Madonna may be the mother of reinvention, but mama's getting on in years and it seems she doesn't have the same grasp on what's current as some of her younger pop counterparts. I am of course speaking of... Alanis Morisette. What? You didn't see that coming? Ok. So I don't think that these two artists are necessarily on the same path, but they both have a pension for creating incredibly catchy, if not wonderfully crafted pop music. The difference is that while Madonna desperately clings to whatever hot producer is offering up the sweet beats of the moment, Alanis finds a way to re introduce herself to die hard fans as well as new listeners without coming off as forced. Record after record she has managed to bring something new to the table without losing her sense of self or her sense of humor (You've no doubt seen her viral cover of "My Humps"). Flavors of Entanglement is certainly no exception. At my first listen I was admittedly confused for a moment, "What's this? Alanis? Going Electronic?" Then I got to the middle of the first track "Citizen of The Planet" and everything became at once clear again. Alanis hasn't simply changed her sound. She's evolving. She's taken her signature blend of alt/pop hooks and bittersweet lyrics and added eastern elements, electronic beats and loops over them to further blend the scope of her genre bending sound.
The immediate comparison I had was to that of Imogen Heap. Which is no surprise when I found out that the record was produced by non other than Guy Sigsworth, Imogen's former band mate from the fabulous Frou Frou. He brings a renewed sense of whimsy to tracks like "In Praise of The Vulnerable Man" and his influence is none more apparent than on the wonderfully effervescent track "Giggling Again for No Reason." She even shows she knows how to dance on tracks like the gothy, gorgeous "A Version of Violence" and one of my immediate favorites "Straightjacket" which sounds like BT and Goldfrapp had a club kid baby.
Don't worry, Alanis hasn't left out the incredibly intimate and earnest songs we have come to expect from her. "Torch" plays out as an epic confession of longing for a lost lover. Unabashed and real as only true yearning could bring to the surface, let alone one's mouth.
"...I'm pseudo-making it. From scratch, begin again, but this time 'I' as 'I' and not as 'We'." she wails on the heart wrenching "Not as We." proving that she certainly hasn't lost the ability to reach deep within her own personal feelings of despair and create something absolutely beautiful from the wreckage.
Her first new material in four years, Flavors of Entanglement is not only a welcome change of pace but and encouraged one. If Alanis continues to evolve her sound like this, when it feels right, feels fresh, I'll surely continue to but her records long into the future regardless of how long it takes between them. I've posted a few of my favorite tracks that (I think) best illustrate the new direction this album is taking, but it is by no means a one trick pony. This record touches upon several different moods and genres and I'm certain if you give it a listen you'll find something that interests you. Enjoy.
Straightjacket
Giggling Again for No Reason
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