Alanis Morissette

Alanis Morisette's latest album, Flavors of Entanglement, is the best work she's put out since her second record, Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie (which I prefer to her more famous debut album). I think the work with producer Guy Sigsworth has energized Morisette's sound, taking her away from the very adult contemporary sound of her last efforts. Overall, this album is just much more interesting and exciting (and pleasing to the ear) than anything Alanis has done lately.

That being said, I think the album loses steam after a strong opening. The lead song, "Citizen of the Planet" pumps along with a great beat and is a great way to start the record. The lead single, "Underneath," comes next. I can see why this was chosen to introduce Flavors .. it's a great song with a great, heartbeat-esque sound that carries it along. "Versions of Violence" also sticks out for me.

The more energized songs here are the best. The slower songs kind of lose steam and drag on a bit ... but, overall, the cd is good and made me excited about Alanis Morisette once again. Oh, and the special edition with the extra tracks is worth getting .. while I wasn't blown away by any of them, I felt you were getting more for your money with the added tracks.

Alanis is the bomb, but this album bombs. Her voice is completely buried by an atrociously arranged, synthetic beat. It's sounds like Alanis was asked to create the soundtrack to a Mario Bros game--Super Morisette Brothers. As for the title, Flavors of Entanglement? The only flavor here is cotton candy. Kate Perry's album feels more real, and that's really saying something.

Happy with the product, howvever original shipment was lost in transit and it took three times as long to recieve it as it should of.

Well, this album definitely did not meet my expectations. "Jagged Little Pill" in my opinion is still undoubtedly her best album ever. Some songs on this album fit in the electronica genre. I think she should stick to the rock genre. I guess this album would appeal to a new group of fans and lose some of her old ones. The good songs on this that are worth a few more listens are:

4. Versions Of Violence
5. Not As We
7. Moratorium
8. Tapes

Love the album cover though....

As an accomplished orchestral performer with graduate degrees in music performance, I have always been impressed with Alanis' unique approach to popular music.

It's my personal belief that she is one of the few entertainers in popular music who actually sounds like a musician:) She obviously realizes that with the simpler fundamentals of popular music, she has less expressive musical devices to work with. It is most impressive that she is able to take this limited palette of devices and accomplish so much, in terms of musical expression.

She has an excellent command (and understanding) of the chord progressions, and uses them to her full advantage. It's really nice to hear someone in popular music understand what's she's doing musically, at all times. In my opinion, this is the greatest popular music achievement in a long time. It would be a shame if she didn't win a grammy....I wish that popular music wasn't judged almost solely on the basis of whether it's fun on not.
-Eric

As I reflect on this time in my life when the album was written about what I was going through, it is amazing how well "God" put the writing together. The pain is there, but more importantly it is a reminder of good times that make the pain worthwhile! I was outed at 15 to a religous set of parents and things were shakey. My youth pastor was my best friend that I trusted more than anything and told me it would go no further. It's also amazing how it ties in with the "Evanescence" labeled albums that were left for me by someone who the person who stole it thought was dead and is not! The two of them tie in...one about the harm caused when the media sexually exploited me to re-image Madonna from when I was 5 as an update as a sexually active young person! "Evanescence" is about the harm I am being put through while they try to kill me because of their previous crime. Bring me to life was actually a plea to PUT THEM TO DEATH! Please pray for the country and especially more specifically for me as we are all being victimized but me at a much larger level by these people and the horrible hatred and harm, in incapeable hands that are not intelligent enough to raise a child let alone capeable of making sure the country is in good hands! We all have our reasons to be here, we all have a thing or two to learn, we all need something to cling to...hopefully we will cling to the right things! They have implanted deadly telepathic communication technology in me discussed in the song "This Grudge" on a later album that discusses them exploiting me from the age of 11. I am dying from crime and the government placed by these people are siding with the crime in over 300 contacts! Pray that on October 28th JUSTICE will finally start being served! I am going to local court to start my way to the federal government! GW Bush (genital warts), Condy looks like Rice (Condyloma is the medical term for Genital Warts) and my boyfriends Dick were removed from my butt when they implanted the technology, they raped me at 18 to devalidate the sexual exploitation of me at 11. During that procedure they had me raped again and tried giving me a deadly disease according to the reports, but failed! PRAY HARD THAT GOD WILL SAVE US FROM THE RELIGON AND THE HORRID PEOPLE IN IT AS A COUNTRY! PRAY THAT SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE WILL BE UPHELD AND THAT THESE HORRID PEOPLE KILLING IRAQI'S IN THE NAME OF RELIGON WILL BE BROUGHT TO JUSTICE. GW Bush has admitted in the media (you can find it on youtube) that Iraq had NOTHING to do with 9-11 and that they have no weapons of mass destruction...however the group of religous crap trying to kill me do have a weapon of mass destruction etc! PRAY AS A NON-RELIGOUS PERSON THAT THE CREATOR OF THE WORLD WILL WAKE UP AND SAVE US!

