Avril Lavigne - Goodbye Lullaby Track By Track Album Review

6. Stop Standing There

Avril opts for a simple structure here, with a catchy but basic melody written solely by Avril. The song uses a hand-clap beat for the chorus but diverts back to a simple drumming for the verses. Avril seems to be attempting to capture a 50s girl-group vibe, with harmonies littering the track. The song is layered with a variety of instruments, none of which are especially noticeable apart from the beating drums and harmonies, which is a shame as there is great potential in the concoction. The song is pleasant and enjoyable, but doesn't really stand out against the rest of the album.

7. I Love You

This is perhaps the most personal song on the record. In it Avril expresses why she is in love with a person (probably Whibley). She opens with a simple, but effective "la la" introduction, which may seem out of place on any other Lavigne album, but fits perfectly here, likening Avril's love and relationship to a fairy-tale. Avril sings simple lyrics, simply listing qualities of a person, yet manages to captivate the listener by using her voice to great effect. She injects emotion and longing into the song and enchants the listener with a combination of her angelic voice and charming guitar pieces, which find the perfect balance between energetic and saddeningly slow. The song features an epic, anthemic bridge which builds to a final explosive chorus, the highlight of the track.

8. Everybody Hurts

This is not a cover of REM's classic. Everybody Hurts is rather generic and bland, although Avril's regret is clear. Instrumentally it sounds like any other break-up song, although is curiously more upbeat than most as Avril seems to be coping with her loss better than most, conversationally repeating "it's ok". The lyrics leave a lot to be desired and the song feels like Avril is trying to convince herself, as much as the listener, that she is "ok". This is arguably the worst song on the album simply because it is the least adventurous, even against the likes of What The Hell, although it is easy to listen to. Again, it doesn't really stand on its own merit and is lost amidst better songs on the record.

9. Not Enough

We are lulled into a false sense of security by the introduction and first verse, which simply use an acoustic guitar riff and gentle piano notes. These build into heavier chords before introducing an ominous violin piece for the bridge and exploding into an energetic drumming chorus. The song is epic and just feels big. Avril's vocals let the track down at some points, breaking in parts as she struggles to make the swift changes between pitch, but these are barely noticeable and do not detract attention from the mesmerising blend of four simple instruments. The lyrics are honest and Avril seems to be berating her partner for overindulging her rather than spending time getting to know her. The acoustic sound of the track is magical and achieves much more than an electric arrangement would have, had Avril used the song on a previous album, as the song feels much more personal.