Answering her critics who call her a man hater, on 'Under Rug Swept' Alanis displays a new maturity. Yes, she sings about failed relationships and egotistical men, but she also likes men as difficult as men find that it to believe that! The general tone of the CD is upbeat, although tracks 4 and 7 are slower and more melancholy/pensive. Even the songs that are bitter or sad have a certain calm strength to them rather than a vindictive air a la 'Jagged Little Pill'. Alanis has moved on and grown up, although the past still affects her ('flinch').

Most people know Alanis Morissette from her debut album 'Jagged Little Pill'(1995). If they did not listen to her subsequent releases ('Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie' [1998] and 'MTV Unplugged' [1999]) they will be pleased to hear her voice has developed and strengthened, lost some of its rawness whilst remaining distinctively Alanis. Likewise her lyrics have mellowed somewhat and her songs are much more upbeat than the majority of 'Jagged Little Pill'. Her live performance on 'MTV Unplugged' proved to fans and critics alike that she is a fantastic performer, but this is further reinforced on 'Under Rug Swept'. Bear in mind that on her debut album she was just 21 years old, she is now 27 (28 in June) - a certain maturity and progression is to be expected and she does not disappoint.

Catchy with a strong pop rock beat and meaningful/quirky lyrics 'Under Rug Swept' really does prove to me that Alanis is one of the best female solo artists in the world. She is an accomplished writer (she has been writing songs since age 9!), an inspiring singer and producer of her own album.

Track list:
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. A man
9. You owe me nothing in return
10. Surrendering
11. Utopia

1. 21 things I want in a lover

Yes, Alanis really does list the qualities she would like in a lover in this quirky, upbeat song. In case you're wondering what these qualities are, they include:

- big intellectual capacity
- don't believe in capital punishment
- uninhibited in bed

A typical noughties woman, Alanis does not need a man to be happy so she feels able to list these qualities that she finds attractive. Why rush into a relationship with an unsuitable candidate!

There's a funky rock beat behind the lyrics, with heavy emphasis on guitar. I find that it is so catchy that I want to sing and dance along to it and grin at her request for "more than 3 times a week". Isn't that what we all want?

8/10

2. Narcissus

Ladies, I bet you've had your own Narcissus at some point, a man who is so self-absorbed that he's more in love with himself than he will ever love anyone else. Yes, there's an element of bitterness and resentment in this song but I would never describe it as man hating, after all this is a man she tried to love.

The music is fast-paced, anyone who has ever tried to sing Alanis' songs will find this to be quite typical. It can be a struggle to fit the words in exactly the same way as she does. The beat is funky, again a strong emphasis on guitar but more so on Alanis' wonderful voice.

I love this song because I too have had a Narcissus boyfriend, in particular I like the way she points out his inability to commit:

'and any talk of commitment
leaves you running for the door'

8/10

3. Hands Clean

The first single that Alanis released from this album and possibly the strongest. I defy you not to sing along to it!

This song is all about being in love with a man who wants to keep the relationship a secret. I've been in this situation also so I can relate to the shame and feeling of inadequacy that she implies.

'we'll fast forward to a few years later
and no one knows except the both of us
and i have honored your request for silence
and you've washed your hands clean of this'

The beat behind this song isn't as strong as the previous two, the guitar and her singing is much softer to convey the sadness of the situation.

I have to give this song 10/10 because the music & lyrics are superb

4. Flinch

This is one of the slower, melancholy tracks on the CD. This is a song about trying to escape your past, get over a failed relationship but being affected by him all the same. Alanis' singing is haunting and emotional and the lyrics move me every time.

'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
soon i'll grow up and i won't even flinch at your name'

This is the kind of song you would play if you found out your ex was getting married!

There's heavy emphasis on acoustic guitar here and a slow, mellow beat. This allows Alanis' voice to shine.

A moving 10/10 from me.

5. So unsexy

The lyrics of this song are so beautiful they never fail to bring tears to my eyes. Somewhat reminiscent of TLC's 'Unpretty', this is the kind of song to play on days when you feel ugly.

