I honestly kinda like when an artist has an officially selected, CD-length “greatest hits” release (as opposed to the Spotify “This is [artist]” playlist). Like, I wanted to listen to some Limp Bizkit this week, so I just went to their latest album and an old greatest hits release of theirs.
But we all have the capability of making our own greatest hits Playlists in like 30seconds. Unless you legit want the physical media for it
In the example I gave, I wasn’t familiar enough with more than a handful of specific songs, and wanted a manageable batch of hits, picked by the band, to take in. I guess I could’ve made a playlist based on a setlist, or asked around, or gone hunting for a playlist someone else made, or used the nearly 3 hr “This is Limp Bizkit” playlist on Spotify… but the simplicity of that formal “Greatest Hits” release was perfect for what I wanted. If I hadn’t kept up with Avril Lavigne over the years, and wanted an easier batch of songs to start with, I’d be very happy to have this new… glorified playlist or whatever. And yeah, CDs can still have sporadic utility, even if I’ve personally mostly moved on. Ended up getting Olivia Rodrigo’s GUTS when I was stuck using an old family car for a minute.
Always bummed that my favorite Avril song (“17”) is not one of her biggest. Should have been a monster smash.
That’s your literal #1 song of hers? I think it’s quite good, but I’m surprised it’d be potential ahead of some stuff from her first couple albums for you.
17 is definitely my favourite song from that album but that's easily my least favourite album of hers although I haven't listened to Head Above Water.
I feel like the stretch after The Best Damn Thing and before Love Sux has about an album’s worth of great songs spread amongst a few rather uneven releases. But, at least I didn’t come away from any of them empty handed.
It’s that one and “I’m With You” as a pretty tight 1-2, but “17” is one of those songs I just love more and more every time I hear it. Part of it is that it’s an all-time great running song, so it comes up a lot when I’m training for marathons. I’m also just a sucker for that kind of Martin Johnson hook. See also: Betty Who’s “Glory Days.”
I’d rank Lullaby third, actually. I like it more than The Best Damn Thing too. Self-titled is tough, because it has three songs I absolutely love, but it also has two totally dire duets that bring it way down, and most of the other stuff is pretty take or leave.
Maybe I should revisit Goodbye Lullaby sometime. I just remember, outside of those few really good singles, it missing the spark that makes Avril special to me. She can have fantastic ballads, but I need them to be alongside bops; the ratio went towards a “songwriter” vibe that didn’t feel like it leaned enough into her strengths.
That was my memory of this album as well, almost to a T. I revisited it last year and it had more bangers than I remembered…and the ballads were stronger than I thought, too.