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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk review
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 recognise 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 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
Product Description
ALANIS MORISSETTE Flavors Of Entanglement (2008 Asian issue 11-track CD album - produced by Guy Sigsworth [Bj?rk Madonna Imogen Heap] Flavors Of Entanglement features 11 eclectic new tracks including the single Underneath alongside album highlights such as Torch a lament for lost love and Citizen of the Planet a narrative of her life story set against a backdrop blending Eastern percussion strings and electronica sealed picture sleeve)
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I'd kept an eye out for this release for a while as I've always been a fan of Alanis' unique sound. I quickly changed my order from the standard release to the "DeLuxe" edition as soon as I'd noticed that it existed as I always tend to go for 2-disc releases of albums if they seem good value.
I'm so glad I did, because the second disc, although relatively brief, has a couple of stand-out tracks that are real 5-star items in their own right. For them to feature on a bonus CD instead of the main disc was a pleasant although slightly puzzling discovery. The two tracks I'm referring to are "Orchid" and "Madness". Both are totally stunning in my opinion and I could listen to them over and over. "Orchid" has a harmonious sound with a pleasant flowing nature, tied in by a curious bass line that just seems to fit perfectly. "Madness" is perhaps my favourite track on the entire double disc. It is both gentle and powerful with well-used piano aspects and a quiet, simple drum beat.
Back to the main disc, there are several stand-out tracks for me, namely: "Underneath"; "Moratorium"; "Torch" and "Tapes". Of these tracks "Moratorium" seems perhaps the most far-removed from what I believed Alanis' safe-zone to be, being quite a quick rythmic beat and quite a dark and synthesized sound overall, but it works very well. "Torch" is a track that has parts of it that make your spine tingle if you're in the mood for it, really quite enthusing stuff. "Tapes" perhaps sits alongside "Madness" and "Orchid" as favourite tracks overall. Well lyricised and well-paced to suit the nuances of Alanis' vocals.
The two tracks I felt least-worthy of being on the album were both closing tracks on the discs, namely "Incomplete" and "On the Tequila". Neither seemed to follow the flow of the rest of the disc, coming across as almost randomly cheerful and bright in comparison to the thoughtfulness and intricateness of the rest of the two discs.
But on the whole, who am I to complain? As long as Alanis continues to make beautiful music, so I will continue to listen.
Highly recommended (and make sure you get the 2-disc, not the 1-disc release).
I'm so glad I did, because the second disc, although relatively brief, has a couple of stand-out tracks that are real 5-star items in their own right. For them to feature on a bonus CD instead of the main disc was a pleasant although slightly puzzling discovery. The two tracks I'm referring to are "Orchid" and "Madness". Both are totally stunning in my opinion and I could listen to them over and over. "Orchid" has a harmonious sound with a pleasant flowing nature, tied in by a curious bass line that just seems to fit perfectly. "Madness" is perhaps my favourite track on the entire double disc. It is both gentle and powerful with well-used piano aspects and a quiet, simple drum beat.
Back to the main disc, there are several stand-out tracks for me, namely: "Underneath"; "Moratorium"; "Torch" and "Tapes". Of these tracks "Moratorium" seems perhaps the most far-removed from what I believed Alanis' safe-zone to be, being quite a quick rythmic beat and quite a dark and synthesized sound overall, but it works very well. "Torch" is a track that has parts of it that make your spine tingle if you're in the mood for it, really quite enthusing stuff. "Tapes" perhaps sits alongside "Madness" and "Orchid" as favourite tracks overall. Well lyricised and well-paced to suit the nuances of Alanis' vocals.
The two tracks I felt least-worthy of being on the album were both closing tracks on the discs, namely "Incomplete" and "On the Tequila". Neither seemed to follow the flow of the rest of the disc, coming across as almost randomly cheerful and bright in comparison to the thoughtfulness and intricateness of the rest of the two discs.
But on the whole, who am I to complain? As long as Alanis continues to make beautiful music, so I will continue to listen.
