagious, and Alone. But the album was NOT an artistic advancement by any means. The brattiness, the girliness, the cheerleader bits, and the overflow of pink stuck a fork in it for me.

[TheCraziestFun]

And where does she go from there? The general public thinks that being a "pop-punk princess" is the only thing she's good at, and that she's destined to fade into obscurity because of that. People have this notion that she'll fail if she attempts to shed that label. WTH tried to ride on the coattails of Girlfriend, and didn't hit the mark.

I think Avril fans overrated the success of TBDT era. The core audience that that era catered to was mostly little kids. I shared TBDT with many 20- and 30-something adults, and they absolutely HATED the album. That era was defined solely by Girlfriend, the color pink, and cheerleaders. Nothing about that era earned her any credibility or authenticity.

Anyway, I give Avril props for changing her sound/style with TBDT. I love KHO, Innocence, Contagious, and Alone. But the album was NOT an artistic advancement by any means. The brattiness, the girliness, the cheerleader bits, and the overflow of pink stuck a fork in it for me.

Again, NO OFFENCE, because you always make EXCELLENT points in the 5th album thread. And I'd agree with you any other time. This time, I'll just gently remind you that this is an appreciation thread and is open to all who have something to appreciate about The Best Damn Thing. I won't debate with you, since there's no point in arguing opinions, but I will just ask you to at least say something positive about TBDT. I really think that you're an excellent rational thinker and you seem very smart, but let's start back at square one.

So.... what else do you like about TBDT?

[Zach]

So many GREAT songs from TBDT!

I Can Do Better
Innocence
When You're Gone
Runaway
Keep Holding On
Girlfriend
I Will Be
Alone

[TheCraziestFun]

So many GREAT songs from TBDT!

I Can Do Better
Innocence
When You're Gone
Runaway
Keep Holding On
Girlfriend
I Will Be
Alone

I love all of those songs! Glad to hear you liked them! You live in NYC? I've always wanted to move there. Don't get me wrong, Chicago is a great place to live, but I've wanted to live in NYC since I was 6.

[jdhartil]

So many GREAT songs from TBDT!

I Can Do Better
Innocence
When You're Gone
Runaway
Keep Holding On
Girlfriend
I Will Be
Alone

Agree completely with you some of my favourite songs

[~ Avril <3]

So many GREAT songs from TBDT!

I Can Do Better
Innocence
When You're Gone
Runaway
Keep Holding On
Girlfriend
I Will Be
Alone

Agree with you... I think The Best Damn Thing is very underestimate...

[avrilxxx15]

Hot is also a very underrated song, It's a sexy, lustful romantic pop rock song, much better and more meaningful than California king bed