Hey! Hey! The Sk8ter girl of 2002 has reemerged from her 3 year hiatus a happily married young woman (and by happily married I mean she isn’t divorced yet, and that has to count for something!!). Apparently early fame and fortune hasn’t caused this pop anti-diva to miss out on her true passion cheerleading! Listen closely and on more than one song you may feel like you have been unwillingly transported to a high school pep rally. Although older and wiser, the pop world is lucky that the adolescent exuberance of Lavigne’s previous work remains in tact. Once again, from top to bottom Avril strings together hits like A-Rod.

Go ahead and write this album off as all filler no killer, at least Mrs. Lavigne-Whibley writes her own songs!

Check out: “Girlfriend”, “I Can Do Better”, “Everything Back But You”, “Innocence”, “Keep Holding On”

Got a “Woody”? An ample supply of “€œSex Wax”€? If you find yourself “€œCalifornia Dreamin”€ or with a sweet tooth for some good summer time bbq “Jams” then take a listen to Smash Mouth’s “€œSummer Girl”€.

Originally released in September of 2006 (why an artist would ever release an album with summer in the title in the fall is beyond me) Smash Mouth has crafted a feel good album that will immediately transport the listener to sunny days and hot temps topped off with a late afternoon jaunt to the local surf bar.

I am far from a Smash Mouth advocate, but I must say I was immediately drawn into the album’s vibe. Like em,€™ or not, Smash Mouth has become unapologetically well known for constructing Top 40 hits. Chances are you or someone you know has given a memorably tipsy karaoke performance of “€œAll Star”€ at some point in time.
“Summer Girl” is fun, upbeat, drink swillin’€™ music meant to celebrate whatever it is that needs celebratin!™.

Try
- €œEveryday Superhero
-œ Story of My Life
- €œGetaway Car
- €œRight Side
- Wrong Bed

Breathy vocals layered over strummed acoustic guitars, well placed lead electric lines, anchored by a steady bass/drum foundation and uplifted by hummable melodies about peace, love and understanding (OK–maybe more about hope, love, love lost and generally anything to do with love and heartache).

Well that basically sums up any Goo Goo Dolls album you have had the pleasure of listening to. “Let Love In” is no exception – a great pop rock/adult alternative album that would be given the parental stamp of approval on any family road trip.

Hits include “Stay With You, “Let Love In”, “We’ll Be Here (When You’re Gone)”, “Better Days”, “Can’t Let It Go”.

Miss Independent is back and apparently has some things she would like to get off of her chest. “My December” finds the American Idol champion delivering her own “Jagged Little Pill”, minus Alanis’ biting delivery and colorful lyrics. Although darker in subject matter and musical arrangement than anything in her prior catalog, Kelly’s troubles come across as a cranky child rather than an angry, vindictive, self-empowered woman. All in all, the album seems like diary entries of a sad little girl.

Critiques aside, there are definitely some decent pop rock nuggets worth checking out: “Never Again”, “One Minute”, “Hole” and “Sober”. Conveniently these are the first 4 songs on the album. Track 5, “Don’t waste your time”, says it all for the remainder of the album.
Thanks for the advice Kelly!

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