'i can feel so unsexy for someone so beautiful
so unloved for someone so fine
i can feel so boring for someone so interesting
so ignorant for someone of sound mind'

This is faster in pace than the previous song, the music almost drowns out Alanis' voice, emphasising her frailty.

I suffer from low self-esteem so this song really touched me. Sometimes I feel like Alanis is singing from my heart.

10/10

6. Precious illusions

This is a song about the daydreams/illusions we use to protect ourselves from the harsh reality of life. By using these protective illusions we are surviving rather than living. In this song Alanis choses to let her guard down, to experience true bliss.

'but this won't work as well as the way it once did
cuz i want to decide between survival and bliss
and though i know who i'm not
i still don't know who i am
but i know i won't keep on playing the victim'

The song starts off with a quiet guitar behind Alanis' voice and increases in tempo at the third verse. There?s a sense of quiet optimism about this song reflected in Alanis' strong hopeful vocals.

8/10

7. That particular time

Slower again, this is a sad song about the end of a relationship. She is hanging on to their love even though the relationship has died. I think most of us can relate to this situation and all the painful feelings arising from it.

'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
in the meantime i lost myself
i'm sorry i lost myself...i am'

The music is minimal to emphasise the melancholy lyrics.

8/10

8. A man

This song has strong religious connotations, once more drawing from her Catholic upbringing. I sense a strange comparison between a husband and Jesus.

'and i have been shamed
and i have relented
i'm working my way toward our union mended
and i have been shamed
and i have repented
i'm working my way toward our union mended'

Unusually for a song with such a religious context there is a strong rock beat to the music. Combined with this, Alanis really sings the shame from the lyrics.

This is a good, strong song but probably my least favourite on the CD and therefore I would only give it 6/10.

9. You owe me nothing in return

Slower once more, this song has a strong beat but a laid back feel. I think it is about unconditional love. They say 'if you love someone then set them free', this song is the musical equivalent.

'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'

It is a nice song but it doesn't inspire feeling in me like many of the others.

8/10.

10. Surrendering

Slightly faster in tempo, this is a song about allowing yourself to love. It makes me think about my boyfriend and his fear of trusting, of surrendering. The moment they do you are so grateful.

'and i support you in your trusting
and i commend you for your wisdom
and i'm amazed by your surrender in the face of threatening forces
that i represent'

The tempo is upbeat and the lyrics are pretty optimistic. I wouldn't say it was typical of Alanis Morissette's style but it is a good song.

8/10

11. Utopia

Slower once more, Alanis' voice is beautiful on this song about utopia. The lyrics really emphasise a sense of peace and happiness.

'this is utopia this is my utopia
this is my ideal my end in sight
utopia this is my utopia
this is my nirvana
my ultimate'

There's something incredibly calming about this song and it is the perfect end to this great CD.

10/10

Perhaps the coolest part of 'Under Rug Swept' is the interactive features -
through playing the cd on your pc you can access a secret website which has
a letter from Alanis, exclusive audio tracks (a live version of "Flinch" and
"Sister Blister") as well as the making of "hands clean".

The letter is brief, thanking you for your curiosity that caused you to seek
out the secret website.

The audio tracks are good:

The live version of "flinch", live at the whiskey in LA, proves the strength
& quality of Alanis' voice. It has a really laid back feel. Alanis' voice
here could be compared to whiskey - smooth with a bite to it.

"Sister Blister" is a previously unreleased track so it is a great bonus.

On the audio page there is also a link to Utopia lyrics. This plays in
Windows Media Player - the song in the background with the lyrics displayed.
This version is stunning, Alanis' voice sounds angelic.

All of these are available for hi or low bandwith - luckily I accessed this
on my boyfriend's broadband so it downloads incredibly fast.

Making of "hands clean" has various options:
Storyboard - sketches for the video
Pictures - stills from the video
Video clips - 21 clips available on hi or low bandwith
See the video - beautifully clear picture of the video

The cd is worth buying if you're an Alanis fan - the songs are great and the
extras make this a perfect buy.