Avril Lavigne's third album, entitled The Best Damn Thing, is a stark contrast from her last album, Under My Skin, which was heralded as Lavigne's more established follow-up to her best-selling debut album, Let Go. The Best Damn Thing has anthems for young women to tell their feelings, without excuse or remorse. Lavigne lays it all on the line and does it with her signature charisma.

"Girlfriend" was the first single off the album and the spunky video is on high rotation on MTV and VH1. In it, Lavigne is singing to the object of her affection, how much she detests his sweetheart and wishes to replace her. Lavigne follows the twosome around, taunting the girlfriend while flirting with the guy, as she blasts lyrics like, "Hey hey you you, I don't like your girlfriend. No way no way, I think you need a new one. Hey hey you you. I can be your girlfriend. Hey you you. I know that you like me. No way no way, no it's not a secret. Hey you you, I want to be your girlfriend. You're so fine I want you mine, you so delicious. I think about you all the time, your so addictive/She's like so whatever, you can do so much better, I think we should get together now and that's what everyone's talkin' 'bout." The throbbing drum work from Kenny Aronoff, Josh Freese, Stevo, Travis Barker, Abe Laboriel, Jr., and Steven Wolf is infectious; along with the enthusiastic guitar play that fills the chorus from Tim Pierce, Butch Walker, Greg Suran, Lukasz "Doctor Luke" Gottwald and Lavigne's husband and Sum 41 frontman, Deryck Whibley. This song will implant itself in listeners' minds so much so that if they see someone they like, but they are already taken, they might start tooting this song to make their intentions crystal clear.

On "I Can Do Better," Lavigne offers up another tell-it-like-it-is song to young girls. In this song, she expresses how she and others don't have to settle for a relationship that isn't mutually beneficial, with lyrics like, "I shouldn't give a damn what you say to me. I don't really care what you think of me. Cuz either way you're gonna think what you believe. There's nothin' you can say that would hurt me. I'm better off without you anyway. I thought it would be hard but I'm okay. I don't need you if you're gonna be that way. Cuz with me it's all or nothin'/I'm sick of this s*it and don't ask why." The drumming from Aronoff, Freese, Stevo, Barker, Laboriel, Jr. and Wolf is more pronounced on this track, possibly signaling to listeners that Lavigne means business. Mixed in is percussion work from Walker which is muffled, but present. In addition, the bass play from Paul Bushnell, Barker, Chris Chaney, Whibley and Gottwald adds an edgy sound to the song.

The title track has Lavigne stating her animosity for certain actions by the opposite sex, and that they should be grateful for her presence, with lyrics like, "I hate it when a guy doesn't get the door, even though I told him yesterday and the day before. I hate when a guy doesn't get the tab, and I have to pull my money out and that looks bad. Then all the hopes and all the dreams/When do you think they will finally see/Like it or not, even though she's a lot like me, but not the same...I'm a drama queen. I'm the best damn thing that your eyes have ever seen." There is intermittent keyboard play from Walker and Dan Chace, along with the requisite guitar work from Pierce, Walker, Suran, Gottwald and Whibley, as well as the rhythmic drumming from Aronoff, Freese, Stevo, Barker, Laboriel, Jr. and Wolf, which accompanies Lavigne's strong message.

"Innocence" is a sharp departure from the previous tracks. The beat is slower and Lavigne's voice isn't shooting diatribes of contempt. It begins with piano play from Jamie Muhoberac and Gottwald that brings a sensitive tone to the song. Lavigne goes on about purity, with lyrics like, "Why can't I foresee that everything is okay? The first time in my life and now it's so finally slowin' down and I look around and I'm amazed. I think about the little things that make life great, I wouldn't change a thing about it, this is the best feeling. This innocence is brilliant, I hope that it'll stay, this moment is perfect, please don't go away. I need you now and I'll hold on to it. Don't you let it pass you by." Lavigne's voice echoes on this song and it really shows off her vocal range.

The Best Damn Thing, from Avril Lavigne, has a mixture of fun-loving songs that one can blast in the car and others that show her sentimental side. Add in the fact that Whibley produced some of the tracks, and The Best Damn Thing you can do is pick up this album.