Amazon.com: The first studio album from Alanis Morissette since 2004, Flavors Of Entanglement fuses the organic and the techno—prompted by producer Guy Sigsworth (Madonna, Björk). Incorporating beats, loops and synthesizers, the album was designed, says Morissette, so listeners can "dance your face off." Balancing introspective confession and delirious joy, the global and the personal, Flavors Of Entanglement is a tasty new musical feast from one of pop’s most intriguing artists.
Amazon.co.uk : Though the mainstream might have all but abandoned Alanis Morrissette since her mid-90s breakthrough as the MTV grunge generation’s Madonna, she has forged on with a handful of albums of a reasonably steely consistency, although even kindly ears would recognize her output since Jagged Little Pill as reduced strength versions of that celebrated album. Its slightly convoluted follow up, Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie, remains her most intriguing if long-winded work, and with her most recent record (2004’s So Called Chaos) more or less finding peace with itself--filing down the angsty internal dialogues and sounding almost content even at its loudest points--the future seemed to be heading on a downward spiral. But talk about an about turn. With Flavours Of Entanglement the bronco is very much bucking once more, often causing whiplash-inducing stylistic swerves. "Citizen Of The Planet" opens the album, erupting out of eastern strings and a sequenced underlay with blunt, compressed guitars and thumping beats, sweeping through desolate plains previously inhabited by nu metal fantasists Evanescence. The dark tension is upheld through the robotic techno of "Straightjacket" and dark string-laden drum ‘n’ bass of "Moratorium." Landing amid the lonely Tori Amos balladry of "Not As We," Texas-pop of "In Praise Of The Vulnerable Man," and the more typical Alanis fare of "Underneath," this is an often unsettlingly mixed bag achieving varying levels of success, but it is also probably her most emotionally satisfying work for a decade. -- James Berry
Reinvented, rediscovered, reengineered Alanis I think most of the people concerned about Alanis Morissette's music is the deviation from album to album. You definitely won't get the harmonica solos from her CDs after year 2000. On this album Flavors Of Entanglement, Alanis and her manager experimented a variety of sounds. From the gothic rock riffs to piano Ballard, from RnBish to radiohead's experimental.
I appreciate this album a lot. The opening track 'citizen of the planet' is my favorite track. I got the same feeling when I first listened to 'Baba' from her 2nd album. Very loud guitar riffs. But this time it's even louder and meaner. I was jumping on my chair, way too excited :D
Second promotion track is 'In praise of the vulnarable man'. A well laid out song with a message. Lovable chorus, the bridge is a killer. You cannot miss this.
This album has more elements from 'Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie' than any others. I think the majority of the songs are up to her standard. It's not something she wrote randomly. I was little disappointed on her last two albums 'Under Rug Swept' and 'So-called Chaos'. Both CDs got some really boring songs. Now I'm back listening to her music again. It sounds nice and fresh.
Her new band members are not bad. A funkier drummer is replaced. See them play live. You'll be surprised by how the songs sound on s stage.
Seeing Her Live In Concert is Nothing More Than Noise Alanis can write beautiful lyrics and melodies and perform them wonderfully on CD. But, don't bother to go see her in concert if you think your going to get that kind of experience. Her concert is noise, noise, noise. Her sound people should be fired for destroying her music. Buy the CD, skip the concert.
Best CD since Jagged Little Pill First off, let me say that I love Alanis Morissette. I think she is terrific, a true talent. Jagged Little Pill is one of my favorite CDs of ALL time. Having said that, all of the CDs she's released since then haven't been quite as good. That has now changed with the release of Flavors of Entanglement. This is easily one of the best CDs from Alanis in a long time. I like each and every one of them. An excellent choice.
A little Above Average There are some very favorable reviews of this CD and I liked it mostly too but I still expect more from a Morrisette CD.
The first few songs are forgettable - "Underneath", "StraightJacket" and "Versions of Violence".
"Not as We" is about the harsh end of a romantic relationship and it very good and pure:
"Day one day one start over again Step one step one I'm barely making sense for now I'm faking it I'm pseudo making it" ... "From scratch begin again but this time I as I And not as we"
"In Praise of the Vunderable Man" is much more like Alanis - talking about her relationships with men and it's fun sounding.
"Moratoriam" is back to the techno sounding stuff and I don't like it.
"Torch" is ballad about, again, remembering someone she was romantically involved with (I assuming Ryan Reynolds). It works as it's pure Alanis singing about her emotions.
The last three are good as well, mostly about renewal after the relationship is over and trying to move on, and could of been placed at the start of the CD.
"Tapes" is very good.
"I'm but thorn in your sweet side" "You are better off without me" "It'd be best to leave at once"
I find she is at her best writing about emotions - anger, sadness, fondness and love.
Her best since Jagged Little Pill This is her best work since Jagged Little Pill. Some her latest stuff has been a little weird, but not this one. It is great!
Anything Goes Trivia
Last Kiss
Megaton Man
Trevor
