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April 24, 2007

Music Review

Third Course

Pop princesses may have more in common than they think

Story by: Anthony Williams

The Shorthorn Scene editor

— Courtesy Art

Singer Hilary Duff recently released her third LP Dignity, and had her own MTV series.

Two young singers are back on the scene with new albums. One’s effort sees her going back to her first sound, while the other is marking her own path. Who’s matured more is anyone’s guess.

Avril Lavigne’s third CD, The Best Damn Thing, is catchy, slightly cliché and an easy listen. Back in 2002, Lavigne’s debut single “Complicated” sat atop charts across the world and led many to buy her first album Let Go, which included other hits “Sk8er Boi” and “I’m With You.”

Her sophomore disc Under My Skin had popular songs but was a disappointment compared to her freshman success. Now, at 22, Lavigne is married to Sum 41’s Deryck Whibley and is back to her loud, fun antics with the single “Girlfriend.”

While Skin was more depressing, The Best Damn Thing is more youthful. It’s as if, with Let Go, the Lavigne we saw loudly attacking the teen pop machine was more familiar with the business. Here, with “Girlfriend” and “I Can Do Better,” she takes on the silly mind set of a teenager. The Best Damn Thing seems more appropriate for a teen pop star, but if Lavigne had sung songs like these then, it might not have worked with her whole anti-Britney image.

Singing lyrics like, “I’m the one, I’m the one who knows the dance … I’m the one, I’m the one who wears the pants. I wear the pants!” all while still maintaining her “hardcore” sound, you’ll wonder what’s real and what’s not.

But maybe she’s just doing what she wishes she could’ve done then. Her new stuff isn’t bad. Her fans will be satiated, and she already has plenty of radio play.

Hilary Duff is in the same situation. After leaving the Disney Channel and her “Lizzie McGuire” character behind, Duff had plenty of chart-toppers, all while being happy with her sugar-sweet pop sound. One could compare her singing style to R&B songstress Ashanti. Both aren’t blow-you-out-of-the-water singers, but they can carry a tune and sound nice.

With that said, Duff has never attempted to be something she isn’t. Just like Lavigne, Duff’s on her third album, Dignity. Like other artists today, including Gwen Stefani, Duff seems very inspired by ’80s music.

That sentiment can be seen with almost every track, but Dignity also reflects today’s diversity in music. There are strings accompanying some songs, while some tracks are bass-heavy. Although it isn’t on the album, no one should miss her remix of “With Love,” featuring rapper Slim Thug. I mean, it’s Duff and Slim Thug. Where did that come from?

After all of her previous work, Lavigne seems too big for such cotton candy rock. Duff is on a steady incline in age, and it shows in her new music. Neither artist is really above her competition, so while each camp may hate the other, they might be surprised at what the other’s up to these days.