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From the Vault...
09/21/2014
#1430 |
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info
Alanis Morissette
"Under Rug Swept"
© Maverick Records
Year of Release: 2002
Rating:
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track listing
21 Things I Want
In A Lover
Narcissus
Hands Clean
Flinch
So Unsexy
Precious Illusions
That Particular Time
A Man
You Owe Me Nothing
In Return
Surrending
Utopia
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Alanis Morissette
"Under Rug Swept"
Alanis Morissette returns with her release of Under Rug Swept. Basically her studio albums starting with
Jagged Little Pill reached #1 --
Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie (1998) and Under Rug Swept (2002).
Alanis Morisette's music never really "hit big" for me. Her music is quite different. A unique voice, a unique style of Rock and Alternative.
Sure, Jagged Little Pill is a great album, yet it takes a few repeated listens to label it as a "classic." Trying to label her music as Rock or
Alternative has always been an issue. Under Rug Swept is getting that same impression. As I listen, the songs all have good qualities, just as
Jagged Little Pill did.
Take the first track, "21 Things I Want In A Lover." It's a great album opener, and easily a track that Jagged Little Pill could have
continued on with. "Narcissus" was a little off for me, trying to decipher it as Alternative or Rock. And in certain parts of this song, her voice
just gets in the high-pitch or "sarcastic," it gets a bit annoying.
"Hands Clean" was the hit from the album, another Jagged contender. "Flinch" is more laid back, and yet has to be a very convincing
and impressive track. "So Unsexy" is another very good track. (It now seems the album is getting better with each song, just as I felt listening
through Jagged Little Pill.
"Precious Illusions" has the laid-back approach, and once again, it's impressive. As you're waiting for this song to build on, and it does, in
all good forms. "That Particular Time" is one of the songs that has a "reach out to you" sound. It's another laid-back styled track, and moving,
impressive. "A Man" defines Alanis Morisette as a different artist than the rest. This song particularly just draws away from all the other songs.
Another impressive effort, everything mentioned how she never really "hit big" for me, still remains, yet it's a whole different direction and approach to
the many other artists and musical styles I've always been fond of. Listen to this track again, it seems "darker," "mysterious" yet the attention is on
full impact. "You Owe Me Nothing In Return" is another impressive Rock track. Likewise, the upbeat "Surrendering." (Yet her voice does
get a bit ragged here.) "Utopia" ends the album, another impressive laid-back approach style.
Jagged Little Pill, just as "Under Rug Swept deals with personal meanings. The basis of this reviewed album, was based on the theme
of mending unions and bridging gaps. She was in the stage of "the middle of the beginning of the end of a relationship" going on in her life. Relationships
on the verge of ending, She also reflected her songs based on a visit to the Navajo reservation. Under Rug Swept was more melodic, and not as harsh
and blunt as what would be considered her best album of her career, Jagged Little Pill.
Again, I may not be a true fan of Alanis Morisette, but the two albums of hers reviewed, I can agree on: Her songwriting is exceptional. Her lyrics
are right to the point. The songs are personal, meaningful, as the musical style blends perfectly. As mentioned, her albums do require repeated listens,
and on each one, there are never any negativities why to listen more than once. It's just that in my opinion, Alanis Morisette's style of music is so
different, it keeps drawing your attention, to listen more, and understand her lyrics and meanings, and notice why and how her music sounds the way it does.
Jagged Little Pill just may be declared as her all-time best and/or favorite. Under Rug Swept is another close contender. I'll be looking
forward in reviewing Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie when the time comes. Jagged Little Pill spent 12 weeks at #1 on the Billboard
albums chart. Under Rug Swept spent only one week at the top. Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie spent two weeks. Now we see why Jagged
Little Pill is considered her "best" ? Maybe the figures here determines this, yet Under Rug Swept could have easily spent more weeks at the top,
and I'm sure there are better fans of Alanis Morisette's music that would say Rug is better (or not). Under Rug Swept would be her the last
of her #1 albums, although she did record 2 more albums in the 2000s decade, and her most recent, in 2012. Obviously, these albums were not as successful
as the three #1 albums mentioned.
To enjoy Alanis Morisette's music requires time to grow on you. At least for me, it did. And it's hard to believe that when she first started out,
her music style (and looks) was very similar to the Pop nature of the one, and only TIFFANY. They both changed their musical styles -- Rock/Alernative
for Alanis, Country for Tiffany. I think we know who is the better of the two.
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