Not giving anyone from Rolling Stone a run for their money. But CD reviewing nonetheless. June 10, 2008
Posted by charmingbutsingle in Keeping my day job, There are songs about all of them.trackback
I am not a music critic. By any means. Let me make that very clear.
But, I’m pretty sure I’ve mentioned before that I am a long-standing Alanis Morissette fan. As such, I went out of my way to go to Starbucks to buy her new CD this morning. (I favor local shops over Starbucks. Also, there’s something special about buying the physical CD and popping it directly into my CD player, rather than downloading it from iTunes. Alanis is pretty much the only artist I do this for.)
My first reaction was that I like this album, Flavors of Entanglement, more than previous work from Alanis. I’ve always liked a gem here or there – “Eight Easy Steps” from So Called Chaos and “Flinch,” “21 Things I Want in a Lover” and “Hands Clean” from Under Rug Swept and “Unprodigal Daughter” and “Simple Together” from Feast on Scraps. Gone are the Jagged Little Pill days when I wore the CD out from overuse.
It has been well-documented that Alanis penned this album in the days after her broken engagement to Van Wilder himself, Ryan Reynolds. And so the idea has been that she’d return to the rage of “You Oughta Know,” easily one of the best anthems for the dumped in modern times. And, while she’d probably rather not have her melodrama from more than 10 years ago be the height of her career, I’m sure she recognizes that the song’s energy, rawness and lasting popularity give her the luxury of releasing the kind of albums she releases now – softer, more thoughtful at points, less likely to hit the Billboard 100. The tone and arrangement and pronouncement of her lyrics are awkwardly hers – I don’t know anyone else who uses odd terms like “accountable-less” and “focusless-ness.”
And maybe it is my foul mood or the fact that I finally just had enough and cried years worth of tears a few weeks back. But this CD? I like it … a lot.
I could see “Citizen of the Planet,” with its strong beats on my workout mix. The same goes for “Straitjacket.” Incidentally, I snorted when I heard the break up-inspired line, “I don’t know who you’re talking to with such f–cking disrespect.” Snorted. Out loud. Thankfully I was alone in the car.
And the slower, stripped down tracks, like “Not as We” and “Torch” are the gut wrenching songs of a woman in the midst of coming to terms with her ending relationship.
While I didn’t break up with my fiancé or anything crazy like that, I don’t find it tough to relate to the angst of some songs and the sadness of others. I mean, who hasn’t wanted to “declare a moratorium on things relationship”? Hell, I think I did that last week. Twice.
Perhaps the sweetest song and the one that speaks to me the most at this moment is “Incomplete,” which celebrates an idea that I should get behind – that being somewhat unfinished and still forming is where the true beauty lies. And so I’ve been listening to its calming tone all afternoon.
“I have been running so sweaty my whole life / Urgent for a finish line / And I have been missing the rapture this whole time / Of being forever incomplete.”
I’m going to stitch that on a sampler or something.
I loved Alanis back in the day. She really spoke to me in my angst and heartbreak years. One of the pioneers of Angry Chick Music.
Didn’t know she had a new album out - thank for the review. It’s a definite buy for me.
This is the ultimate review. You’re writing about how her music touched you, and shifted your life a little, and that, at the end of the day is is the point. I reckon
Jagged Little Pill was on repeat in my cd player for all of senior year of high school. LOVE.
Brilliant review and totally convinced me that I must have it. And I have a feeling Incomplete will become my new anthem. When you make a needlepoint of those lyrics, send one my way.
I’m going to download from iTunes right now! Unwritten is my favorite Alanis song and always makes me feel better.
I haven’t listened to AM in years. Needless to say, my reactions to her music are bound to be (and in fact are) somewhat different from yours and those of your readers who have posted comments this far. What I like about her is what I like (dare I say it?) about some of Madonna’s music: it flies in the face of convention, of authority (in M’s case, the Pope), and asserts without fear attitudes that many women — and even men — of our generation share. The more strong women appear in our popular culture, the better. That said, someone does need to teach Ms. Morrissette the meaning of irony. Her song “Ironic” gets it all wrong!
An idea about music has been percolating in my little head for several weeks now, and, quite coincidentally, just as you were posting your review, I was posting my essay. If this part of my comment seems too much like self-advertisement, please omit it (or erase my comment altogether). Otherwise, I think you’ll take particular interest in the last paragraph in particular, and in the musical selection that follows. It is perhaps classical music’s most beautiful (not to mention metaphysical) depiction of romantic love, of heartbreak, and of the union of two ill-fated lovers in the transcendent moment of their deaths. Weighty stuff, I know, but it deserves more of an audience than it gets nowadays. I hope you enjoy it. The link is http://vaultedsky.wordpress.com/2008/06/12/transfiguration-then-laundry/ .
