Credit: Getty / Twitter: Avril Lavigne
Avril’s first record in three years is finally here – and we have been so excited for the queen of pop punk to return!
Love Sux marks the Canadian singer’s return to the edgy punk sound that made her famous over 20 years ago, when she first burst onto the scene with ‘Complicated’, and the iconic track ‘Sk8er Boi’.
After her debut album ‘Let Go’, she went on to conquer charts with ‘Under My Skin’, ‘The Best Damn Thing’ and ‘Goodbye Lullaby’ that did sell millions across the world, but didn’t have the same impact as her first skate-punk outing.
After dabbling in a more pop sound, and even trying out some Japanese-inspired Pop for her self-titled fifth album, her sixth record ‘Head Above Water’ sampled a more Christian rock sound. She told Entertainment Weekly at the time that it harkened back to her ‘church and musical theatre background’.
After a Lyme Disease diagnosis and the coronavirus pandemic got in the way of her touring and recording ambitions, she announced she was back in business in November 2021.
Teaming up with the likes of Blackbear, Machine Gun Kelly and Blink-182’s Mark Hoppus, Avril is well-equipped for her big return to the music scene.
On the day of the big release – here are five things you need to know about Love Sux and Avril’s big return to music.
1. For her new music, she signed to fellow punk rock royalty Travis Barker’s label
It would only be right that Avril’s return to the pop punk scene is guided by the drummer of one of the biggest punk bands of all time – Blink-182’s Travis Barker.
Travis runs DTA Records, and the music veteran took the singer under his wing to recreate the sound fans know and love.
Not only that, but Blink-182’s Mark Hoppus even jumped on one of her tracks – ‘All I Wanted’.
She joined Hoppus on his Apple Music Hits show, After School Radio back in January, and said: “I was really excited to work with you. I mean, to be honest, you’re one of my favourite artists.”
Lavigne continued: “[1997 Blink album] ‘Dude Ranch’ and ‘Enema Of The State’ [1999]. Those were the records I was listening to in high school, and as a teenager and I feel like they were really impactful on me as I was coming into my own musical identity.”
2. Avril described Love Sux as a ‘love letter to women’
If you need a quick description about what Love Sux means to the singer, this is a pretty good way to start.
Having spent years traversing different varieties of pop, which wasn’t always her choice, Avril wanted to remain true to herself, and broadcast the importance of keeping yourself happy.
In the interview with Entertainment Weekly, the eight time Grammy nominee said: “My message is, know who you are and trust who you are. A lot of these songs are about having the strength to walk away if someone doesn’t see that.
“I wanted to make sure I wrote music that people could relate to. It’s about valuing yourself and knowing you’re enough. It’s really a love letter to women.”
On what this new record sounds like, Avril explained: “It’s fast. It’s fun. It’s just pure rock & roll from front to back.
“There’s a lot of reflecting upon different relationships that I have gone through and where I’m at, and even though there’s songs about past love experiences that didn’t work out, I’m in such a good place in my life that it’s still just fun and feisty and light.”
3. Heartache features heavily on the album because Avril was ‘on a break from men’
Avril has previously been coy about her past relationships, having been married to Sum 41’s Deryck Whibley and Nickelback’s Chad Kroeger.
But she goes all out in Love Sux it seems, with tracks titled Bois Lie, F.U and Break Of A Heartache, and there’s a very good reason why.
She recently explained to People Magazine that after a particularly bad breakup, she swore off relationships in 2020.
Avril said: “I was like, ‘I need a break from men. Then two days later that all went out the window!” referring to her current relationship with rapper Mod Sun.
She continued: “I was getting out of a big relationship, and for the first time in my life, I thought I should probably be single.
“I got together with [Mod Sun] to write a song. We just clicked. I was like, ‘Should you be doing this?’ It was fun and exciting, and I decided, ‘F*** it. Life’s short.’ I’m a Libra. I love love.”
4. Good signs come in early! Bite Me became Avril’s only single to land in the Billboard global 200, and Love It When You Hate Me is her highest UK chart entry since 2013
If the early single releases were anything to go by, Avril won’t have to worry too much about hitting the charts with Love Sux.
Her big return with lead single Bite Me ending up being the biggest single for Avril in years, and stateside, it became Avril’s only track to chart on the Billboard Global 200.
In even better news, her second single from Love Sux, Love It When You Hate Me, is currently at number 40 on the Official Singles Chart Top 100, which is her highest charting song since her 2013 track ‘Here’s To Never Growing Up’.
Pop punk chart success is clearly on Avril’s mind too, as she recently praised newbie Olivia Rodrigo for bringing rock back to the charts with the success of her debut album, Sour.
Good 4 U, her second Number 1 single from Sour, has been the longest-running rock song at the top spot of the Official Singles Chart since Evanescence’s Bring Me To Life in 2003.
In her speech, Avril said: “This year we were introduced to a new artist whose debut album marked a major return for rock ‘n’ roll in the charts.
“From Driver’s License to Good 4 You’ to ‘Deja Vu, Olivia’s singles from her album ‘Sour’ are part of the collective psyche of 2021, and she wrote every single one of them.”
5. Love Sux already has some VERY famous fans
The album has only just come out today, and yet there are already some out there who are loving Avril’s return.
Fellow Canadian music icon Shania Twain recently made sure to praise Avril on the new record, and for breaking into a very male-dominated genre too.
While chatting on the ‘Home Now Radio’ podcast on Apple Music Hits, as reported by ET Canada, Shania told Avril she ‘nailed [the album] lyrically’, and that Love Sux ‘totally kicks a** in the attitude department.’ What a compliment from Shania herself!
Going on to talk about Avril’s impact, Shania said: “I think it’s just really unique that in a very male-centric genre, you are, I mean, the queen of pop punk.”
It turns out that the Complicated singer has performed with Shania before, but long before ‘queen of pop punk’ stage.
Avril explained: “I was 14. I was in a tiny little town in Canada and we heard an opportunity on the radio station to sing with you, on the “Come On Over” tour. ‘Win a chance to sing with Shania on stage’ and I happened to win that.
“I remember going back to high school and everyone’s like, ‘You sang with Shania Twain on stage.’ Everyone knew who I was and that was so helpful for me, to helping me get discovered.”
Now you’re all clued up on Avril’s comeback, go ahead and listen to Love Sux, out now.
