Under Rug Swept [ECD] - Alanis Morissette

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Sublime
Quality and consistency of tracks	A couple of weak links
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Outstanding
Value for Money

Advantages:	see review
Disadvantages:	see review

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Most people will have not heard of Canadian artist 'Alanis' until 1995 when her bitterly honest, confessional style of songwriting sent her album "Jagged Little Pill" rocketing up the charts across the world and catapulted her into the limelight. Considering the brutal honesty of "Jagged Little Pill" it is almost bizarre to consider how she was once a huge star in Canada, putting out Paula Abdul-esque pop/dance tracks until something changed. Alanis cites moving to L.A. and growing up fast because of it which then allowed her to write with more maturity and to put honest, very personal thoughts into her songs which before hadn't been forthcoming. She certainly does that all right and in 1998, 3 years after the release of her first album as the confessional Alanis Morissette, she released the much awaited follow up album "Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie"...to mixed reaction. Still undeniably an Alanis Morissette album, it was almost entirely inaccessible to all but the most ardent fans and for me at least, turned me away from her work for a while. Rather than rushing to purchase her third album "Under Rug Swept" as I had done "Supposed...", I more stumbled upon it around a week ago and on the strength of, what I thought was the rather average radio friendly single "Hands Clean", decided to give it a go. Good choice as it turns out.

Under Rug Swept, both written and produced by Alanis herself is a more mature album lyrically than those which have come before, but it still focuses upon the same themes and issues which earned her the title "man hater" in the past. It would been 'nice' if she could have moved on a little more to have included new subjects for her songs because she's beginning to sound a little like an obsessive jilted ex-girlfriend, still hitting out at an ex-lover after 7 years, but you get what you are given and what you *are* given is another top class album despite that little niggle. Alanis tends to write about men, relationships with men, how shitty they are and what she has learnt from them, with her often anger-laced always very personal, confessional lyrics feeling somewhat like the musical equivalent of thumbing through the diary of a woman with guy problems. Hell, the amount of psychological venting which goes on during the course of a typical Alanis album could almost be described as witnessing therapy in action and is actually quite emotionally draining. Whilst arguably radio friendly pop music with it's catchy choruses and hooks, Alanis Morissette's music could certainly never been comfortably lumped together with the sugar coated anaemic fluff which usually populates the pop charts, it's far too complex both in terms of musical arrangement and the intelligence of it's lyrics. Alanis is Alanis, pretty much beyond compare unless you want to start talking in the realms of an angry female Morrisey and Under Rug Swept is a fantastic album which almost makes up for the dubious mess which preceded it.

The more cynical of listeners will listen to some of the lyrics on this album and decide that whilst barbed and poetic these tracks are often little more than the kind of things you'll find gracing the problem pages of some teen magazine. "Narcissus" = "my boyfriend is sooooo vain", "So Unsexy" = "I feel so ugly", "21 Things I Want In A Lover"...'nuff said, but I'm not feeling in cynical mood today so I'll refrain from too much further comment along those lines. For me, "Under Rug Swept" marks a more mature outlook from Alanis, with the petulant verbal assaults against former abusive lovers and failed relationships from "Jagged Little Pill" being replaced by tracks like "Flinch" which are still angry, still barbed, but seem less like giving the inner demons a tongue and more a productive resignation to let the past lie and to learn from it. Emotionally, it seems Alanis might have just chilled out a little...just a little. You'll also be pleased to note that quite aside from the almost impenetrable mess of pretentious poeticism and anger which characterised the almost infeasibly pretentiously titled "Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie", this album is actually very accessible indeed, with some impressive musical arrangements, accessible hooks and pointed emotional confessions as opposed to the cacophony of emotions which marred "Supposed..." and made it far too dense to appreciate. It feels very much like a stepping stone to greater things, it definitely the best Alanis album yet, but with maturing emotions and increasingly impressive arrangements, the fourth should be something to behold...

We open with a typical high note, with "21 Things..." a track where Alanis reels off exactly what she requires from a man. Man hater? Obviously not eh?! Whilst undeniably a little "Just 17" in concept (In this issue 21 things to look for in *your* man...), this is a great track with a persistent crunching guitar plodding through, without overpowering, the verses and a low-key chorus where Alanis gives us a little wink and a nudge which basically says "yeah right!" because perfection like this isn't attainable. Continuing one the theme comes Narcissus hot on it's heels, arguably another "Just 17" track but excellent again with a real hook and the typical Alanis lyrical bite. This is a really 'odd' track musically, with distorted, echoing guitars mixing it with digitised melodies and a heavy bass line, but it works, but it's certainly different from the point of view of not being your typical Alanis track. Alanis pretty much talks through the verses, delivering a message to all those guys who think they are centre of the universe before delivering a chorus of real venom :

"You go back / To the women to the women who will dance the dance / You go back / To your friends who will lick your ass "

But this isn't all just vitriol, because the new mature Alanis recognises her own faults for wanting guys like this in the first place as well as trying to change them when she knows it's not going to happen. It's refreshing to see the pretension of "Supposed..." gone and the childishness of "Jagged..." exorcised on tracks like this.

Two stonkingly good tracks down we are lead into two more which highlight more clearly than anything else the maturity of the new Alanis with the poorly titled "At That Particular Time" and "Flinch" which follows straight afterwards. Anyone who listened to Jagged Little Pill (and there were at least 28 million of you) would have heard the superb, yet incredibly vindictive track "You Oughta Know" with it's accusatory bitching and snarling, packed with recriminations, blame and full on anger at a broken relationship...which pretty much sums up the entirety of "Jagged..." for that matter. Compare that to the gentle, yet more effective "At That Particular Time" which speaks once more of a failed relationship but with pain and regret and more than a little guilt and the differences are quite stark. "At That Particular Time" is a simple, yet stirring ballad which most strikingly of all perhaps when you consider all the blame which has preceded it, is the acceptance of self-guilt and past mistakes in that relationship from Alanis herself. This is a truly beautiful track, showcasing how Alanis' voice has progressed with simply piano and synthesiser accompaniment as support.