Just a great CD. The first time I heard "You Oughta Know" I was like wow who is this angry chick. From the summer of '95 through the better part of '96 this CD pumped out hit after hit. "Hand in My Pocket", "Ironic", "Head Over Feet", on and on. Every song on here though is great not just the hits. This is one of those CDs when I put it in I'm transported back to another time in my life. That is what I use as criteria for a great album. If it conjures up feelings and thoughts of when you first heard it. "Hand in Pocket" was the one I really identified with back then. Being in my early/mid '20s at the time and in the middle of mass confusion with what to do with my life and being in my first real adult relationship. Alot of good stuff on here. Unfortunately Alanis has not come close to this since but she'll always have this feather in her cap.

I actually bought this CD twice. That's how much I love it. It seems after she made this CD, she became "one" with the universe and is full of love. I don't like any of her other music. This CD shows how the "little people" get walked on. It is full of anger and frustration and how she had to fight to get noticed. I highly recommend it.

This album, "Jagged Little Pill", is the best that Alanis has put out to date. In this CD she is a girly version of Mike Muir a.k.a. Cyco Miko, pissed off and looking for confrontation. Gotta love the 'Cross eye'd bear' song, track number 2 titled "You oughta know"; One of her best songs ever! Over all a very relaxing listening album, like "Agent Orange", or "Devo".

It's a good CD, however the one I bought was all scratched up and none of the songs played all the way through without skipping.

If you are a director or producer or an important person looking for someone to create the music for your movie project, I have found the man! Harry Gregson-Williams is definatey someone you should check into! He did an excellent job on "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" and "Prince Caspian" scores. But this collection has to be my favorite!
-"The Blitz, 1940" shows just how much that war affected people's lives and their children. When I listen to that song, in my mind I can see people sitting around a table arguing and then all of a sudden a war breaks out and tension builds and it ends up affecting people. And it added great drama to the beginning portion of the movie.
-"Lucy Meets Mr. Tumnus" is a great song. For a movie, you have to have some background noise to set the mood, and if any music could be added to the Narnian atmosphere, it would have to be this. It had the nice mysterious sounds about it, and it made one think, "This is actually Narnia". It had curiosity, friendliness, mystery, and something that said this land is peaceful. And it fit the snow-covered trees in the background.
-"A Narnian Lullaby" is just an awesome song and I think Harry Gregson-Williams did a great job on this one also. Along with the roaring fire and a mysterious mood made it great. And with all the different instruments used in it, it was like a magic took over Mr. Tumnus' flute and started adding it's own Narnian effects to try to get Lucy to fall to sleep.
-When I hear "To Aslan's Camp", I immediately think of a royal being, one that deserves respect. It sounds so regal. And definately reminds me of Aslan, or course.
-"The Battle" has this mood about it that seperates this battle from "The Blitz, 1940". In "The Blitz", you can almost imagine the weapons in it, but in "The Battle" you can hear that this battle is for a good purpose and people are really into it and that both sides are out to win, you can almost hear the swords clashing! And it shows that Narnia is tired of freezing to death and being turned to stone. They need Aslan!
-"Only the Beginning" again has the curiosity, the royal-ness (if that's a word), and mystery, and peacefulness of Narnia. The Narnian prophecy has been fulfilled and all 4 throned are filled! You can hear the celebration of a world without a dictatorship and a world that's finally under a good leadership! You can almost see them hug Aslan and thank him and be thankful for a new leadership!
Harry Gregson-Williams did an awesome job on this soundtrack, and I hope he will be available for all of the future "The Chronicles of Narnia" movies. Thank you for what you did and the time you spent making these scores!

Has all the songs from the movie except the one they play when the kids are playing hide and seek, just before Lucy discovers the wardrobe. All the rest of the songs are good.

I am thrilled with the soundtrack! The music is beautiful and emotional. I would recommend this CD to everyone.

I'd say that the most of the soundtrack is really good except for the 4 songs at the end. Not too bad overall.

This score isn't Gregson-Williams' best work but it is fantastic nonetheless. The whole score is beautifully created and brought to life. The themes used are used often but certainly not overused. In fact, you almost want to here them again. Gregson-Williams worked hard for Mr Tumnus and Lucy's them and I say it's spot on! I love the soft, homey feel of their theme. However, one of the best tracks on there is 'The Battle' The orchestrations for that piece brings out the theme beautifully!

The Collection by Alanis Morissette spans the singer/songwriters career. Some great tracks are here from her Jagged Little Pill, Infatuation Junkie, Under Rug Swept, and So-Called Chaos. There is a cover of the Seal classic, Crazy. If you are an Alanis nut like me, I highly recommend this gem, enjoy!!

This is a good collection of all of her music to date. No hits seem to be missing on this one.