All best,
Inky
Alanis was cool when she was angry. And Flea played the bass on Jagged Little Pill, I believe. Honestly, that will likely be the height of her career for many, and she will still be singing You Oughta Know 15 years from now at the State Fair.
wailin — The woman’s done, what, seven studio albums and has won seven Grammys. She’s sold more than 55 million records worldwide. (And that’s not all Jagged Little Pill, FYI.) She tours internationally most years and her most recent album gained critical acclaim. And yes, that’s over her 13 year career, which is pretty impressive seeing as most wannabe musicians never emerge from their garages and would DIE to play at the State Fair.
I take my Alanis very seriously, dude. ;P
Thank you so much for recommending it. I can tell that you are biased, but after listening to it a coupled a times I am falling love with her all over again.
I stand by my prior statement. lol And I said “for many” because many, like me, dropped off after JLP and she doesn’t receive as wide of radio play as she did.
Doesn’t mean she isn’t successful, just means I haven’t liked anything by her in a very long time. lol
I’m just going through a break up. Thanks for reminding me to listen to Alanis’s music!
I used to love Alanis too! I haven’t listened to her in so long. So long ago that I can remember my mom not liking the music and not wanting me to listen to it! Haha!
This is an amazing review…thank you!
I’m searching for new music, and I love the way you describe this CD. I’ll be heading out to Starbucks today.
Please review more!?!
I have never found someone who loves Alanis as much as I do. And fathom that, the Internets unite us.
I don’t have her new cd yet because my birthday is in 10 day. And I have to leave something good for my boyfriend to get me.
Thanks for the review.
Wow, I am surprised. I just listened to a few samples on iTunes. I definately like the sad, sappy songs more (probably due to the recent event of relationship ending) but I am definately downloading some.
Charming! I couldn’t find the link for your shopping blog, but I found some shoes that totally remind me of you!
http://www.zappos.com/n/p/p/7406860/c/2157.html in leopard print!
[...] best walks I ever had taken. I listened to the new Alanis Morrisette CD which was recommended by Charming but Single. Damn! It was perfect for my mood. Sidebar - I love Torched, Not as We, Incomplete, and [...]
I agree with everything you said about the album! I downloaded it off Itunes and I’ve been playing it all day everyday for 2 days straight! I just started a new blog and my first real blog post was completely inspired by her song Tapes and ofr course things that are going on in my life right now! Glad to hear your review!
Hi Charming,
So glad I happened upon your site. AM has always been one of my faves, like you said, her previous records are arguably some of the best dumped revenge songs ever recorded. And yes, I know EVERY single word of EVERY single song, haha.
I will definitely buy her album, especially after reading your review. Check out my blog at ispinster.com. You are now on my blogroll.
Have a good one! –Midnight
Hi Charming.
If you want to take your usual fill of self-pitying succour from the usual litany of sob sisters, then go right ahead. Me, I got to disagree about Alanis Morrisette. Her work is all the same. Bloated “poetry 101″ delivered in a screechy, self-important canadian whining that frankly makes nails dragged down a blackboard sound appealing. I hated her then and no doubt I’d hate her now if I stopped to consider her for more than a second, or if her “ouevre” was rammed down my throat 24/7 as was the case with jagged something something. Thankfully, she’s a busted flush whose limited airplay this time round is due mostly to the fact that 50% of a radio station’s audience would rather attach the pincer of a maine lobster to their balls while necking tobasco sauce, rather than listen to that steaming pile of unexamined female smugness. Your uncritical worship of this raging second-rater makes me worry for your prospects.
As always I remain,
Your faithful servant
Francis, you are full of hate. Rants like yours are usually a sign of profound self-loathing. Get some help.
Thank you incycloak……..I couldn’t have said that better……
I feel like Alanis has been so overplayed that it’s hard for me to dig her much anymore. But in the 90s? Yeah, I was all over Jagged Little Pill.
Just bought this album myself, and can’t wait to listen to the whole thing. Thanks for such an engaging review.
I concur. The albums between “Jagged” and “Flavors” was missing something; I’m not sure what. The music and heatfelt lyrics on “Flavors” have me listening to it obsessively.