Flavors Of Entanglement

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Deluxe Edition Makes Things More Flavorful
I was slightly annoyed and rather dumfounded when first buying the "standard"(I guess that's what one would call it)edition of Flavors of Entanglement and then purchasing the deluxe edition featuring five additional tracks. When I reviewed Flavors of Entanglement only a day after it's release, I wanted to give it more than 3 stars and ended up suggesting 3 1/2 due to liking much of the CD, but there was definitely something missing the whole time, something incomplete and now I can see it was the absence of these songs. First, the original containing eleven tracks mounts to only 46 minutes and feels very short. Surely all sixteen tracks could fit on one CD, so I have to question the marketing stragedy, especially since the five additional tracks were originally chosen as part of the collection. A few months back, the track listing was changed as they were preparing for the release and the five additonal songs were taken off, and adding instead songs like "In Praise of the Vulnerable Man," "Giggling Again For No Reason," and "Incomplete," which along with "Torch," are the two weakest tracks(not lyrically)and should have been left for something like a bonus addition. The five tracks on this deluxe edition are all terrific songs and help complete the latest journey of self-discovery Alanis has written about. First, "Orchid," should have been the opening song. Like "Citizen of the Planet," "Orchid," is very self-descriptive and has Alanis writing a snapshot of her whole journey from childhood to the present, but the wording in "Orchid" is much more poetic and not as obscure as in "Citizen of the Planet." The perfect, mellow pop feel of "Orchid" would have served as a perfect way for Morissette to reintorduce herself. I do like "Citizen of the Planet," and think it will sound great live, but I think it would have been best suited as one of those hidden treasures on a bonus edition. "The Guy Who Leaves" would have worked great as a contrast to "In Praise of the Vulnerable Man," and "Madness" is one of the deepest and most powerful songs Alanis has ever done, so much so that I ask what idiot at the record company felt it was more appropriate for a bonus edition. "Limbo No More," is another great track with Alanis' emotional take as she views herself and her present circumstances, while "On The Tequlia" is the needed party track missing from the original edition. If you catch my drift, then I'm sure you know by now that buying the deluxe edition is well worth the money and will satisfy any Alanis fan. As for what I had written in my original review, most of what I thought holds true. Morissette is autobiographical and shows her most introspective work in a long time. Her words are deeply poetic with a beautiful sense of language, very concise on her word choices with lots of powerful metaphors. Her heart and intelligence as a lyricist and songwriter are stronger than ever. Sonically, Guy Sigsworth produces a new sound for Alanis. I never thought his efforts were terrible because I did like the sound in most of the songs, but while they're good, they could be even better. Sigsworth could have pushed the envelope a little further with a little less of the swirling synthesizers at times and a little more guitar jams or even a more danceable beat. "Giggling Again For No Reason," is a good example because it's a great tune but could have been just a little more upbeat with an extended length within the groove to create a greater feeling of freedom and bliss that's conveyed in the song. But I wouldn't dare argue with great songs like "Underneath," in which Alanis gives us her metaphysical worldview by explaning the way we live personally plays a role in how things work globally, while "Versions of Violence," "Moratorium," and "Tapes," have also become personal favorites. In Conclusion, I'm happy to say that Flavors of Entanglement is much better than 2004's dissapointing So-Called Chaos, and even happier with having listened to the additonal tracks that this release gets the higher rating it deserves. Welcome Back Alanis.

THE ALANIS I ONCE LOVED IS BACK
I just received this morning the new Alanis Morissette album FLAVORS OF ENTANGLEMENT, and the first thought I had while listening was: finally! This "finally" is for 2 reasons: one is for the long, very long four years since her last, SOCALLED CHAOS, and the other one is for the album itself, which recaptures the impressive, amazing, weird sound of S.F.I.J, the album I consider Alanis best. Some of the new songs (few I have to admit) I find average , or merely good, like Moratorium and dance-oriented Straitjacket, but the high points are really high, like the opener Citizen of the Planet, the emotives Not As We and Torch, the first single Underneath, or the agressive Versions of Violence. This is the album one expects from Alanis Morissette (at least do I): great songs, great production, beautiful lyrics, full of heart. FIVE STARS

Alanis is Back
The first few songs are hard-hitting and ring in your head. The last half of the cd is now growing on me, as the sound of the cd, overall, is great. I'm sure this has a lot to do with the producer of the cd, who used to be part of Frou Frou, with Imogen Heap. This is a suitable sound for the modern Alanis.

Best Break Up album since Pele....
Not to be misleading, because this is so much more than a break up album, but this has to be the best 'break up' album since Tori Amos's Boys for Pele. Unlike Tori's album, Alanis's "Flavors of Entanglement" is straightforward and accessible. Accessible I would think for anyone who has gone through the stages of grief. Alanis does this beautifully here. Alanis is known for her personal lyrics, and they shine through on each track on this album. "Not as We", "Orchid" and "Torch" are tearjerking ballads. "Underneath" is a great pop-feeling song but as a debut single it only hints at the great things to be found on this album. "Straightjacket" and "Versions of Violence", and "Madness" (although slower), are great 'angry' songs. "Incomplete" is sort of melancholy, sad with hope. "Giggling Again for No Reason" and "Vulnerable Man" are uplifting and catchy. I find myself singing along with them every time. And "On The Tequilla" should have been on the main album in my opininon. I could see this being a great party song. It is silly and fun enough to do so. I am a major Alanis fan, she is one of my favorites. I love the majority of her music, and at least like the remainder, but even at those standards, "Flavors Of Entanglement" soars above the rest. This may be her best work yet. Top five tracks: "Not As We", "Torch", "Orchid", "Bring on the Tequilla" and "Straightjacket".

This pill is not so jagged
Along with everyone else I was a big fan of Alanis's major label debut album, "Jagged Little Pill" back when it was released. However because a co-worker felt the need to play the album non-stop for about three months the album became annoying. I don't think I've listened to it since and haven't paid attention to any of Alanis's follow-up albums. Then last week I heard her perform one of her new songs on Howard Stern's radio show and decided to give the new album a shot. This is a great album from start to finish. She has grown a lot since "Pill" and the combination of her lyrics and Guy Sigsworth's production are a match made in heaven. There isn't a weak track on the disc but the piano ballad "Not As We" is a stand out track for me. "Straitjacket", "Underneath", "Moratorium" they're all great. The album is loaded with hooks and much like "Jagged Little Pill" this is a disc you will play over and over.