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Editorial Review:
Though the mainstream might have all but abandoned Alanis Morrissette since her mid-90s breakthrough as the MTV grunge generation’s Madonna, she has forged on with a handful of albums of a reasonably steely consistency. Although even kindly ears would recognise her output since Jagged Little Pill as reduced strength versions of that celebrated album. Its slightly convoluted follow up, Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie, remains her most intriguing if long-winded work, and with her most recent record (2004’s So Called Chaos) more or less finding peace with itself--filing down the angsty internal dialogues and sounding almost content even at its loudest points--the future seemed to be heading on a downward spiral. But talk about an about turn. With Flavours Of Entanglement the bronco is very much bucking once more, often causing whiplash-inducing stylistic swerves. "Citizen Of The Planet" opens the album, erupting out of eastern strings and a sequenced underlay with blunt, compressed guitars and thumping beats, sweeping through desolate plains previously inhabited by nu-metal fantasists Evanescence. The dark tension is upheld through the robotic techno of "Straightjacket" and dark string-laden drum ‘n’ bass of "Moratorium". Landing amid the lonely Tori Amos balladry of "Not As We", Texas-pop of "In Praise Of The Vulnerable Man" and more typical Alanis fare of "Underneath", this is an often unsettlingly mixed bag achieving varying levels of success, but it is also probably her most emotionally satisfying work for a decade. --James Berry
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.0 / 5.0
confusing!!!!!!!! Alanis is still a classic singer/songwriter, with her twisted lyrics that are very talented placed in songs - but this cd left me a little confused of which way this cd was heading. It borders on the angriness of past releases but somehow holds back on the true Morissette power. OK Underneath, which is being criminally ignored here in the UK, should be a massive hit and is the best thing here, and is classic Alanis but nothing comes close to it on this cd, Other tracks worth a listen here are Straitjacket,... more info
More Great Flavours of Alanis I was born in the same year as Alanis, as such, vapid as it might seem, I feel "we've had this inexplicable connection since our youth". A few weeks into this album, and overall I love it. "Tapes" is for me Alanis at her most resplendent: vulnerable, self-aware, defiant. Opening with lyrical self-deprecation: "I am someone easy to leave" you might be tempted to give her a good shake, yet the chorus crashes in with steely sound: "All these tapes in my head swirl around
Keeping my... more info
Why isn't there a "No Star" rating?? I can only assume that the folk writing in praise of this music are in some way associated with the record company. No matter how you try to dress it up with phrases like "hard(ish)core electronic sonic constructions" it's just badly programmed drum machines and fake and outdated 70's sounding synthesisers wrapped around uninspired musical composition. Interesting lyrics, just a shame to have to listen to the music that goes with them. I enjoyed Frou Frou and Guy Sigworths associations with Imogen Heap, but... more info
One who hears the cries of the world "I am a citizen of the planet
My laws are all of attraction
My punishments are consequences
Separating from source the original sin" (Alanis Morissette - "Citizen of the Planet") Back when I started reviewing on Amazon.com, I was asked to name my favorite artistes, and without pausing I chose Alanis Morissette and Queen. Well, many years later, Freddy Mercury's unfortunately passed on, but Alanis still reigns. Her music and lyrics are intelligent, thought provoking, honest,... more info