The reason I am giving this one star is because the hit, huge hit if I might add "All I Really Want" was left off. I remember buying this in the 90's and that song was all over the radio. It's also a great song. I don't understand why in the world they left it off. It's her best song. It's funny how you can go to i-tunes and type in Jagged Little Pill and all the kids download the five singles from this album, but not "All I Really Want" showing you they weren't around at the time to see how big that song was. They only look at this collection and take the five songs from Jagged Little Pill and download them.

OK now, let's be honest. Mention Alanis Morissette and most people think of one thing: "Jagged Little Pill". I was the same way. Alright, maybe throw in "Uninvited". I was never able to get interested in any of her other music. But, sometimes things sound better years later than they did when they were new. Maybe we mature, or become more open-minded. Maybe the music itself acquires a different "aura" when experienced as a thing of the past. Whatever the reason, I believe that I respect Alanis more now than I did even at the height of the popularity of "Jagged". After re-hearing the "Jagged" tracks ("You Oughta Know", "Hand In My Pocket", "Ironic", "You Learn" and "Head Over Feet", all of which sound excellent thanks to the remastered sound) and studying the ones I hadn't paid attention to before, I've come to regard her as the iconic philosopher of Gen X. And, if anyone still harbors doubts that her music rocks, let him or her listen to this entire collection, and then we'll talk.

Since the "Jagged" tracks are pretty familiar to all, I will concentrate on those that came later. "Thank You" is a song about healing and rationality. As Alanis herself has admitted, she went through a difficult period of chaos and suffocation during the "Jagged Little Pill" frenzy. In this song, she has emerged from that trauma, and she is serenely giving thanks to every person, place and thing that helped her through the dark period back into the light. In "Eight Easy Steps", which has a rocking Eastern ("Thank you, India") vibe, she points out the common but seemingly insoluble problems we all face. Example: "How to keep smiling when you're thinking about killing yourself?" "Everything" is pure Alanis lyrically, but musically it could be a U2 ballad. Her cover of Seal's 1991 hit "Crazy" follows his pretty closely and rocks the same. In "Simple Together", Alanis sings sweetly about the difficulties and disappointments in relationships, backed by piano and beautiful strings; in a similar vein, she asks for unconditional acceptance in "That I Would Be Good". "Sister Blister" burns up the place like "Crazy" does, while Alanis sings about women who, while advocating on one hand "sisterhood", still trample each other down to please men. "Still", from the film "Dogma", reveals more Eastern influence musically while the lyrics seem to indicate that God is providing a self-description, which would make sense because Alanis plays the part of God in the film. The spiritual feeling continues in "Uninvited". This, one of my favorite tracks, is beautiful in its majestic, almost religious solemnity, one of the most successfully serious tracks I have ever heard by any artist.

The collection closes with "Hand In My Pocket", which probably touches me more personally than any other Alanis track. The video was played constantly on VH1 at the time when my father contracted an illness from which he didn't recover, so I will always associate that song, as well as Madonna's "Take A Bow" and the Stones' "Out of Tears", with that time, when I had a problem that, sadly, I could not fix.

The collecton is a good album, in fact I prefer it over "Jagged Little Pill." I will argue though with those who say that Alanis is a great or talented singer, she isn't. She can't hold a note for any length without it going sour; she can't sing a slow song without sounding shrill; she is terrible on the flute (which she does play on occasion.) I am not the only person who recognizes her limited vocal talent--which is to sing angry and make her point heartfelt. Lucky for her, her singing style mostly masks her clumsiness.

I still recommend this album, however, because Alanis is fresh and original. Her lyrics are oddly, even uncomfortably candid and yet mesmerizing, (even is she is not a poetic talent). This woman has a strange take on things and it comes across to the listener and gives them a window into to her weird world. Her talent is HER...her unpredictable and thoroughly self-centered thoughts...and her ability to capture them so nakedly in music.

And I will make another point: I do not believe that any other singer could sing these raw lyrics with the passion and honesty of Alanis. On anyone else these lyrics would seem a ridiculous joke. She is unique, not just in having such thoughts, but in boldy turning them into lyrics.

As an avid Alanis fan since '91, I own each and every one of her albums (the original disc, not digital copies), and I have memorized just about every track she's ever recorded. LOL (I'm not psychotic I promise) And I can tell you, based on my thorough familiarity with Alanis' recording career, that Flavors of Entanglement is neck-in-neck with Jagged Little Pill. Until now, she has never been able to re-create that magic she sparked with JLP. She now is exploring different avenues of synthesizers, drum machines, heavy-bass dance tracks, etc., and she masters it effortlessly. It's as if the lyrics are like a 'Jagged Little Pill pt. 2' and the music is just a brilliant orchestra of color set to a modern sound. She opens up on songs like 'Tapes', 'Not As We', and 'Madness', and we come to learn why we love her so much! It's really a quite magnificent record, and I am so proud of her! GET IT IF YOU DON'T HAVE IT! :-)