Perhaps more worthy of contrast to albums past is my favourite track from the album "Flinch" which again deals with a broken relationship but this time with exactly the kind of palpable anger and bitterness which marked earlier albums. The difference here is there is a desire to move on from that, to exorcise the demons ("Soon I'll grow up / And I won't even flinch at your name") rather than to let them screech through the rockier tracks as they did on "Jagged...". "Flinch" may be a track about a failed relationship, but it's a very positive track, one which promises a time when the hurt and pain of break-ups will have passed. Simply vocals over acoustic guitar, Flinch is once again simplistic in musical arrangement but once again quite beautiful, if barbed.

Erm, did I say Alanis had moved on? Precious Illusions unleashes the demons once more, but the venting is more palatable here because its the exception rather than the norm...and of course Precious Illusions is also a damn fine track which helps sugar the bitterness. Strings introduce this edgy track, but a heavy electronic arrangement soon kicks in as well, thumping through the chorus and beefing up the verses. Initially restrained, but barbed, Alanis' vocals feel like nothing more than the portent of the thumping choruses to come, rising to crescendo to meet them. This is a typical example of one of Alanis' more rock-based tracks, but with a new musical maturity, it's also one you'll be tempted to sing along to...no matter how loudly ;o)

If "Precious Illusions" let loose some demons then "A Man" lets them pick us up and drag us kicking and screaming into the very bowels of hell - aka Alanis' vision of the male psyche. Opening with nothing but a simplistic electronic arrangement which is vaguely reminiscent of numerous horror movies and in particular an echoey version of the Halloween theme music, this is a moment of real darkness on the album. The opening is brooding, but soon the heaviest guitars, certainly more than bordering upon heavy metal, seen on one of her albums kick in to give us a real lurching, slow moving leviathan of a track which, told from a first person perspective, is as scathing as you could imagine an Alanis Morisette view on the male psyche might be...

Throw into that mix the single "Hands Clean", a pure piece of bubblegum rock, with quick-fire subtly vocalised verses sung over crisp acoustic strings leading into a barnstorming chorus. I would have expected a radio friendly track like this to have done a lot better than it did but I think Alanis alienated quite a few fans with her previous album and it might have taken more than just one single to win them back. Hands Clean is the kind of "everybody-friendly" track which you either love or are indifferent to, there is no hate. Personally, I think it sounds like typical radio rock, accessible but no surprises. Along the same lines comes the foot tapping "Surrendering", which is great to sing along to and erm, 'has a good beat' with a slight country feel to it. I would have thought this was another which might have been earmarked for release as a single..but with all the attention I pay to the charts it just may have been already! "Surrendering" is a distinctly upbeat sing-a-longa-Alanis track, nothing too surprising in arrangement, but very listener friendly.

Of course, even an album of more than a little merit from an artist of undeniable stature is blighted by a few fillers, although it's fair to say on any other album they might just be considered high points! "So Unsexy" is dull and self -pitying yet almost feels tongue in cheek, perhaps because it's meant to be, perhaps because it sounds so pathetic?! Equally, "You Owe Me Nothing" is a passable track, but ultimately is quite dull again with the kind of verse/chorus/verse arrangement which does nothing for anyone. Set your CD player to skip these and you've got an excellent 9 track album as opposed to an excellent 11 track album marred by two mediocre tracks - much better! ;o)

And so, as "Under Rug Swept" opened on something of a surprising note, so does it close on one. Utopia is a track which is almost a folk track with a musical arrangement consisting of various strings and acoustics and the most 'twee' vocals you are likely to ever find on an Alanis Morisette album. It's pretty much entirely out of character, but then in many ways much of this album is out of character so I don't know why I was surprised! Utopia has an almost ethereal, haunting air about it, which depending on my mood either has me skipping over it or loving it. Folk isn't really my scene, but you forgive the artists you like don't you...

So, is this the best Alanis Morissette album produced? "Yes!", is the simple answer. Whilst I adored "Jagged Little Pill", and incidentally, it still finds it's way into my CD changer, "Under Rug Swept" is both a more mature album lyrically and a more accomplished album musically. The anger and bitterness is still there, but it's controlled now and some of the tracks are even quite positive in outlook which is a distinct change from albums past. I still respect "You Oughta Know" for it's sheer anger and I do think it is one of the best venting songs I've heard, but anger is just one emotion whilst songs dealing with similar issues on "Under Rug Swept" cycle through all the others and are just as, if not more effective. Definitely one I would recommend.

Additional Info.

Track listing

1 21 Things I Want In A Lover
2 Narcissus
3 Hands Clean
4 Flinch
5 So Unsexy
6 Precious Illusions
7 That Particular Time
8 Man, A
9 You Owe Me Nothing
10 Surrendering
11 Utopia

Discography

(As "Alanis Morissette")

Jagged Little Pill
Space Cakes [E.P.]
Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie
MTV Unplugged
Under Rug Swept

(As "Alanis")

Fate Stay With Me
Alanis
Now Is The Time

Purchasing Info.

£6.99 (+£1 P&P from 101CD.com)

(Thanks to kelkoo.com for the price comparison info.)

Official Website:
http://www.alanismorissette.com

Some Fun:
http://www.brunching.com/toys/toy-alanislyrics.html