Somewhere in the pantheon of pop punk’s meteoric rise to the mainstream lies a statue of Avril Lavigne, transfixed with a deadpan stare, clad in a black t-shirt and frayed jeans. It’s hard to overstate just how much Lavigne changed the game for punk in the early aughts, especially for female artists whose role in the genre was previously marginalized. She’s an icon, and for many of my peers who were beginning high school at the time this record was released, she captures the angsty spirit of our formative years in a way few records can.
Twenty years on “Let Go” still has its moments. The opening track “Losing Grip” is a distinct tone setter, layering moody acoustic guitar during the verse before slamming you into an electric wall of dissonant guitars layered underneath a vocal melody that takes clear inspiration from the infamous Dolores O’Riordan of The Cranberries. “Complicated”, the single that sent Avril into the stratosphere, has hooks everywhere and could still find a spot on Top 40 radio today.
But the true standout here is “I’m With You”. Amongst all the nostalgic remembrance, this track feels as fresh and poignant as ever. Delicate guitars and heartfelt violins pull you into an hauntingly epic chorus refrain that cuts like a knife. When Avril hits that first “It’s a damn cold night” you’re instantly transported to the backseat of your mom’s minivan, gel pen in hand, scribbling love letters to your crush before heading into Blockbuster at the local mall. It’s as good today as it ever was.
Standout Songs: “I’m With You”, “Losing Grip”, “Complicated”
