When I was a kid I’d do a lot of driving with my mom. We went to this big box store about 25 minutes from the house, so there would be a lot of time listening to whatever she had in her iTunes library or, more often, whatever was playing on the radio. Those late 2000’s early 2010’s radio memories stick with me, my taste for Katy Perry and early Taylor Swift just won’t go away, no matter how hard I try. But if I were to pick one artist, even one album to perfectly encapsulate the era for me, it would be Avril Lavigne’s Let Go. But since I don’t own that album, Kelly Clarkson’s Breakaway takes the spot.
Often in the last year I’ve remembered brief snippets from songs of my youth, not remembering the name or artist. Imagine when I found out that Breakaway, Since U Been Gone, Because of U, Gone, and Behind These Hazel Eyes are all on the same album, and they’re the first 5 tracks no less! Those songs were my childhood! Listening to this album in order was like a pure adrenaline shot to the part of my brain that still craves Dunkaroos and Gripz, specifically the cheez-it ones. But unlike those delicious junk foods listening to this album doesn’t make me feel like crap afterward.
I think my favorite part isn’t the albums first 5 or 6 tracks, but it’s B side (which if you’re curious starts at Addicted on the cassette and vinyl releases.) I had never heard any of these songs, or at least I have no memory of them. So It’s like getting two albums in one! I get my nostalgia hit, and I get 6 new tracks that I get to look at with completely fresh eyes. The B side is pretty good, but I enjoy the A side more for the previously mentioned reasons of ‘I was 7 when I first heard it.’This album is easily accessible anywhere music can be found, and considering its popularity you can probably still find it at any record store or Goodwill. Give it a listen, even if you aren’t nostalgic for that era, whether because you’re too old or (shudder) too young. Like come on, 2008 wasn’t that long ago, right? Just… almost 16 years. Man, I’m getting old.
This review has been edited. Orignally, I incorrectly referred to the album Let Go by Avril Lavigne by the name "Complicated." Factchecking is important
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