THE 2002 debut of Avril Lavigne was a revelation - the perfect artist at the perfect moment.

The anti-Britney boasted credibility, and within two months, it seemed every teenage girl was sporting the regulation skater clothes and overheavy eye make-up.

But there was more to Lavigne than spot-on marketing. Tracks such as Complicated and I'm With You grabbed at you, demanded a listen. Two years on, and Lavigne's sound is maturing.

The subject matter is, too - moving from the wrestling with identity to the shrapnel of relationships. Perhaps the hooks aren't as instantly catchy, but there is a greater depth here now and a stronger performer.

Don't Tell Me is a breath of fresh air - a song about not having sex, how common are those in the charts? - while I Always Get What I Want is like a young Joan Jett in action. This may be puppy-dog punk, but when it's as good as this, who cares?

Updated: 08:44 Thursday, June 03, 2004