Flavors Of Entanglement (Bonus Tracks)

While I have loved previous Alanis Morrisette albums, this one misses the mark.I have listened to this album repeatedly thinking that it will grow on me.Instead ,I find most of the songs and especially the lyrics to be just annoying.If your into New Age drivel then you will love this album but after 3 weeks in the CD stack in the car all I find is that I keep hitting the fast forward button.

I used to not listen to Alanis as she appeared so often to be "angry" in certain songs and the way she was promoted.

But then I began to listen to a few spiritual things she had to say.

This album for me is her best yet - with a caveat.

The "Deluxe" version is THE version to get - period. I cannot imagine a version of this album without the truly important "Limbo No More" and a few other cuts found only on the second CD of the deluxe edition.

If you like Alanis when she is powerful, less angry, or flat out spiritual, this is the album from her for which you have been waiting.

I have listened solely to this album for weeks on end now, as part of my workout. It so converted me that I bought tickets to her concert many months away. I only do that these days with those who truly move me and make my life better.

If you dare to look at yourself and ponder rather than blame; if you are open to great music that cajoles your spiritual side, GET THIS.

In my view, this is her best album yet - but get the Deluxe version or miss out on some other important (and one just plain Tom Tom Club silly fun type) tunes.

By the way, I'm sober and I have no issue with "Bring On The Tequila" as a very cute, poppy chorus that's hard to beat.

By far one of the best albums I've bought in a long times, Flavors is Alanis at her best. She presents herself as vulnerable, playful and even with quite low self-esteem. One thing that bothers me, is that all the people saying that this album isn't personal, aren't listening to the song "Tapes" which has Alanis feeding messages to herself like that she's unloveable. "Citizen of the Planet" starts out quite mysteriously, with an almost middle-eastern flare. It turns into a vocal powerhouse.

This album really surprised me. To be honest, I didn't think Alanis had that good of a voice. She's proved me wrong. "Straitjacket" is another fave, and Alanis is quite angry. There really isn't one song on the album that is bad. Seriously. That is how good this cd is. The beautiful "Orchid" makes the bonus track version the only one you can buy. Don't even think of buying the sub-par standard version.

Alanis tests new waters on this CD. This is quite a departure from Jagged Little Pill. It's hard to pick a fave song on this album. It's between "Orchid" and "Not as We."

There is one point of contention I must make, where I disagree with Alanis. In "Citizen of the Planet" she says that her prisons are used for rehabilitation. I beg to differ. Prisons are meant to punish. Case-in-point: you can't rehabilitate a child molester.

Alanis' new album shows that she's still capeable of writing great songs that you will return to many times. In fact, at least half of the album ranks with the very best she has recorded throughout her career. The strongest songs are those with sparse, almost fragile arrangements like the melancholy but beautiful "Not as We" and "Torch".

The first single "Underneath" is classic catchy Alanis, and another favourite.

"In Praise of the Vulnerable Man" has an unusual arrangement for Alanis with oriental inspired strings but the songs works really well.

Some songs though have been given too much techno sound and come out somewhat overproduced.

The closing track "Incomplete" is a catchy waltzy tune, and fine end to an album that has its ups and downs - mostly ups.

The bonus CD contains 5 songs and it's wonder to me why a fine song like "Orchid" was left out of the original album. A quiet acoustic melodic song. Also the piano accompanied "Madness" is a solid addition.

I always has been an Alanis fan, the music is awesome, an the way that she put in music his mind, great CD for me one of the best of his career!!!!