Thats all I can say. Oh My Gosh. Ok so I must admit JLP is and will always be One of my top 5 albums of all time. I love Alanis. I was thrown off by the pop/electronica beats everyone was talking about. Well I bought the album anyway just to complete my Alanis collection. there are a few popish songs on the albulm but they are still great. The album in itsself is AWESOME!!!!!! This is right up there with JLP. I love every song on this album. ITs really only the two or 3 songs that are (clubish) if you will. The whole album takes me on a ride of every emotion possible. When it plays through I cant wait to play it again and look foward to wearing it out. :) If you have any doubt...dont. You will NOT regret the buy. Support this album. It is her top album along side JLP. BUY IT NOW, DONT WAIT. :)

What an amazing alblum. I was a little apprehensive at first, hearing that it was more of an electronic alblum, but wow, was I ever impressed. The CD starts out with the hard rocking "Citizen of the Planet". Set to middle eastern beats, and hard crunching fake guitars, this is the perfect opening song to the CD. "Underneath", the first promotional single, is amazing. A perfect, radio-friendly pop rock song about communication gaps in relationships, primarily about her and actor Ryan Reynolds. If you missed Alanis Morissette's filthy mouth on her last couple of CD's, well, listen to song number 3, "Straightjacket". Infused with a disco, dance feeling, it's a great song to listen to while you're getting ready to go out, or driving to the club. "Versions of Violence" is a great song about fighting with your lover, and the long term affects that abuse can have after the fight is over. "Moratorium" is among the best on this CD. Listen carefully to the bridge in this song...."Aaah to breath/Stop looking outside/Stop searching in corners of rooms/Not my business or timing/Aaaah"....so beautiful, and haunting. Very dark song. "Torch" is by far the saddest song on this CD. It is definately about her break up with Ryan Reynolds, and can totally bring a tear to your eye. It's a wonderful ballad, and Alanis at her best. "Giggling Again For No Reason" is another great dance/pop/rock song. The song is about the start of a new beginning for Alanis after her breakup. Listen over, and over to the triple harmonizing that Alanis does on the line "And I'm smiling for no reason"....you'll love it. "Tapes" is very dark, and very emotional. It deals with dealing with low self-esteem, and how depressing one can feel after a breakup. Alanis sang this song live during most of her North American tour, and it was mind blowing. The last song, "Incomplete" ends the CD on a happy note with Alanis looking towards a bright future, and reassuring herself that things will be ok, almost a sequel to "That I Would Be Good" from "Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie", but with more of a upbeat rock feel to it. With the bonus song, check out "Orchid", the hard rocking "Guy Who Leaves", "Madness", and the best "On the Tequila". In my opinion, all these B-Side songs should have been on the actual CD. They are all brilliant. "On the Tequila" should have been released as a single, and if so, "Flavors of Entanglement" would have been a multi-platnium seller. I highly recommend this CD if you have ever been an Alanis fan. One of the few women in rock who actually rock out.
----Christopher Sorick
Omaha, Nebraska

I perceived it very much different from her previous albums, I guess more modern.. but I still enjoyed it. And the concert is absolutely a must! She is exquisite!!

Great Cd!!!! The bonus tracks (except for" On The Tequila ") realy worth the extra $$.

many of the artist on this cd i would not normally listen to. but if you want to get an idea of how some of them sound AND help defend the freedom of a country and people, then this cd is a must. even if you just want to help you could give as a gift.

I really wanted to give this CD a higher review...REALLY! The cause is freaking great! I sooooo support correcting the situation that Tibet is in right now and I am all about encouraging peace (I swear I am not a hippy). And this CD is FILLED with a bunch of my favorite artists...So where could it go wrong? I was foaming at the mouth for it to come out. Well...The cause is great and the artists are great (at least to me), but honestly this is a review of the content and on that, I was only marginally happy. First, just about all of it was remakes of other songs that the artists had done...They couldn't write something new for this CD? What's up with that! And in almost every case the remake was actually less appealing (again, at least to me) than the original. So with great sadness I give this CD a three. It's NOT *bad*...But if you already have love these artists and have their CDs, don't expect to get anything new.

Have only listened to it through one time, but loved it, great artists, great songs. Great Benefit.

The songs donated (or picked) for this collection offer a message of peace and healing. Songs for Tibet isn't just for Tibet, but for all of us.

I found this album was compelling, refreshing, and a nice break from the craziness going on right now - yet without escaping it either. The songs delivered personal messages that affirmed individual worth, everyone counts, our strengths, beliefs, need for compassion and of course, freedom. I felt reminded of my best and the place where decisions need to come from. That was very healing to hear again.

This cd is for the world and I can understand why this release skyrocketed to #1 album on ITunes. I originally dismissed it because I thought Songs For Tibet would be contrived, popish and boring. But the songs are new or unique to this release, the songwritting/singing is genuine and heartfelt. There wasn't any "bling", phony beats, or overkill based on a marketing wet dream. What a refreshing change.

