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Reviews
Morissette explores new territory on 'Flavors of Entanglement'
Date published: 7/17/2008
BY GILLAN LUDLOW Four years since the release of her last CD, "So-Called Chaos," Alanis Morissette returned this June with a new one, "Flavors of Entanglement." That time span has seen a number of changes in the world--and in Morissette's personal life. As with her previous releases, it's interesting to see her coming to terms with those changes artistically on the new one. "Flavors of Entanglement" is different from all of Morissette's other albums, though, in that it has more songs that are synthesized and use a variety of instruments. It opens up with "Citizen of the Planet," which can only be described as having an earthly tone to it. Morissette's voice is strong and powerful, and she is accompanied by an electric guitar, synthesizer, drums and cello. The first single of the CD, "Underneath," has the same feel as "Citizen of the Planet." But the range of instruments used on "Underneath" is greater. The fifth track, "Not As We," is the most beautiful and touching song on the album. It is a slow song that allows fans to hear Morissette's strong range, accompanied by a softly played piano. Lyrically, the song sounds like it could have been written following Morissette's painful breakup with actor Ryan Reynolds or while she was going through a rough patch in her life. In the song, she sings that only she can make the decisions in her life and that she can only recover as herself and "not as we." Track eight, "Torch," is also absolutely gorgeous. Morissette talks about a former love and the torch she holds for him. ("Torch" references a "torch song," which usually talks about the feelings and emotions surrounding lost or unrequited love.) The opening verse talks about how Morissette misses the things that made her fall in love--but, now, her love is gone and she has to lay down her torch. In essence, she has to let the relationship burn out in order to move on. The closing song to the CD is called "Incomplete." This song is upbeat with realistic lyrics. Morissette talks about how she is so focused on the goal and finish line that she isn't realizing what's going on today. But then, she concludes, there is never really an "arrival point" in life, so she just has to keep living. I enjoyed the whole CD, even though I'm not a huge fan of synthesizers. Though her older music is still my favorite, fans will surely be taken with "Flavors of Entanglement," which allows listeners to feel the raw power and multiple emotions of Alanis Morissette. Gillan Ludlow is a rising freshman
Date published: 7/17/2008
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