Too early for a Greatest Hit Album? I think not

I received Alanis unplugged last year as a christmas eve gift from my brother. I never thought I would be so happy to receive a gift from my archnemesis...or I mean dearly loved sibling. I will admit, I am a huge Alanis Morissette fan and I have been ever since listening to "Jagged Little Pill". So I was definately looking forward to this CD.

Before getting into the review I do want to say that I am dismayed at how some of the other reviews were negative. I loved this CD and I think it shows Alanis at her finest. Compared to her sophomore release "Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie", Unplugged heartily surpasses it.

The CD/Jacket cover of this album shows a very natural, realistic, human Alanis Morissette in a tight head shot with a microphone. I believe that image personifies the entire CD: warm, inviting, fresh, natural talent. Unlike the many pop princesses who wear five tons of make-up and show their mid-riff to get sales going, Alanis wants nothing of that. Instead she is making a statement, "This is me, this is my singing, like me for my singing not for my make-up and clothes." Alanis, we love you for your singing.

"You Learn": This song is a remake from Jagged Little Pill. She has a more fun style in this song as she allows her vocal range to roam outside the song. Some people find this irritating, I am one of them. I love the song though. Another bad point, the song begins with an audience applause. Not a studio recorded audience, but a real audience. This might be annoying to some people, but it only lasts for about 4 seconds. The song itself is at the same tempo it originally was. There are parts of the song where Alanis talks the lyrics, rather then sing them. This is infrequent, which is good otherwise it would get annoying. Alanis gets carried away during the song's interlude and begins to try to yodel...this went on for about 10 seconds too long. Other then that the song is great. I do prefer the original "you Learn", and I will usually skip over thie song when listening to it. Lyrics: "You live you learn/You love you learn/You cry you learn/You lose you learn/You bleed you learn/You scream you learn"

"Joining You": This is a remake from Supposed Former... and it is a much more slower and subdued version. I bought this CD 7 months before I bought her sophomore release, so I was thinking that many of the songs would have the same tone and feel. Not so in this case. I prefer "Joining You" on this CD at least 10 times more then I like it on Supposed Former.... The melody and the instruments work together on the unplugged version and it makes a coherent story about how Alanis and her ex are in a world where they are together on one realm and yet need to be apart on another realm of existence. We have all had these soul-mate type relationships, where we had this connection to the person on a spiritual level, yet on the physical level it was a bad relationship because of whatever relationship. Alanis does a beautiful job at conveying the emotion of remembering the time they shared together yet while remembering what is currently going on at the same time. Lyrics:"Dear dar(lin') your mom (my friend) left a message on my machine she was frantic/Saying you were talking crazy that you wanted to do away with yourself/I guess she thought I'd be a perfect resort because we've had this inexplicable connection since our youth"

"No Pressure Over Cappuchino": I love this song, it is my all-time favorite Alanis Morissette song and it is special. Why? Because it only "exists" on the unplugged album and it would be a shame to go your whole live without ever listening to this wonderful song. The song is about a man who is is like Jesus, a Kennedy, and a Noah all combined together and he is trying to change the world and yet people are not reacting favorably to him and Alanis is trying to say "hey, Im on your side." Its a very beautiful and well-done job. During the musical interlude, Alanis allows her soul to be swept away into the song and the lyrics and she ad libs some beautiful choral arrangements that really show her powerful voice. Alanis goes up octaves easily in this piece. Again, this is the best song on the album and the best song of her entire song career, as of right now. Lyrics:"And you're like a 90's Noah/And they laughed at you when you packed all of your things"

"That I Would Be Good": Well, we know that Alanis plays the harmonica (think "Hand in My pocket"), now we know that Alanis plays the flute. However, one might not know that fact if they did not see the video. I am a musician (I play the violin, the piano, and the clarinet), so I have an ear that is tuned to music moreso then the average listener. As a result, when listening to this song, I could tell that Alanis was playing the flute because I heard "breath sounds" coming from the microphone. My suspicions were correct when I saw the video. Wow, what a talent. She plays the flute very well. I like to think of this song as every woman and girl's ideal song to sing to every morning. Alanis is basically singing that she would love to be feeling good no matter what has happened. No matter if she has gained weight, became ill, became angry, or grew old. In fact, the way she is singing it is almost like she is affirming that yes, I will be good or fine when this occurs because I believe in myself. Its a wonderful uplifting, heartfelt song, that I believe all women can appreciate the tone behind it. Lyrics:"That I would be good even if I lost sanity/That I would be good/Whether with or without you"

"Head Over Feet": This is a remake from her Jagged collection. This is just like "you learn", the song begins with audience applause. The good part of the song is that it is more upbeat and uptempo from the original. At times, Alanis' Canadian accent comes through in the songs. Not saying this is a bad thing, it is just noticeable. This has never been my favorite Alanis song, and this version doesnt change my views. For some reason, it just doesnt seem like Alanis' style. Other then that, the song is well-done and much like the original. Lyrics:"Don't be surprised if I love you for all that you are/I couldn't help it/It's all your fault"

