AND........i'm back. exams are over and i've a whole four months of nothing but Ciao to rectify my a...
AND........i'm back. exams are over and i've a whole four months of nothing but Ciao to rectify my absence. So grab a cuppa, stay a while and sift thru the ideas of me..... ah go on!!!?.... what if i say please????
Member since:10.09.2001
Reviews:19
Members who trust:23
Inspired at last to get off my cute little ass and write again (thankyou littlemissdrunk J). Its been a while. I swear I will WILL make a conscious effort to be more active, someone dog gone went and stole their trust back – sniff. This make Sara gloomy, but she gonna fix it. Right here, right now. And how else to put a smile on me face but to present me with one of the all time greatest artists of all time, and then ask me to write about her. Alanis Morissette. Cast well in ‘Dogma’ – this woman is indeed God. Meep. Owning all her singles, three bootleg cds (that are, sadly, pants) and her measly four released cds I stand my ground and scream: I AM ALANIS MORISSETTES BIGGEST FAN!!! With this sorted, my topic of conversation for today boys and girls, is her newest release – ‘Under Rug Swept’. The long awaited and painfully anticipated trilogy in her completely fantastic collection.
After her infamous ‘Jagged little pill’ Alanis has been under a hell of a lot of pressure to release some kick ass stuff – a newcomer landing the fifth top album of whatever year it was. I know no person who did not love and play this album to its death. It’s immense, catchy and differing from all else that existed at that time. She stood alone. Loud, feisty and angry.
The release of her second album ‘Supposed informer infatuation junkie’ led to her cult following flitting away – it was less poppy than the first, showed more of an insight into her soul – I guess people just didn’t like what they saw. Its still angry, angrier, disturbed even. Less catchy than the first but surely not everything has to have a catch. This shows Alanis, her pain, her hatred and her hope. By far the superior album to her first, it just cut the fans from the followers of what’s ‘hip and now’.
And now comes ‘Under rug swept’. A new band, a new sound, a new more emotionally stable and settled Alanis and a new hit album that’s gonna be HUGE!!! Just eleven songs, but a musical high that is
so contagious and will leave you wanting more for a long long time.
21 things I want in a lover: You go girl!! Feminism at its best. What she wants, shes gonna get and let no-one tell her different. Not that she’s fussy like… The song literally lists what she wants from a man, qualities she believes shes enititled to. And she’ll remain being single until she gets them There will be NO settling. As I said – you go girl!!
Catchy it is, vaguely humourous and definitely hard rock for Mz Morissette. It’s a strong song, lyrically and musically. No settling. Entitlements. Demands. Preferences. Want. Will get. (its beginning to sound like a vicious divorce case…) I have a tendency to jump around my room, pretending I am as strong as this woman. Absorbing her strength. Why should we not attain what we want? Why can we not strive for perfection?
One more time: YOU GO GIRL!!! (I on the other hand will inevitably settle for lots of cuddles and a cheap bottle of wine!!)
Narcissus: I currently have this song on repeat attempting to come up with something worthy to say. This is Alanis – she’s not happy, she’s not smiling, she’s mad at you men folk, she’s got you pegged and this song will put you in your place! Every man one has ever known and loved, but inevitably left, cause, well, you know, he was a prick - is represented somewhere in this song. I imagine myself, as famous as her, screaming this at the audience, them loving it – and ‘him’ knowing exactly who its for. Tis a bitter sweet fantasy, but this unbelievably catchy tune will take you there. Whilst clearly not happy at the men folk, it’s a song about the female perspective. How useless and pathetic she feels with the unrequited-ness of her feelings. Alanis is constantly critiscised for being the man-hater of all time but this isn’t about that. The song keeps a brave face and takes the total piss out of the men folk, but there’s a sadness behind it. An infuriated Alanis wants to know ‘why?’
With its diversity, tune, lyrics and beat this song is destined for great heights. Soft rock melodies and intriguing links you’ll listen to this again and again – if only to understand the speeding lyrics. So much going on, so little time. Take a moment to appreciate….
Hands clean: The first release in a long long time. True fans waited with baited breath… did I love it? Was it worth the wait? Well no… kinda disappointing really. I heard it, its incredibly catchy and completely POP tastic – but where did Alanis go? I liked it, I liked it a lot, but it doesn’t reflect her previous work, nor the genius of her new album. Definitely a song that would appeal to the masses, its easy on the ear and the lyrics are intriguing. It hit the top ten sure, but it’s lacking something Alanisee – maybe it was a ploy to get some of her old fans back. I dunno. But I didn’t love it. It’s not bad, I sing along and bob my head enthusiastically, and it definitely grows on you. But its not the best, well her best anyways…
Flinch: This song is the slowest, the longest and the most beautiful song on the album. Sometimes I flick by it, sometimes I listen to it continuously on repeat. Its definitely mood defining, and sometimes you don’t want the emotional trip it takes you on. Talking about a past love, she still hurts and is dreaming of the day she won’t even flinch at his name. This is song is so sad, but so reflective of real emotion. A little self obsessed, but lyrically and musically perfect. It’s one of my favourites, but one of my least listened to tracks. Powerful, sad, and provoking of all things good and bad.
