Tuesday, November 27, 2012

NOT SO JAGGED ANY MORE

ALANIS MORISSETTE
HAVOC AND BRIGHT LIGHTS



Alanis Morissette will probably not earn many new converts with Havoc and Bright Lights, but she will keep her devoted fan base pleased with this smart, sturdy collection of tunes.

In the four years since 2008's Flavors of Entanglement, which set a high water mark in Morissette's catalogue, the artist has experienced marriage and motherhood, resulting in a decidedly less anxious set of tunes.

Her new perspective is at times deceptively unengaging and soft at the core, revealing lyrical and melodic treasures upon repeated play. Morissette invokes themes of interconnectedness and universality, rewarding listeners with poetic ears.

She still rocks hard when she wants to, blistering with righteous anti-misogyny, proving Morissette can still make men cower if the spirit so moves her.

The production proves to be a flaw of the record that seems to make Morissette's voice border on bland, burying it down in the mix and giving the songs an unwelcome slickness and sheen.

Those looking for a retread of Jagged Little Pill will not find it here, but long time fans probably won't be disappointed.

GUARDIAN



WOMAN DOWN



5 comments:

  1. Hey! A Morissette shout-out! I like it! How are you doing, my friend? I like her a lot, but don't always love everything. And whenever someone pisses her off, I always cower in fear as to what this might do for her writing. *laughs* I bought this album the first day it came out. You remind me that I haven't listened to it that much. I'll have to throw it on again soon. Perhaps this week while on the treadmill.
    Take it easy! And keep rockin!

    -Jimmy

    ReplyDelete
  2. Jimmy-

    Keep rocking yourself!

    Thanks for stopping by!

    Larry

    ReplyDelete
  3. I just listened to those two tracks. They reminded me how much I like her voice.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I just listened to those two tracks. They reminded me how much I like her voice.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Jenny-

    For some reason your comment is showing twice...one for each track I guess!

    You know, music can be used as a teaching tool.

    My thirty-five year Todd Rundgren fandom began in 1977 when a high school english teacher, Tom Williams, played the class an eighteen minute song, Singring And The Glass Guitar, as an example of a short story.

    I'm just sayin'

    Larry

    ReplyDelete

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