Self-professed skate punk Avril Lavigne sings that she'd "rather be anything but ordinary" on her debut. While the fact that she had a record deal by the age of 16 separates her from the pack, too often Let Go's lyrical shortcomings drag the teenager's musically impressive recording entrée into the realm of the typical. The catchy choruses of Go are substantial, though, thanks to Lavigne's riff-driven melodies and powerful vocals, which at times adopt the unorthodox intonation quirks of fellow Canadian Alanis Morrissette. The nuanced, dynamic "Losing Grip," "My World" (which perfectly captures the ennui of suburbia), and the buoyant power-pop blast "Sk8er Boi" are the collection's highlights. But Lavigne's honest yet awkward words weigh down the likes of "Mobile," "I'm with You," and "Naked." "Nobody's Fool," which displays her Pink-like take-me-as-I-am credo, hints that someday Lavigne's lyrics will match the strength of her music. --Annie Zaleski

We live in an age when albums roll off of a production line. So what makes newcomer Avril’s music different? Well nothing, it's still classic pop queen record label stuff but at least Avril bothered to have a unique sound and style. And that is really what makes Let Go such a breath of fresh air.

It's young and it’s packed full of energy with loads of guitar music, hey if it wasn’t so pop vocalist it could even be verging on punk. Still, enough with these crazy metaphors, Let Go is a good album. It has the “you just know they are going to be classics” tracks such as Complicated and Sk8ter Boi (spelling these days, not like in our day) and some slightly more hidden gems too much to ask and unwanted.

It has a bit of an unstable to feel for it – there are some good tracks in it and there are some bad tracks at it. It’s not totally at extremes but then only a slither of albums ever are. Scores ok on stickyness though, there are numerous tracks that you will end up getting stuck on your head, no doubt some you already have from radio play.

If you’re a rock fan then you may or may not like this album. – it’s a pop album. But it’s a good pop album and it’s by no means at the bubblegum steps end of things that I am sure most us want to keep away from. In my opinion, it is a good album, get it if you happen to be making some impulse purchases.