So Unsexy: By far my favourite. Many a rainy afternoon you will find me spinning round in my room to this track. Oblivious to all except me and the music this song belongs to me and me alone. Completely self involved, one mirrors this attitude when lost in the music. The slowest five minutes ever. I think it reflects what everybody feels but don’t communicate for fear of laughter. The little things that bring you down are expressed beautifully. A possible future single – enough poptism (there I go with the invention of words again) and rockism to appeal to the masses and enough genuine emotion and reflective ability to touch the nation.
Precious illusions: The dream world versus the reality fighting it out. This song builds tempo, ideas, power, feelings and emotions throughout the song. Guard yourself, or allow the real. Starts off weak, builds gradually, creates a mood and finishes powerfully. A genuinely satisfying song.
That particular time: Another ballad, sad, really sad. A bit of a loner on the album. Overwhelming sense of loss and tears. No hope, just the end of something that she is unwilling to let go. Not to be listened to when you can relate. It’ll just be ugly.
A man: Funky, different, good… but not her best. It rocks and rolls whilst combining various sounds that culminate to something fantastic. Kinda a feminist rage – but from the men folk. Kinda like a man refuting her own arguments. Its interesting. Its build up is fabulous – but although having all the characteristics of something spectacular it doesn’t quite cut it. Almost…
You Owe Me Nothing in Return: A strange one this one. Reflective of her earlier music its much simpler musically. The lyrics create a peculiar picture – her idea of love. Selfless - but to a ridiculous degree. A fantastic song, a definite grower. And a classic Alanis moment. Addictive, clever and another fine example of the goddess herself.
Surrendering: a haunting song. Another one that seems to grow on you the more you listen. The build up to the chorus, increasing tempo and picture of ideas leads to an uplifting, chirpy chorus that keeps the song together. It’s nice. Nothing spectacular, but its pleasant. Less provoking than some of the previous – but nice.
Utopia: Starting acoustic, this song builds and is genuinely beautiful. Peculiar in that it is about her Utopia but there is a depressing overtone that she does not shift. Bizarre. But really beautiful. I believe it the weakest on the album and a bizarre one to complete her otherwise uplifting, soft sometimes hard rock album. But she has never been straightforward.
On the whole I love this album. It was a long time in the coming, but it was worth the wait. Whilst being criticised for being majorly self-indulgent I believe this is key to her work. Her music is not background music. Its find yourself music. And it works.
Something has changed though. Her anger, the substance that created her unique artistry is gone. She is still, in my opinion, one of the best, most original artists of all time, but the key to her musical ability seems to have changed. Both former albums are filled with anger and resentment, giving her music a self indulgent razor sharp blade, in which she cut through opposition swiftly and easily. But this album seems to have lost this anger. Replaced somewhat by an extreme sadness one wonders what happened to Mz Morissette over the years between her releases. Her music is more reflective now, less deadly, a lot sadder and whilst clearly still in a league of her own I believe after this album release and the blunting of her sword, she’s gonna have to fight harder to fend off the opposition!
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
With all the attention Alanis Morissette's career has garnered, it's startling to think ... more
that on the release of her third studio CD, she has yet to see her 28th birthday. Under Rug Swept finds Morissette in the producer's role, a position in which she s...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Advantages: Alanis back doing what she does best, writing infectious but powerful songs, Demonstrates a more mature approach both musically and lyrically, 'At That Particular Time', 'Precious Illusions' Disadvantages: 'You Owe me Nothing' edges a bit too close to filler for comfort, It's still recognisably Alanis, so if you hated 'Jagged Little Pill' you'd best steer clear
Advantages: Alanis back doing what she does best, writing infectious but powerful songs, Demonstrates a more mature approach both musically and lyrically, 'At That Particular Time', 'Precious Illusions' Disadvantages: 'You Owe me Nothing' edges a bit too close to filler for comfort, It's still recognisably Alanis, so if you hated 'Jagged Little Pill' you'd best steer clear
![Under Rug Swept [ECD] - Alanis Morissette](http://imagesa.ciao.com/iuk/images/products/normal/260/product-5288260.jpg)
![Overall user rating: Under Rug Swept [ECD] - Alanis Morissette](http://images.ciao.com/ide/images/stars/2003/stars45.gif)
May 23rd, 2002
very helpful by (100%):
![River Is Wide, The [Remastered] - Forum (The)](http://imagesb.ciao.com/iuk/images/products/small/251/prod_small-6006251.jpg)
![Under Rug Swept [ECD] - Alanis Morissette - review by dreamerz](http://images.ciao.com/ide/images/stars/2003/stars40.gif)