"Princes Familiar": This song is quirky and I love it for that. I do have one thing that I wish would have changed about the song. Alanis was a bit sloppy in her pronouncement of some of the words, especially in the first stanza. I had to search for the lyrics of the song before I truely could understand what she was saying at some of the times. So in that regards, Alanis should have been more careful of her voice and her articulations, dont get sloppy! This song is like "Perfect Part 2" If you remember the song "Perfect" from her first album, you will understand. The first part of the song, Alanis is stating all the wonderful qualities and traits in her dream man and then she goes and is asking her father to show that he loves her and that he expresses emotion so that Alanis will find a man who does the same thing. Then the song goes on to, Alanis sarcastically wishing for a man who is a bad influence and doesnt care at all about her. At this point, one can see that possibly this was how Alanis' father truely was like because after she is pleading for her father to listen to her and to hear what she is talking to him about because she doesnt want to get involved with a man who is just like her father...that hits home for many many young women. Lyrics:"Papa love your princess so that she will find loving princes familiar/Papa cry for your princess so that she will find gentle princes familiar"

"I Was Hoping" I love this song. In fact, the first tim I listened to the CD, I listened to this song about 4 times, I couldnt get enough of it. "I was hoping" is a remade version off her sophomore release album and it is much better unplugged. Her other version is trying to hard to be techno-based funk and it doesnt work well with the song. The unplugged version is very raw and natural and free-flowing, exactly how I would describe Alanis herself. Again, the tempo of this version is slower then the album version. Basically, this song is a conversation between two people and how they respond to life and their views on life. Its very much a story/movie-plot and its different. Usually these songs are more folkish or at least reminiscient of the Vietnam era music. Alanis' voice ranges from mildly singing to belting it out in this song, very nice transitioning of the styles. Lyrics: "And there was a day when I would've said something like "Hey dude I could buy and sell this place so kiss it"/I too once thought I was owed something"

"Ironic": Yes, this is another remake of one of her older songs. Ironic was a huge hit back in 1996, it really paved the way for Alanis' success in the American music industry. The song is basically the same on both versions. The only difference lies in the chorus. On the first album, Alanis uses her voice recorded many times to act as a harmony during the chorus. So it gives this more "cushioned" sound. Listening to the version on unplugged, you notice something is difference once the chorus appears. What is it? Well its just Alanis, and not her superimposing her voice on different octaves to act as a harmony. Thus we just hear the melody and as a result it makes the song seem like a folk song...like something Jewel would sing. The song is done great and many would love how it stays to the original blend of the first recording. Lyrics:"It's meeting the man of my dreams/And then meeting his beautiful wife/And isn't it ironic... don't you think?"

"These R The Thoughts": This is a song that everyone can identify with. The basic premise of the song is Alanis exploring and questioning the hypocrisy found in the behavior and action of others and even of herself. We all get into moods and emotions where we just zone out on the sheer idiocracy of the day and how we responded to it. This song is great for when we are having a day like that because it acts as a catalyst to really explore your inner self to find the answer that only lies within you. Lyrics:"How can you say you're close to God, and yet you talk behind/My back as though I'm not a part of you"

"King Of Pain": To tell you the honest to God truth, I didnt know this was a song by Sting. I knew that Alanis was performing some cover off of Sting's albums from the past, but I didnt know which one. I found out, through my brother the Sting fan, that it was this one. I have never heard Sting's version, so I cant compare and contrast. I can only go by the performance that Alanis did on the song. I would say this is a so-so song. It doesnt engage me and I am not sure why Alanis chose to sing this as a cover, but thats her choice. My favorite part of the song is at the end after singing "king of pain" she then goes on to say "I'll always be the Queen of Pain" and I thought that was cool. Vocally, she does a fair performance on this song, but nothing that really stands out to me. Lyrics:"I guess I always thought you could end this reign/But it's my destiny to be the king of pain"

"You Oughta Know": If you have never heard of this phenomenal song, please tell me what rock you have just crawled out of. This was Alanis big American debut back in 1995 and it blew the US away...some of the words she uses...well lets say she is very descriptive and gets right to the point throughout this song. It was lauded as the big break-up song of the year and Alanis was thus nick-named "angry female"...which took a while for her to get rid of but I believe this version of the song really does the trick. Instead of singing from revenge and hurt, Alanis sings the song out of retrospection and almost a sense of tiredness. It is well-done and crafted wonderfully. Yes there is objectionable language in this song....One four letter word and also a type of sexual act is talked about. Normally I am on the front lines when it comes to screening out excess and inappropriate use of sex, violence, and obscenity from music. Yet this song is not inappropriate in its use. How could I describe it, other then the listener truely feels the pain that Alanis went through in this song and so that reality makes it okay...she is not throwing the terms around lightly nor is she exploiting the use of the terms. She rarely uses language in her songs and when it is done, it is well-placed and the meaning comes out clear. I have no problem with this song...but I still wont listen to her saying the four letter word, I will turn the volume down until the part of the song is over. Lyrics:"Does she know how you told me you'd hold me/Until you died, 'til you died/But you're still alive"

"Uninvited": The very last song is such a treat to her fans. Uninvited was a smash hit in 1998 as it was the theme from the movie City of Angels. In fact, the only reason why I wanted to see the movie was because I loved the song so much. Alanis outdoes herself on this song and I had such an awe the first time I heard this. Beautifully done and well written and styled. The emotion of the song is very well done and comes across easily without making the listener feel emotionally manipulated. If you have ever doubted the talent of Alanis Morissette, this song will end your doubts. Lyrics:"I must seem greatly intriguing/You speak of my love like/You have experienced love like mine before"

I would give this CD 5 stars but it some of the songs werent helpful to the live setting, thus I give her four stars. Alanis Unplugged is still a very well done, highly articulate and artistically driven CD. Alanis shows her fans what she is hiding underneath the studio facade of most singers, and to some surprise she shows that pop princesses have nothing on her.
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