Alanis Returns With A Mega Blockbuster - Under Rug Swept

Short Preamble
I'm not as radical of a fan as flamepillar however, I do have a certain appreciation for Alanis Morissette.

History
When she came out with her debut cd in 1995 (Jagged Little Pill), I was fascinated by her honest and aggressive music. Sure, I had seen a flavor of that before in other female performers but not to the extreme in which she took it.

The songs I liked best off of the Jagged Little Pill cd were Hand In My Pocket and Ironic. Besides the very catchy melodies, I enjoyed the quirky lyrics. There's just something about a girl who looks dead serious while singing about things that appear to be superficial.

When she released Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie 2 1/2 years later, I was worried. The songs were less inspiring and more strange. Musically, she took a detour ala Prince style. Personally, I worried that she was turning into a nutcase ala Michael Jackson. Even though she produced a couple of hits (Thank U, Unsent), I think she was officially in the sophomore slump.

So now, it's 3 1/2 years later and Alanis reappears on the airwaves. Unlike her last release, this cd only has 11 tracks (as opposed to the monumental 17 tracks).

The Bottomline
I have to tell you. I am totally impressed with this cd. I honestly didn't think she had it in her any more. And the had it in her part is the ability to produce market friendly songs that have some heart and soul to them. She did a great job of capturing that in her first cd but her second cd took a major detour.

The Actual Cd Review
Admittedly, I haven't kept up on the Alanis machine over the past couple of years. My first surprise I encountered on this cd - no Glen Ballard. As he was a strong presence on her first two cd's, I am totally wondering why he is no where to be found here.

Now, when it comes to writing cd reviews, I always write books. I would love to tell you something about each song on this cd however, I'd like you to stay awake.

When Hands Clean was released a few weeks ago, I think it set the tone for the audience she wanted. It's popp-ish and guitar driven. And most importantly, it feels familiar without feeling old.

Why the return to something more conventional? Lots of reasons I suppose. I think that the strangeness of Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie alienated a lot of her fans and this single Hands Clean is clearly intended to grab some of her original fan base back.

Maybe Maverick can only handle one nutcase (Madonna) on their label (or should we say HER label) at one time.

Maybe Alanis has grown up and left behind a part of her personal life that doesn't require her to be so strange. Note: I reserve the right to change my mind on the strangeness. I must see some personal appearances first.

Ordinarily, I would tell you that a song like Hands Clean is unique however, for Alanis, it's not. If you watch the video or just listen to the musical arrangement, you get a very upbeat feeling. In that way, it's not really too different from listening to any other pop song on the radio. It's when you hear the layers of lyrics that she spreads throughout the song that you realize gasp, wow!!! She alternates each stanza with a he said/she said conversation that is about the past but takes place in the present.

Oh, the book, I know...it's already happening. Let me pause and just give you a couple of highlights of the cd. Or what I term, some of my most favorite songs.

Flinch is like a stage of a love affair gone wrong. There's lots of anger and denial about the long term affect that this person still has on her. How long can a girl be tortured by you? The music is melancholy and doesn't hide behind any mask of superficiality. Flamepillar - I know you'll love this song.

21 Things I Want In A Lover is absolutely, one of my most favorites on this cd. Prediction: next release for a single. It makes a super Springtime/Summer song. Musically, the track is aggressive like You Oughta Know with a twist of some of the hair metal we're hearing today. Alanis goes through a laundry list of qualities she wants in a lover. are you uninhibited in bed? more than three times a week? up for being experimental? are you athletic? are you thriving in a job that helps your brother? are you not addicted? On one hand, it's a bit hilarious listening to all of her wants. But then you gotta wonder, is she serious? Are people this picky in real life?

That Particular Time can be so painful to listen to. In the tradition of the dramatic piano strokes of a Sarah McLachlan song, Alanis delves deeply into recounting a relationship. Unlike most of Alanis's songs, she's pretty straight forward with her lyrics. I've always wanted for you what you've wanted for yourself and yet I wanted to save us high water or hell and I kept on ignoring the ambivalence you felt and in the meantime I lost myself.

A concept that Alanis latches on to with this cd is collaborating with other musicians. It's not a bad idea and at first, I was concerned about the Mariah Carey/JLo Syndrome. You know what I'm talking about - the need to get other people on your cd so it sells at least a couple of thousand copies.

Props to Alanis for not picking any glamorous people for her collaborations.

Stone Temple Pilots guitarist Dan Delo makes an appearance twice and there is no doubt that you feel his presence in 21 Things I Want In A Lover and Precious Illusions.

Flea from Red Hot Chilli Peppers contributes to the song Narcissus.

The surprise of the cd is the collaboration with fellow label mate, Meshell Ndegeocello. The songs she's involved with are So Unsexy and You Owe Me Nothing In Return. When Meshell grooves on her bass, it adds a very different flavor to Alanis's style, especially in So Unsexy.

The End
If you enjoyed her first cd, you can't go wrong with this once. I encourage you to buy it. Every track will touch you in one way or another.

Track Listing
21 Things I Want In A Lover
Narcissus
Hands Clean
Flinch
So Unsexy
Precious Illusions
That Particular Time
A Man
You Owe Me Nothing In Return
Surrendering
Utopia