Under Rug Swept

Editorial Review

Seven Grammies, 3 albums, 40 million sales to date and renowned as one of the most angsty chicks around. Jagged Little Pill from 1995 was an astounding debut. By Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie three years later, she had gotten rid of some of that bitterness, and so by the time her very fine MTV Unplugged CD appeared in ?9 she had developed a reputation as a particularly well-rounded musician with a box full of top tunes to boot. Three years on, she has got even better.

Hands Clean boded well as the first single (including the reference to the album title) and must be one of the strongest melodies that she had ever come up with. A musical hook that would have even caught Moby Dick. Less of the shouting, more emphasis on the music. That trait runs through the whole album. Not so affected, more effective.

21 Things is an immediate rocky start, equipped with almost thrash guitar chords, but a fine harmony. Surrendering is equally strong and one of those tracks that you don’t realise how truly good it is until you’ve heard it 25 times. Meanwhile So Unsexy is a splendid blend of riff and rhythm whilst remaining remarkably vulnerable in the lyrics. She’s not been afraid to experiment either, Precious Illusions is a far more interesting beat, and with A Man she even gets to grips with a drum machine. Wonders never cease.

Her style has always been to write words that imperfectly fit to the music, awkwardly overflowing at times, square pegs jammed into round holes. But it’s a trait, not a flaw. Yes she still has the tendency to grate (the chorus on Narcissus in particular), but the balance between voice and music is far more balanced now. There never will be an Alanis album of hearts and flowers (except broken hearts and wilted flowers), but Utopia comes as close as she’s ever has to writing a happy ballad. Although Flinch has a parallel sentiment to You Oughta Know, the execution is far more subdued and shows that she might have grown up, even if she still ponders the woes of separation more than the joys of union. But how many failed liaisons has she had? Can she write about anything else? She is still unburdening her emotional problems through her musical soul - some things never change.

So is this Morissette the mature? Perhaps yes, but Under Rug Swept bears more of her own stamp than ever before. She has lost the co-writers (these ditties are all self-penned) and produced the whole thing herself too. So be assured that this is the sound that she herself wanted, and what a gem of an album it turns out to be. Her songs are particularly strong throughout, the choruses have never been so catchy, and the sound so assured and polished, yet without being so squeaky clean to become too hygienic.

No it is not another Jagged Little Pill, but you can’t pout forever thank goodness. The overall feel is of an artist brimming with confidence and an album which is her most accessible and best to date. Where as she might have covered her insecurities in her angst before, now she’s moved on, grown up, and learned to live with them. In the process, she’s made one of the best albums of the year. Already.

Neil Chase
Music Editor

Additional Info

• Recording: STEREO
• Format: Single Case

Tracklisting