Instead, the songs were presented very minimally and simply. Each one had a purpose for being included on the album and every song was essential for the entire concept. Wow. The songs had to be great for that to work. There is inspiring talent on this album.

Many people have experienced hard times, or realized things aren't what they thought this last decade. That's where Songs for Tibet comes in. The album was a reminder for me of individual strengths and restored some hope for choosing to live in peace; in a place where everyone counts and no one is forgotten, sacrificed or left behind. I haven't heard that for a long time.

I can see where countries like China would have objections to achieving goals using individual expression, and probably why the album got banned. My original reason for getting this cd was because of that ban. I am so glad I did now.

So, thank you China.

This is an up album! I wouldn't have bought most of these artists individually but as a compilation it's great! Most of the songs are first rate - 4s and 5s. I even like the Dave Matthews track although I'm not generally a fan. Buy it, you'll like it... Ommmmm!

The infatuation comes from the semi-melodies located here, and within this album. Nothing is supposed, perhaps a single junk, or junkie as Alanis would have it. This pill is not only jagged, it is bitter and has far more serious side effects. It is like the proverbial apple, tempting and alluring. Go ahead, bite it, when you awake in a deathly grave you're happier for it.

I bought this CD when it first came out in late 1998, and it was one of those discs that immediately made me shake my head in disbelief at how good it was. Nearly ten years later, it still blows me away every time I listen to it. There are no filler tracks here; I listen to it from start to finish every single time. Tracks like "Joining You" and "Can't Not" recall the sound of Jagged Little Pill, but there's also a level of maturity not present on that first disc. The songwriting and lyrics are excellent, and Morissette's vocals are heartfelt and sincere. Ask me to name the five CD's I'd take with me to a deserted island and this might be the first one I name.

When i first heard Alanis Morissette, it was in 1995 when "You Oughta Know" played on the radio. My first reaction to Morissette and "You Oughta Know" was not positive. Most of the "bubble gum" and synth-pop of the 1980s was beginning to fade, yet Morissette's anger just seemed too raw for me to absorb at the time. However as the subsequent singles from Morissette's "Jagged Little Pill" album were released, I soon began to see more than an angry young woman. When I listened to "Jagged Little Pill" in its entirety, I realized that this album lived up to all of the hype. When there is a monster album, expectations are usually through the roof for a follow-up album. Thus there was a great deal of attention for Morissette's follow-up, "Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie" to continue the formula that worked so well on "Jagged Little Pill". Instead of following the formula, Morissette would change the rules and go in a whole direction for "Junkie". The result is that "Junkie" would not sell as well as "Jagged Little Pill". However this is not a reflection of quality as Morissette once again hits the ball out of the park.

There are two big influences on this album. First is the influence of Indian music. Prior to the making of "Junkie", Morissette made a pilgrimage to India. This trip to India might be the most significant one in music history since George Harrison's pilgrimage. While some songs demonstrate an major Indian influence (such as "Baba"), I think the Indian influence is felt in one form or another on almost every track. The other influence is that, Morrisette "turns things down" a notch. While "Junkie" has a darker feel to it than "Jagged Little Pill", we find Morissette less angry and more conciliatory at times.

Glen Ballard, the co-mastermind with Morissette on "Jagged Little Pill" once again returns as producer and collaborator (songwriting and instruments) on this album. Ballard once again does a very effective job as a producer and gets the most out of Morissette on each of these tracks.

Here is a track by track synopsis:

"Front Row": Great track and an underrated one in the Morissette portfolio. The Indian influence is felt in the mantra-like feel to the whole song. Listen to how beautifully the electric guitars blend in.

"Baba": The title of this song immediately shows an Indian influence. (I believe Baba means 'father'). Musically the song does have a Rock edge with some great electric guitars. The lyrics here probably have more of the Indian influence than the musical sound - but subtly it still has a Indian rhythm.

"Thank U": Great track that was a hit single from this collection. Here we see a more concilitory Morissette as she issues many "Thank U"s. Not only does Morissette thank India, but the mantra-like beat to this song showcases the Indian sound.

"Are You Still Mad?": On this song, we get to hear Morissette move away from her trademark raspy vocals with a more softer feel. While Morissette isn't as angry, on this track she challenges her lover with "Are you still mad" while at the same time saying basically what amounts to "I told you so". Great orchestration sounds close the track.

"Sympathetic Character": Another great track. Here's another track with a mantra-like sound that shows some of the Indian music. An innovative electric guitar solo highlights things at the end.

"That I Would Be Good": Showcases the softer Morissette again and gives Morissette to real demonstrate good vocal ranges. While not angry Morissette finishes the song "I Would Be Good - whether with or without you"

"The Couch": The most interesting thing about this track is how there isn't a true chorus - despite the hooks in the melody. The percussions definitely show some of the Indian influence.

