Alanis Morissette, 'Flavors of Entanglement' (Maverick/Reprise)
Irony-challenged '90s icon struggles with lexicon of love.
By Rob O' Connor 06.17.08 1:33 PM
Even on her sixth studio album, Alanis Morissette’s lyrics still cause you to pause. Did she just sing, “How you land in the soft as you fortify”? Or “Core, born into form, starts in our living room”? Psychology textbooks are less linguistically challenged and just as littered with cases of emotional break-downs. Producer and cowriter Guy Sigsworth (Björk) kicks up the beats per minute with tabla (“Citizen of the Planet”), squeezes out a syrupy greeting-card moment (“Torch”), points up a likable melody (“Giggling Again for No Reason”), and layers Morissette’s vocals for widescreen effect. But nothing can hide her tortured grammar or soul.
I loved the way Alanis Morissette showed so much heart with her music. Flavors of Entanglement lyrics and music, expresses with such heart felt emotions that you feel them too. With the help of her producer, Guy Sigsworth, Alanis has put together a sole full album in Flavors of Entanglement. These songs have more edge and grit than anything she's released since the '90s. I have waited a long time for this album but it has proven to be worth the wait. Alanis has repeatedly said in interviews that she had hit "rock bottom" upon her engagement ending to actor Ryan Reynolds and how that is reflected in her album "Flavors of Entanglement". The album certainly reflects death - in this case, death of a relationship. Never hiding her bruises, she moves forward in her career by releasing this soul full album. My favorite tracks were, "Citizen of the Planet" and "Straitjacket". I felt these songs were telling a story from heart. Morissette proves herself yet again, to be a poet with lyrics for this generation's contemporary singer and songwriters. She invites listeners along on her journey of her life as she helps them gain feelings of themselves. She is both enlighting as well as entertaining. I think this album proves beyond a doubt that Alanis Morissette is a voice to be reckoned with. I am eagerly waiting for her next album.
I was hoping an album could come out this summer that I could listen to over and over and really enjoy. The last one I played endlessly was Silvechair's last release. Alanis has released a fantastic album. I think you are selling her short in your review. Yeah, sometimes her lyrics are a bit obtuse, but she still never fails to come across as a true citizen of the planet, as somebody who genuinely cares and feels. How can that be a bad thing? Great voice too. I love her new album. I think she has done an outstanding job and it is occupying the #1 spot on my iPod right now.
I strongly disagree. Morissette's lyrics are exceptional, and the phrases she uses very interesting (in fact it is probably what I like best about her). You probably preferred something simple and stupid like "that's not my name..my name is.." etc etc. This is obviously not the case here.
The album is quite good, better than Under Rug Swept and WAY better than So-Called Chaos. I am not a really huge fan, but I think she is an interesting artist. The album is a well-deserved 3,5 / 5 .