Flavors Of Entanglement

This is probably my favorite album by Alanis and at four years since her last one, well worth the wait. Combining Alanis's rock sensibilities with techno courtesy of producer Guy Sigsworth who has previously worked with Madonna and Bjork, this is a masterful work of art. My favorite tracks include the Mid-Eastern/Indian flavored "Citizen Of The Planet" (sample lyric- "I am a citizen of the planet. My president is kwan yin. My frontier is on an airplane. My prisons: homes for rehabilitating.") which I totally relate to. John Lennon's "Imagine" shares this sentiment in that rather focusing on what country one pledges allegiance to (which is all about division), we instead align with all humanity and love this Good Earth without the boundaries. The strings on this song (arranged by Sigsworth and Fiora Cutler) are incredible, sending an already fantastic song into the stratosphere. "I get giddy" indeed. If you liked "Baba" from "Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie" and the title track of "So-Called Chaos", you'll love "Citizen". The angst-ridden "Straitjacket" is one of the songs here that you'll want to (in Alanis's words) 'dance your face off' to. Great beat, more great lyrics that are nakedly personal, and I love the treatment the word 'straitjacket' is put through, giving the song just the right touch of insanity. "Versions Of Violence" gives me goose bumps in its depiction of a relationship that could be interpreted as either personal or universal. I love the way Andy Page's synth bass threads through the song.
After a deluge of sound from the first four songs, "Not As We" simmers the album down in just the right place. Basically just Alanis singing with piano accompaniment by Guy, this is perhaps the most personal and heartbreaking song on the album. But it also has a glimmer of hope reflected in the lyric "From scratch begin again but this time I as I and not as we" which makes it all the more touching. More hope and positivity comes in the form of the subtle beauty of "In Praise Of The Vulnerable Man" which also has a glorious string arrangement. Lyrically, "In Praise" seems to be a further exploration into the territory established in songs like "UR" and "So Pure" from "Junkie". "Torch" is another very personal song concerning Alanis's breakup with Ryan Reynolds. It's musically dynamic, going from relatively minimal instrumentation to full bloom and back again. This woman is fearless when it comes to documenting emotions and her art is richer because of this openess. Another ode to positivity and happiness, "Giggling Again For No Reason" follows. It's sort of a sister song to "Knees Of My Bees" from "So-Called Chaos" and allows Alanis to show a brighter side of herself before the intensity of the swirling "Tapes" which includes the priceless lyric "All these thoughts in my head aren't my own wreaking havoc". The song ends with Alanis singing in an upper register that is heavenly. "Flavors" ends perfectly with the upbeat "Incomplete" with swirls of gorgeous background vocals and other nice flourishes of sound courtesy of Andy Page's 'sound design'. I don't know if it will offend many of her fans but I dig Alanis's perception of God as female in this song. In this white male-dominated nation, I find this notion refreshing and share it with Alanis.
"Flavors Of Entanglement" shows Ms. Morissette continuing to grow as an artist. Girlz Rock!

...but whether it will be the last remains to be seen. OK, the disclaimer; I bought it because it was featured at Starbucks, my Starbucks stock is not feeling well.... After the first few cuts, I was ready to toss it...the liberal political bilge of "Citizen of the Planet", and "Underneath", the gross vulgarity of "Strait Jacket"...then she got to the softer numbers, and I was forced to render a grudging respect. [Yes, I've listened to it several times; no one should review after one hearing]......

"Not As We", "In Praise of the Vulnerable Man", and "Tapes" are wonderful...The title is a line from "Moratorium", which is a REALLY catchy song........ As I say, this is my first record by Miss Morisette...she really isn't my style...maybe...I sure see where she gets her following.

This Alanis is more cutting - reverted to some of the stylings of Jagged Little Pill - but I'm not the first to state this, by any means. I could listen to Alanis' word stylings alone all day. She is a word majician - and a word stylist majician in both their extreme complexities. Her writing capability, that voice and the driving sound that made her what she's been for a long time... that's my Alanis.

Alanis has had some "life changes" as of late as we all know. In this CD she shares some of her innermost thoughts,feelings, and emotions. Many people can whine,rant, and rave about things like these. She does none of this. Instead she places it all in perspective. She is fantastic. I did not like "Jagged Little Pill" at all. However, this CD is beyond great.

This is a classic that will be played for years. Her music will haunt you. The emotions in the music are ones we all have. She has simply taken them out of her heart and shared them with us-amazing.

Well this was a much anticipated cd it really took me back about 10 years ago when she released her greatest cd collection i felt this cd was a little diffrent a little more mellow sounding but i enjoyed it. I recommend this cd to anyone that is a alanis fan. Keep rockin Alanis we all love you