"Can't Not": This song has an edgy alternative Rock feel showcasing some of Morissette's trademark raspy vocals. This song has a bit of the mantra-feel, but listen to how the song "switches gears" with some nice bridge midway into the song.

"UR": This track is a bit of a throwback to "Jagged Little Pill" with the use of the harmonica. This track takes a bit, but it does grow on you.

"I Was Hoping": Morissette sings this song in the form of a story. Not a strong Indian influence, but the beat does have a mantra-feel to it.

"One": Great song and another overlooked track. It has a mantra-like feel and I think there is more Indian sound in this track than one might think. Morissette also shows the conciliatory tone by singing "I have abused my power forgive me".

"Would Not Come" Almost a cross of alternative rock with some Indian influences (mantra-like near chanting like lyrics and some percussions). Some more great electric guitar work on this song.

"Unsent": A simple acoustic song, but lyrically genius. No chorus on this one. On this track, Alanis writes letters to her former lovers. It's softer stuff, so no anger here. Great stuff.

"So Pure": Again a mantra-like feel to it and while it does have some Indian influence, it almost transforms itself into a near Irish folk sound toward the end. Another great track.

"Joining You": This is another great track. I didn't hear as much as an Indian influence, but on this track Morissette gets the opportunity to showcase some great vocals, but this time against a harder guitar sound.

"Heart of the House": A softer sound with Indian and Orchestral sounds. This is a good track, but not a great one.

"Your Congratulations": While not the most exciting track, it's another opportunity for Morissette to show some great vocal ranges that aren't in her raspy voice. Good string arrangements on this one.

The liner notes include all of the lyrics. This album is definitely a worthy follow-up to "Jagged Little Pill". If you overlooked this album, it's definitely worth checking out. Highly recommended.

I love Alanis, but she's one of those people that has a lot of good hit songs, but has many fillers on her full length albums. Also, she has one of those voices (like The Cranberries) that's only good in doses. Her newer albums have been improving though.

One of my favorite CD's!

Alanis, you never disappoint :)

Andrea

If you are already a fan of Alanis' fan, you won't be disappointed. There are a few dark sounding songs with decent mixes and effects. It has got some of the Infatuation junkie feel to the album. In my opinion, it's a satisfying release.

Notable songs i enjoy are: So-called chaos, not all me, spinless and eight easy steps.

1 star was deducted for the number of songs on this album. A few more please next time :D

"So Called Chaos" may never reach the cult status of "Jagged Little Pill" or even "Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie", but I've always believed this album contains the best set of tunes Alanis has ever released. The only problem is the production, or rather the 'over' production that takes away from the melodies a little. However, this is very much a repeat-play album and it will take you a good six to seven full spins to truly appreciate.

Eastern-tinged tracks such as "Knees of my Bees" sit very comfortably next to an exalted classic like "Excuses" (seriously, what a song!). And while the album does tend to sag toward the end, the music is always quite solid. The lead track, "So Called Chaos" is actually the weakest link here, but on singles "Out is Through" and "Everything", Alanis shows us that she can do wonders with the simplest of melodies.

And its that simplicity that probably went against the album. This is one of Alanis' worst-selling records, and theres a reason - almost every song is in the same key, leading you to conclude that 'every song sounds the same', when you listen to it the first time (almost every listener has that complaint about this album). While that may be true, remember that this is very much an album that you need to invest in.

The bonus CD content is great. It contains her Sessions at AOL, with a live performance of "Excuses" - sung in the upper register - and Alanis looks really good with that short hair (the performances are from 2004). Also present on the CD is an EPK - a fifteen minute making of "So Called Chaos" that pretty much chronicles where Alanis is in her life - quite eye-opening, actually. There is also an acoustic MP4 Version of "This Grudge", which wasn't that great, but hey, Alanis is at least being a sport by bundling all this exclusive content on the physical CD.

"So Called Chaos" is my favorite Alanis album after "SFIJ", and its a pity that this isn't much appreciated even with serious Alanis fans. Get it and listen to it with an open mind - its a happy record, a tad overproduced, but still essential to your pop-rock collection.

Four Stars.

I received "So-Called Chaos" on MP3 about three months ago. And I am stilling loving listening to it!

I have always enjoyed Alanis Morissette, but this is my all-time favorite.

I have to say that I don't think there is one song on this CD that could have been written just to be a fun song. Every song on "So-Called Chaos" is meaningful, and pertains to intense spiritual and personal growth that many of us are currently facing.

"Excuses," my favorite track, is about letting excuses hold us back from living an authentic life. It's gentle, yet powerful.

"Everything," my other favorite, is about letting ourselves be loved no matter what imperfections we seem to have.

"Eight Easy Steps," brings to mind our leaders and teachers who moment to moment fail to walk their walk, and fail to see the greater needs of humanity. It's quick and upbeat and I really love the drum track!

