Maturity already proven to be Avril Lavigne’s bugaboo way back in 2004 when she recorded her sophomore set, Under My Skin, the former mall punk once again returns to reflection for her fourth album, 2011’s Goodbye Lullaby. The occasion for introspection is Lavigne’s divorce from Sum 41 singer Deryck Whibley, who has some presence as a producer a...

Maturity already proven to be Avril Lavigne’s bugaboo way back in 2004 when she recorded her sophomore set, Under My Skin, the former mall punk once again returns to reflection for her fourth album, 2011’s Goodbye Lullaby. The occasion for introspection is Lavigne’s divorce from Sum 41 singer Deryck Whibley, who has some presence as a producer and phantom on Goodbye Lullaby, sometimes even standing at the helm for a lovelorn, regretful tune. Lavigne has songwriting credits on every cut here, bearing sole responsibility for half of the tunes. Also onboard are Max Martin productions that he co-wrote, including first single “What the Hell,” which touches upon Avril’s irrepressible brattiness. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rovi