Head Above Water

Avril Lavigne - Head Above Water
Critic Score
Based on 13 reviews
2019 Ratings: #797 / 805
User Score
Based on 625 ratings
2019 Rank: #900
Liked by 18 people
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CRITIC REVIEWS

80
AllMusic

Considering that half-decade gap and all the personal turmoil the singer endured, it scans that Head Above Water unveils a different Avril Lavigne, one who proudly bears her scars and is eager to share her journey.

70
Clash

Overall, ‘Head Above Water’ is a collection of eclectic tracks and done well this could make for an element of surprise that keeps your ears perked in anticipation. Here, however, it makes for sonic inconsistencies that leaves you dissatisfied, wanting the bigger and better things that Avril is definitely capable of.

60
NME

‘Head Above Water’ isn’t her most banging album, but it is a deeply honest one that sounds a lot like growing up gracefully.

60
Exclaim!

Head Above Water feels like the most honest representation of Lavigne since her debut.

60
The Independent

Lavigne might not have found a musical identity that truly becomes her, but Head Above Water is an effective, and occasionally affecting, album.

55
Pitchfork

Though an interesting showcase of her powerful and newfound voice, the Canadian pop star’s comeback too often lapses into the rote, the stale, or the uninspired.

50
Rolling Stone

You hate to tell someone to stay distraught, but turmoil really suits her.

44
Sputnikmusic

The whole “maturity” shtick feels entirely disingenuous when Lavigne can’t muster anything better than the drivel you just read, and when she continues to relapse by agreeing to allow songs as abhorrently juvenile as ‘Dumb Blonde’ to appear on her records.

40
The Skinny

An unfortunate, pretty bog-standard collection of pop songs fails to help Avril Lavigne stay afloat on her first record in five years.

40
The Guardian

The end result isn’t bad, but it is uneven. For all the talk of Lavigne finally writing her life and telling her story it’s hard not to come away thinking that her heart lies more with the power ballads than the lunges for commercial contemporaneity.

40
NOW Magazine

With much remorse, I have to say our pop punk princess plays it painfully safe. She’s become her own worst nightmare – boring.

40
The Arts Desk
One strong song, but elsewhere the sound doesn't seem to have evolved.
40
Evening Standard
Her often overwrought, sentimental sixth album makes pop-punk anthem Sk8er Boi seem profound in comparison.
MezernikSu
45

Listening to this album is like being in a relationship, where you know u felt something long time ago, so u try rlly hard to fall in love again, but it's just not happening.

Missing_Lyriks
45

I’m sorry… the majority of it is so bland 😭

“I tried to scream… But Avril Lavigne forcefully drowned me with her very boring album which is an attempt at reinventing herself because she’s BASIC” - Sillie Pielick

ColinAndrews
31

I just really didn't like this album at all, and maybe that's due to my lack of affinity with Avril, but i really don't think it is. There is just such a blatant tonal inconsistency on this project, even more so than thank u, next. This album views itself as so incredibly self important, when the lyrics never dive deeper than slightly below the surface.

Also, the messages that Avril sends on multiple tracks conflict with each other.. and I don't know how she's going to put down Barbies... on a ... read more

LeanyMcMeany
50

Avril Lavigne really hits rock bottom here. Even though this is a lot more honest, and in tune with what she is as a person, it's so jarring compared to her other bodies of work and lacks the proper interest. This is a massive lowlight in the eyes of many and for one I agree.

serjtankian
40

serj tankian disapproved

HonestMusicNerd
0

By far the worst thing she's ever done.

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Track List

1Head Above Water
3:40
84
2Birdie
3:35
76
3I Fell in Love with the Devil
4:15
76
4Tell Me It's Over
3:08
71
5Dumb Blonde
3:34
45
6It Was in Me
3:43
72
7Souvenir
2:57
58
8Crush
3:33
58
9Goddess
3:41
45
10Bigger Wow
2:55
45
11Love Me Insane
3:00
43
12Warrior
3:45
61
Total Length: 41 minutes
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Added on: December 7, 2018