Highly recommended (and make sure you get the 2-disc, not the 1-disc release).
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This is my first Alanis Morissette album I've bought and its made a big impression on me and I've decided to get her back catalogue from this one CD>
Fans of Imogen Heap, Frou Frou, Venus Hum and Mandalay should feel right at home here as Guy Sigworth has produced the album with Alanis and his trademark technological wizardry is very much present. From pop beats to shimmering synths and ethnic fused percussion, each song is full of life and energy. Balancing off that are a few ballad types with the emotion "Not As We" being a particular favourite - just vocal and piano.
The beauty of the album is that despite having many things going on all at once the songs have a base of simplicity and so they are catchy while having a certain depth to them too. The guitars are still present for older listeners and fans but they are washed in all kinds of synthesized fun. The bonus disc contains some of the best works too and so if you can pick up the deluxe version.
A fantastic album and I hope it does well. Stand outs for me being "Citizen of the Planet", "Straitjacket" "Not As We", "Tapes", "Orchid" and "Limbo No More".
Fans of Imogen Heap, Frou Frou, Venus Hum and Mandalay should feel right at home here as Guy Sigworth has produced the album with Alanis and his trademark technological wizardry is very much present. From pop beats to shimmering synths and ethnic fused percussion, each song is full of life and energy. Balancing off that are a few ballad types with the emotion "Not As We" being a particular favourite - just vocal and piano.
The beauty of the album is that despite having many things going on all at once the songs have a base of simplicity and so they are catchy while having a certain depth to them too. The guitars are still present for older listeners and fans but they are washed in all kinds of synthesized fun. The bonus disc contains some of the best works too and so if you can pick up the deluxe version.
A fantastic album and I hope it does well. Stand outs for me being "Citizen of the Planet", "Straitjacket" "Not As We", "Tapes", "Orchid" and "Limbo No More".
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I was born in the same year as Alanis, as such, vapid as it might seem, I feel "we've had this inexplicable connection since our youth". A few weeks into this album, and overall I love it.
"Tapes" is for me Alanis at her most resplendent: vulnerable, self-aware, defiant. Opening with lyrical self-deprecation:
"I am someone easy to leave"
you might be tempted to give her a good shake, yet the chorus crashes in with steely sound:
"All these tapes in my head swirl around
Keeping my vibe down
All these thoughts in my head aren't my own
Wreaking havoc"
OK, you know she's alright really. The song moves from the gentle diary entries of self-pity to the "snap-out-of-it" refrain. Ironically, it's precisely this constant struggle between lack of vibe and havoc that allows her to flourish musically, that enables this, the finest song on the album, to exist.
"Straightjacket" gets closest to that Jagged Little Pill raging, and proves that Alanis still has that unique talent for making anger just sound so damn good.
Other great flavours include the vibrant "Citizen of the Planet", the dark "Versions of Violence", the indulgent, longing "Torch", the decisive "Moratorium" and the pure, happy "Giggling Again for no Reason"
"Underneath"... I'm still on the fence about this one.
As usual it's the slower tracks (for me) that let the album down. "Not as We" looks great in theory, and on paper, but the reality doesn't quite work.
It's also difficult to get enthusiastic about the last track "Incomplete". Alanis just doesn't convince with this "One day I'll find relief/I'll be arrived" and part of me rather selfishly hopes she doesn't ever arrive, lest all her lyrics are relegated to this kind of low-maintenance optimism, with the music nodding and smiling encouragingly.
Equally, it's hard not to do a double take on "In Praise of the Vulnerable Man" when she croons "why won't you lead the rest of your cavalry home"????? Eh?
Still, whilst other bands from my formative years never even made the transition from my CD pile to MP3, Alanis remains one of the few artists whose albums I look forward to AND love to play. She has yet to genuinely disappoint!
