by Caroline Sullivan

Lauper's infrequent releases remind us that, had circumstances been different in the early eighties, it would be her rather than erst-while rival Madonna starring in Evita. Sisters Of Avalon has the advantage of being one of her better albums, as well as her most varied. Previous outings were marred by her habit of lunging at every note as if she were wrestling it, something she's kept in check this time. She's no leSs than sultry on the key-board tinkling 'Say A Prayer', and believably vicious on the anti-drug hard-rocker 'Love To Hate'. And who else could endow the word 'bullshit' with such fervour while denouncing US politics on 'You Don't Know' ?

Score: 3 out of 5