Avril Lavigne: Under My Skin

Reviewed by REBECCA BARRY

Herald rating: * *

Canadian Avril Lavigne is fending off the skater boys with the snotty-nosed demeanour that launched her career on Let Go. The 19-year-old has referred to this as her "mature second album", and while it hangs together better than its predecessor, it still smells like teen spirit.

The cutting vocal has mellowed slightly and taken on a more feminine tone but her delivery hasn't changed - when she sings "I'm bored" it doesn't take much convincing.

Likewise, Freak Out reeks of the attitude that had the tween fans believing she really was the antithesis of manufactured pop, particularly when she sings, "You should know by now I won't listen to you".

Perhaps that explains why she dumped the production team who imparted her debut with a peppy, pop vibe, and instead hooked up with Canadian producer Chantal Kreviazuk, who has beefed up her anodyne lyrics with stroppy, nu-metal guitars.

Even though they're stretched with the help of a few extra layers in the studio, it's those songs with the biggest choruses that carry this album, from the charging, guitar-driven angst of Take Me Away, the bratty faux-punk of Together, and first single Don't Tell Me, which imparts an abstinence message without sounding preachy.

Elsewhere it's mostly a forgettable affair, other than the subtle Fall to Pieces, the album's most grown-up pop song, and Slipped Away, for which she trades angsty gripes for the genuine sorrow of losing her grandfather.

Even if you can withstand the glossy veneer, it's hard to get past the surly image. You can just imagine her scoffing, "Whatever" at the poor guy who dared get into her pants.

At least life really is complicated now.

(Arista)