"Tapes" is for me Alanis at her most resplendent: vulnerable, self-aware, defiant. Opening with lyrical self-deprecation:
"I am someone easy to leave"
you might be tempted to give her a good shake, yet the chorus crashes in with steely sound:
"All these tapes in my head swirl around
Keeping my vibe down
All these thoughts in my head aren't my own
Wreaking havoc"
OK, you know she's alright really. The song moves from the gentle diary entries of self-pity to the "snap-out-of-it" refrain. Ironically, it's precisely this constant struggle between lack of vibe and havoc that allows her to flourish musically, that enables this, the finest song on the album, to exist.
"Straightjacket" gets closest to that Jagged Little Pill raging, and proves that Alanis still has that unique talent for making anger just sound so damn good.
Other great flavours include the vibrant "Citizen of the Planet", the dark "Versions of Violence", the indulgent, longing "Torch", the decisive "Moratorium" and the pure, happy "Giggling Again for no Reason"
"Underneath"... I'm still on the fence about this one.
As usual it's the slower tracks (for me) that let the album down. "Not as We" looks great in theory, and on paper, but the reality doesn't quite work.
It's also difficult to get enthusiastic about the last track "Incomplete". Alanis just doesn't convince with this "One day I'll find relief/I'll be arrived" and part of me rather selfishly hopes she doesn't ever arrive, lest all her lyrics are relegated to this kind of low-maintenance optimism, with the music nodding and smiling encouragingly.
Equally, it's hard not to do a double take on "In Praise of the Vulnerable Man" when she croons "why won't you lead the rest of your cavalry home"????? Eh?
Still, whilst other bands from my formative years never even made the transition from my CD pile to MP3, Alanis remains one of the few artists whose albums I look forward to AND love to play. She has yet to genuinely disappoint!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Quality
Classic Alanis song writing, great music, well produced, some real quality sounds, great bass, good dynamics. Back to her old self.
Published 1 month ago by Fergi
Alanis is back to her best
Flavors Of Entanglement (Standard Edition)Alanis Morissette is back to her best. I bought this album not having heard anything from Alanis for a while but on pulling out some of... Read more
Published 3 months ago by MissPGS
Excellent CD.
I must admit i was not sure about buying this cd,On first listen the album just did not gel.But very few cds are great on first listen. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Mr. P. N. Cairns
A lot of uninspired subpar material on this 46 minute album
It's Alanis Morissette by numbers. Only two tracks ("Citizen of the Planet" and "Tapes") are anything that wouldn't wither and die of embarrassment in front of her Jagged Little... Read more
Published on 28 May 2010 by BS on parade
the best!
if your a listner of alanis dont miss this album its brilliant, very good lyrics and great work from alanis. recommended!
Published on 24 Dec 2009 by "D-Top"
"Stunning!"
I'm not going to go into a track by track rundown, as others have already done it.
All I can say is that this is a brilliant piece of work, although flawed in places, as I... Read more
All I can say is that this is a brilliant piece of work, although flawed in places, as I... Read more
Published on 2 Dec 2009 by TV
She's Back (if she was ever away ...)
Most people, rightly or wrongly, probably felt that Alanis' work had gone downhill since JLP. But there can be no doubt that this puts her right back towards the top. Read more
Published on 13 Nov 2009 by N. Gosney
A return to amazingness for Alanis
I have loved everything Alanis has released, with the exception of So-Called Chaos, which was a little bland for my tastes. Read more
Published on 5 Aug 2009 by Mr. Jonathan P. Knight
"Great stuff", Alanis!
I just love this album, all 16 tracks on both CDs of the Deluxe version! Listened to it in the car today and it simply took hold of me. Read more
Published on 26 Feb 2009 by S. REYNOLDS
Buy the Deluxe Edition - it eases the pain a bit
First of all; where i'm coming from in this review.
Jaged Little Pill, i never "got" (probably since i'm not female), but I appreciate a lot of the songs. Supposed Former... Read more
Jaged Little Pill, i never "got" (probably since i'm not female), but I appreciate a lot of the songs. Supposed Former... Read more
Published on 23 Feb 2009 by D. Kerry
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