[ALBUM THREAD] The Head Above Water Thread

She's naked with little make up. Yeah it's not cute but it's about the rawness and simplicity of the album, it's something she's never done before and I'm seeing it positively.

I wonder if they'll fix this

So the Chinese fan club had it completely correct?! WTH... somehow I find that kinda funny.

I'm still not a fan of the album cover, still find Avril's pose and expression to look kind of uncomfortable, still think her body looks kind of small, I'm still missing half of her right arm (might just be shadows, though), and it overall still seems too dark for my taste. But I think I am slowly starting to get used to it. Maybe I just have to get over this slight shock; after all, I'd expected something quite different, something very similar to the HAW promo pictures. And it does look better in HQ.

As for the song titles, as I already wrote yesterday, I'd hoped for at least one or two songs more, but 12 is fine, too. Hell, even 10 would be fine. Quality over quantity. Most of the song titles sound interesting. "Goddess" gives me some jazzy diva vibes, not sure if I might like that. But I might be completely mistaken, of course...

"Bigger Wow" - I really hoped they'd give that song an alternative title. It just sounds so dumb, worse than "Hello Kitty". I mean, honestly, if I wasn't a fan, didn't know much about Avril except for the whole mf princess stuff, and then see she has a new song called "Bigger Wow", my first thought would be "how am I supposed to take her seriously with a song like that?" But, well, I said it before, never judge a song by its title. For all I know, "Bigger Wow" might end up being my favourite song. And maybe, when you hear those words in context with the rest of the lyrics, it won't sound so stupid anymore.

"Love Me Insane" is probably gonna be one of these typical pop love songs I'll find it hard to connect with. Could imagine that one to be kinda cheesy.

All the other titles aren't new to us - they all sound very promising and interesting. I'm so glad they kept "Dumb Blonde" and "I Fell In Love With The Devil". "Birdie" and "Souvenir" sound very interesting, too. Really looking forward to hearing them.

"Crush" gives me huge "Smile" vibes, not necessarily sound-wise, but lyric-wise.

"It Was In Me" and "Warrior" are surely gonna be about her battle with Lyme. I guess the former will be some kind of slow, dark piano ballad. And I really, really, really hope that "Warrior" won't be some cheesy, slow ballad, but something with a powerful march to it. A bit like "Two Pieces" by Demi Lovato or "Try" by P!nk (only talking about sound here, not lyrics).

Yeah, overall, my first impression was a bit meh, I was a little shocked by that album cover and "only" 12 tracks and "Bigger Wow". But giving myself a moment or two to realize what I'd just read and seen, I'm mostly happy about what we got. The song titles sound interesting. The album cover is interesting (really needs getting used to, still not sure if I like it or not, but it's interesting either way). Avril is finally back! Next Wednesday we'll be able to preorder the album and then we'll surely know the exact release date. I can hardly believe that after all this waiting, we're finally so close.

EDIT: I forgot to mention: there don't seem to be any feats, and I'm glad about that. With feats, there's just always the chance that the featured artist is someone you simply don't like and that can ruin an entire song, e.g. for me "Let Me Go". I simply can't stand Chad's scratchy voice.

I like it, the album cover. I mean it's kind of in keeping with the other artwork for the singles covers. Doesn't really matter very much, it's the music that really matters.

So, finally it's official. At first I was "meh", but now l like it a little bit. The concept is good, BUT I think could've been executed a little bit better; not too keen on Avril "hiding" behind her guitar. There seems to be a, let's say, "underwhelming" photoshop work in some areas of her body, but the black and white theme is nice and is consistent with the teasers she's given us these last few years. The title is good as well, seems appropiate with the concept of the album and the first single.

About the tracklist, I think 12 songs is definitely too short after 5 years and so many delays. I hope eventually there's a deluxe edition, or a re-edition (a la Blink-182) where she adds a few more songs, and not just some acoustic version of the singles. Or perhaps an EP. Especially if the quality of those 12 songs isn't that good and she pulls another AL mess (I don't think that'll happen though).

Also, I think it's good that the pre-order will be the same day than the new single release, we won't have to wait too long to see the album release date, unless they give the pro-order without a set date. Anyway, just a few days... 

Guys, this cover is a fucking mess. So poorly photoshopped I can't believe it didn't go to revision after making it. I'm surprised how fucking lousy her team is. You can actually see the BRUSH STROKES on her leg and on her forehead.

Look at the guitar too.
I knew it's gonna turn out like this.