"The Grudge" is about the pain we can experience when we continue to hold on to a grudge. It's a very smooth, quiet song, bittersweet and powerful.

"Knees of my Bees" is a fun song... not quite sure what it's about though ;)

There are ten songs in all. I love the CD, and find it both personal and spiritually uplifting.

I've never rxd to the fact that any of the tracks on this album came from the Reynolds in her life. As you see, they live on even after dissolution of that "couple". Love permeates through this disc, but never allows you to feel it without paying dearly prior to.

Under rug swept and beyond alanis sucks. Before under rug she was awesome. This new album sounds like Avril....Shameful!!!

This is a great collection of songs with a consistent tone that allow you to get into a deep, relaxed state. Highly recommend it.

If you like Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, and I do you, might like this too!

This CD is one I put on when I want to hear beauty and relax. It is great at work when you are working intensely on something or have a deadline! My co-workers laugh because I slide my headphones on and say "I am going to my happy place."

The only "weak" track on Jonathan Elias' The Prayer Cycle is "Grace," featuring John Williams and James Taylor. And I put the word "weak" in quotation marks because where the other eight tracks are transcending, atmospheric and, of course, godly, "Grace" remains earthbound by it's folksy, Renaissance melody. (It's as if Williams and Taylor were channelling deceased English singer-songwriter/musician Nick Drake.) One could argue, however, that "Grace" is a refreshing break from the lush orchestra and passionate wailing throughout, in which case, at track number five, it is perfectly placed in the middle of the epic arrangements. In any case that is a minor quibble for an album that is near glorious and comes highly recommended.

...a very few meaningful words are added to enhance the sound and voice on this eloquent and moving gift of music. It has become my favorite disc to share as a gift of love with friends and colleagues.

Alanis' melodic turns are a thing of beauty. I've come to depend on her for melody with substance. So very glorious to my ears and my tears.

this is where alanis was made herself no longer valid in the good music industry.

Some will say that Alannis is caught up in the fervor of lyrics and will sentence the fullness of "song" in this magnificent album to the gallows. But when put to test, the full force, words and music, of Flinch and Hands Clean as well as others on this album have to cause one to demand a re-run. Flinch has to be one of the finest songs of the period: pulsing with energy, caustic yet soothing; this song itself has to be the gem that completes the transition from Jagged Pill's subway high school diva to Central Park grown-up lover. I liken Under Rug Swept to the great album Four by Blues Travelor. Both of these become richer and more relevant as each playback completes. Listen to Alannis and to John Topper, they truly know the glory and tradegy of love in the modern world.

When i first heard Alanis Morissette, it was in 1995 when "You Oughta Know" played on the radio. My first reaction to Morissette and "You Oughta Know" was not positive - it was "what is this, why is this woman so angry, and what is this chip on her shoulder?" Most of the "bubble gum" and synth-pop of the 1980s was beginning to fade, yet Morissette's anger just seemed too raw for me to absorb at the time. However as the subsequent singles from Morissette's "Jagged Little Pill" album were released, I soon began to see more than an angry young woman. When I listened to "Jagged Little Pill" in its entirety, I realized that this album lived up to all of the hype. Not only did this album garner critical acclaim, but it was one of the best selling albums of all-time. When there is a monster album, expectations are usually through the roof for a follow-up album, and while Morissette's "Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie" was still a very good album and sold well, many considered it a disappointment. Artists that usually have a "sophomore" slump have a difficult time with their third album sales. Morissette's third effort, "Under Rug Swept" wouldn't sell as well as "Jagged Little Pill", but from a quality standpoint, it would not disappoint.

When one produces a legendary album like "Jagged Little Pill", one faces a crossroads - "play it safe and do the same thing" or "explore new avenues". To Morissette's credit, she changed her act with "Junkie" as she made a more personal and "darker" sounding experimental album that instead of angst took a more reconciliatory tone. With "Under Rug Swept", the tone reflects Alanis' maturity as she takes a more "diplomatic" way to lash out her anger.

There are three big changes to note on this album. This is the first album without her producer Glen Ballard. Ballard served as Morissette's songwriter and producer on the first two albums. Now Morissette takes production and songwriting into her own hands - in other words, assuming complete control. Sometimes an artist needs an outsider to serve as a "devil's advocate". While Morissette does a very good job in her new "solo" duties, I think this album could have benefited from Ballard playing "devil's advocate".

The second change has to do with Morissette's voice. The raspy and screeching voice found on "Jagged Little Pill" is all but gone - again reflecting maturity by Morissette. The third change is that Morissette drops her trademark harmonica for "Under Rug Swept", but she continues to pick up more instrumentation as she did on "Junkie" - this time the guitar.

Here is a quick synopsis of the tracks:

"21 Things That I Want in a Lover": This song reflects Alanis' maturity in the way she "lashes out" by describing 'not necessarily needs but qualities that I prefer' in her lover. This track contains some excellent guitar work.

