Live at Montreux 2012

Alanis Morissette hasn't racked up a lot of live releases over the years, which makes 2013's Live at Montreux 2012 somewhat noteworthy. Discounting such oddities as the 2002 home video Music in High Places, this is Alanis' first official live album since 1999's Alanis Unplugged and much has changed in the ensuing 13 years. Back in 1999, she was one of the biggest pop stars on the planet. In 2012, she's a survivor and an old pro, easily adjusting the keys of the song to fit her voice, knowing how to sequence her set so the fan favorites -- a huge chunk of Jagged Little Pill is here -- are threaded between the new songs. The band is big but not too powerful, the performance polished without being overly slick. There may be no surprises, as another titan of the late '90s once sang, but it's a satisfying performance, one that should please the fans who have been waiting years for a live souvenir. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine