Alanis Morissette

Such Pretty Forks in the Road

Morissette’s ninth studio album sees the singer-songwriter keeping one hand in her pocket.

The opening number, Smiling, was specially written for Morissette’s jukebox musical Jagged Little Pill, and deals with the facade we put on for others.

It’s typical of the rest of the album in that the listener walks a tightrope, never knowing whether the tone will veer towards self-deprecating vulnerability or scornful indifference.

Sometimes Morissette’s confessional style leads her to some alarming choices, such as the pitchy yodelling on Her.

The lead single Reasons I Drink, comes on all familiar in the first few bars, propelled by a great piano hook, but then we settle into a chorus that is anonymous, typical of an album that never quite risks soaring to the heights of Ironic or You Oughta Know.

6/10

Creeper

Sex, Death & The Infinite Void

Southampton’s Creeper were never a straightforward punk band, but the five-piece have left the genre behind on their second album.

Influences include Roy Orbison’s widescreen romance, and 1970s glam rock.

Creeper have turned the goth up to 11, starting with rain and thunder effects and Patricia Morrison, ex-sisters of Mercy and The Damned, intoning “for the devil almighty reigns” on the 46-second spoken word Hallelujah!

Despite the ominous song titles, Creeper don’t take themselves too seriously, and are not afraid to throw in the kitchen sink in their search for maximum impact.

They tour again in March and this release sounds tailor-made for stadiums, which with any justice they’ll be playing next summer. 9/10