"Narcissus": Flea has a guest appearance playing bass, but I wouldn't say this is a song that gives a legendary bassist like Flea a chance to shine. This track has Morissette demonstrating the vocal ranges found on "Jagged Little Pill". This song also shows maturity in the way Morissette "lashes out".

"Hands Clean": Awesome track. Morissette's vocals are the driving force of this track. Her vocals allow here to deliver a song that seems personal. The song seems to chronicle a relationship Morissette had with an older man. Apparently the relationship needed to be kept quiet.

"Flinch": A softer song, once again Morissette takes her vocals and makes them the driving force. Her vocals are passionate and not raspy and that is what it needs to deliver the message. In this song Morissette faced losing a lover, but once again doesn't "lash out" like she did on her "Jagged Little Pill" days. Great track

"So Unsexy": Another great track. Alanis faces rejection again on this track and with her maturity, she once again doesn't "lash out". While this is a "slower" track, there is some terrific hard guitar in this song. Morissette's vocals once again deliver a passionate message.

"Precious Illusions": This song opens with more of the Indian music influence that Morissette incorporated on "Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie". This is another terrific track. Morissette shows her maturity referring to "The Ring" and "The Pill" on this track yet talks about those long-lasting effects of her "precious illusions" she had as a kid.

"That Particular Time": A very slow track, it gives Morissette a chance to shine. Morissette describes another relationship that didn't work. Once again, Morissette doesn't lash out, but deals with things in a more conciliatory tone

"A Man": This song also has a bit of an Indian influence. From the title, Morissette sings this song from the perspective of someone who is a man - describing the emotions a man might feel.

"You Owe Me Nothing in Return": This song has a bit of a R&B/funk feel to it. Morissette takes her conciliatory tone as she sings lines such as "you can also for space for yourself and only yourself and I will grant it".

"Surrendering": This is the best track of the collection. This track also has a bit of a funk groove to it. This song is almost the antithesis of "Jagged Little Pill's " "Not the Doctor". "Not the Doctor" dealt with Alanis' frustration with a weaker man. On this track, Alanis seems impressed with the man who has it all together. Alanis' vocals are awesome.

"Utopia": A folk-like song. Alanis sings about her vision of "Utopia". The instrumentation provides the power on this song. Alanis sings in a higher octave giving this song a good feel.

The liner notes include all of the lyrics . This album isn't like "Jagged Little Pill", but that doesn't mean it was a bad album. In fact this album deserved Album of the Year consideration in 2002. I'd highly recommend it.

I had until very recently lost track of Alanis Morissette (and pop/rock in general) since her first three albums and would ordinarily see no point in adding my own review of a several-year-old album to the hundreds (412 at the moment) that have already been posted on this site, but having rediscovered how much I liked her music -- Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie and Under Rug Swept in particular -- I felt like writing a word or two.

My attention was initially caught by Beth Massa's (professional reviewer) comment:
"The snag is that, as with her previous two albums, Under Rug Swept is marred by unabridged stream-of-consciousness lyrics. Her awkward syntax and distorted phrasing disorients music that's melodious and compelling. She remains acutely self-obsessed, delivering rants aimed at men who are fatally flawed and, naturally, irresistibly devastating. For now, her greatest strength as a musician lies in her ear for a powerful melody. Lyrically, she'd be better off keeping her contorted prose In Closet Locked"

This, I think, completely misses what is for me the core appeal of the best music on her first three albums: her raw honesty. An honesty which more often than not cuts both ways. I, obviously, have never had an interview with Alanis Morissette, but my feeling is that her "stream-of-consciousness lyrics", or blank verse if you like, is nothing more than her communicating how she thinks and feels about an event or issue in the way most natural to her, and if her chosen words and phrasing happen to be displeasing to the style police why should she or anyone else give a tinker's damn? Real honesty is rare enough in itself. Intelligent, thoughtful, honesty is practically an endangered species in popular culture. It seems to me that rewriting blank verse that is honest and powerful (and a perfect match for the music in my opinion) into some sort of equivalent of iambic pentameter would be an ugly and insane triumph of form over substance. And I will also add that she doesn't seem to be any more "self-obsessed" than anyone else I know. How can anyone write a song about personal pain or anger without sounding self-obsessed anyway? That fact that there may be bigger things going on in the wide world can give us some perspective but it won't make the pain go away. Kurt Vonnegut once said something to the effect that all real literature was about the same thing: Being a human being is a bummer. This is vintage Vonnegut but the point is that the most meaningful art is about the pain, and confusion, and confounded fallibility of being human. The best of Alanis Moressette's music (which includes most of the songs on this album) is certainly of this type. What some have refered to as "soul music". I will choose it over "style" music any day of the week.

As evidenced by her first three albums Alanis Morissette is one of the best alternative pop/rock musicians out there both musically and lyrically. Jagged Little Pill was a great album. Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie, and Under Rug Swept are outstanding.