Alanis Morissette tells us about stories Under Rug Swept.

Under Rug Swept is actually the first Alanis Morissette album I ever bought. I didn’t know her before that one, though now I’ve managed to listen to her previous releases. Under Rug Swept is like the perfect balance between Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie and Jagged Little Pill. Besides the production is nicer and Alanis' voice doesn't sound as nasal as in old albums.


21 Things I Want In A Lover :
This is probably my favorite song on the album. I love Alanis' low vocals and the music is just great. Alanis describes the qualities her ideal boyfriend would need to have to seduce her. She starts describing his qualities, then his job, his behaviour, etc... You know, what most girls want...
These are 21 things that I want in a lover
Not necessarily needs but qualities that I prefer

Narcissus :
I like that song. It’s catchy, with fun and sarcastic lyrics. Alanis basically tells a selfish boy what she thinks about his behaviour. But it’s also honest, because she admits that she was once attracted by this kind of person. The reason she insists so much on his annoying habits is because she actually likes him and wants him to change.
Dear self centered boy I don't know why I still feel affected by you
I've never lasted very long with someone like you
I never did although I have to admit I wanted to

Hands Clean :
This song has an acoustic feel to it. It’s written from the perspective of a man that once had a relationship with a younger lady (apparently it’s autobiographical). Alanis starts by describing the relationship, how it was possible, why they stayed together and why they eventually had to break up. By the way, the album title is taken from a line of this song.

Flinch :
This one is a soft ballad with nice guitar playing. It’s about how Alanis is still obsessed by her ex. Even though they story is over, he still affects her in every possible way. She wonders in the chorus how long it will take her before she stops flinching at his name.
How long can a girl be shackled to you
How long before my dignity is reclaimed
How long can a girl stay haunted by you
Soon I'll grow up and I won't even flinch at your name

So Unsexy :
This is a more upbeat song, but I’m not too fond of the electronic noises that start with the chorus. It’s about how women can sometimes feel so unsexy, so unworthy of their boyfriend who always seem to be so perfect (well at least at the beginning of the relationship). Alanis feels nervous about every little detail that doesn’t come out the way she would have liked.

Precious Illusions :
With this song, Alanis gets more pop/rock with louder guitars. The song is about the illusions we all have about relationships and maybe life in general, when we are kids. Even when we’re adults, it’s hard to part with them because these illusions were what made us go on with our lives sometimes. Just watch the video of this song and you’ll get a better idea of what Alanis meant.

That Particular Time :
Another ballad, except it’s piano-driven. It’s about all the particular times in a relationship. At a particular time Alanis felt encouraged to start the relationship, then she was encouraged to stay, but at one point, she felt she had to leave. It’s like a little story Alanis tells the listener about throughout the song.

A Man :
This one is a loud song with some weird instrumentation but I just love it. I think it has an oriental vibe to it; I feel some Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie influence on this track. The song is written from the perspective of a man, with everything being a man implies. I’m not a man (really, I’m not) so I can’t say if it’s that accurate, however I like the lyrics.
I am a man who still does what he can
to dispel our archaic reputation
I am a man who has heard all he can
cuz I don't fare well with endless punishment

You Owe Me Nothing :
Another great song. The music has nothing special but the lyrics are great. I like Alanis’ conception about love : a love that’s unconditional, no matter what happens. Alanis has come to a point where she loves her boyfriend so much that because of love, she could cope with anything. I think the lyrics could apply to friendship (because let’s face it, we tend to be more forgiving with our friends than with our other half).
You owe me nothing for giving the love that I give
You owe me nothing for caring the way that I have
I give you thanks for receiving it's my privilege
And you owe me nothing in return

Surrendering :
It is supposed to have been written foe Alanis’ boyfriend of the moment. The song praises his ability not to give up even in front of “adverserial forces” that she represents. I hope for her he’s less boring than this song…

Utopia :
The music is kinda Celtic. The lyrics are about Alanis’ vision of a perfect world. The lyrics are pretty deep and Alanis’ conception of Utopia is quite interesting. Oh and now I know that she speaks a few words of French :)
we'd gather around all in a room fasten our belts engage in dialogue
we'd all slow down rest without guilt not lie without fear disagree sans judgement


I think URS is a very good album and I recommend it to anyone who likes Alanis Morissette or wants to discover her work. The album will certainly please pop/rock fans and people looking for thought-provoking lyrics (though listening to generic pop can be fun too!).


Link :

Alanis Morissette - You Learn [single]


Note : I had actually written a review of this album before, a few weeks after I joined the site, but since I didn’t like it I decided to delete and re-write, using the same track-by-track format. Thanks for reading !