So-Called Chaos by Alanis Morissette

Pros: Alanis still has a way with words, and an uncanny knack for the particulars of gender psychology.
Cons: The usual awkward phrasing on a few songs; lead single "Everything" is rather dull, and "Knees of My Bees" is just plain EMBARASSING.

Okay, Alanis. You win. Remember the old days, when I used to vehemently dislike you? The guy across the hall from my dorm room freshman year was obsessed with your song about "Rain on your wedding day", some of my friends were complaining about how ...

Pros: Catchy pop/rock production, solid melodic structure, expressive singing.
Cons: For years I've defended Alanis's songwriting from misguided attacks, all now suddenly true.

Before we delve into my review of Alanis Morissette’s 4th album So-Called Chaos, here’s a quick quiz. Pick, for each pair, the better lyric: (A) “Would she go down on you in a theater?” (B) “Is she lascivious and ...

Pros: A return to a familiar Alanis but not as heavy handed.
Cons: Not every song is a winner but hey - whatever....

Personal Note: Originally written one year ago. Not too long ago, "someone" asked me who I liked better - Sting or The Police. I thought for a moment. Why did I have to choose? My answer was something like this. I think ...

Pros: lyricism and music
Cons: vocally it's not novel

More than being renowned as one of the better female singer/songwriters of her generation, Alanis Morissette is better known for being the angry white girl who shared her brokenhearted frustrations with all the world. And as that ire has ...

Pros: Catchy and fun.
Cons: Stupidly underrated.

= I want to be naked running through the streets I want to invite this so-called chaos That you think I dare not be I want to be weightless flying through the air I want to drop all these limitations But the shoes upon my ...

Pros: Typical Alanis, a moment of forgiveness, and acting the fool in the name of love.
Cons: Only 10 songs, a few clunkers.

Alanis Morissette's career has been much like a regular old human life. Spend an adventurous, unpredictable youth, then settle into predictable routines. These days, you pretty much know what you're getting when you buy an album by Alanis. The ...

Pros: Interesting, free association type lyrics, her voice fits the material
Cons: Lyrics can get a little muddled, gotta sort through all the verbage.

I’ve always enjoyed listening to Alanis Morrisette because lyrically she has an unbridled honesty that is engaging. I think it takes a lot of guts to sing about emotions and insecurities that are so deeply personal. So Called Chaos finds Alanis in a ...

Pros: Some lyrics, Moments of voice
Cons: Return to Morissette shrieking, Instrumentals are hardly original, Short

I am convinced, as I make it through her musical library, that there are two Alanis Morissettes. There is Alanis Morissette the commercial success who angrily screeched her way to fame with "Jagged Little Pill" by providing angry anthems for fifteen ...

Pros: Alanis’ intelligent songwriting; some pretty good vocals; good concepts; happy Alanis
Cons: Too self-indulgent and complicated at points; Alanis over-pronounces too many words; only 40:00

To me, Alanis Morissette is the chameleon of pop/rock music. Way, way back in the early 90s, she was a teen bubblegum pop singer in Canada who found mild success with her albums Alanis and Now Is The Time. Then Alanis devised a plan to take ...

Pros: Alanis can rock. Really. She can.
Cons: How many times can you say the same thing?

Alanis Morrissette shouldn’t make albums. Her first three albums have a handful of really good, catchy pop – dare I say rock – songs. You could probably cobble one good album from those handfuls of decent songs. But an entire album gets tedious, because ...

Pros: NOTHING
Cons: EVERYTHING

It's sad to think that the woman who created masterpieces such as Jagged Little Pill and Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie comes up with So-Called Chaos, more of a sell-out than Under Rug Swept (which, by the way, actually ...

Pros: Ah, where do I begin?
Cons: And where do I end?

I first listened to this CD like any other average listener would: skipping around, looking, waiting for something to pull me in, reading the lyrics, looking, hoping that some line would strike my eye, listening, thinking, discerning, all vigorously, ...

Pros: Great lyrics, melodies, themes; Alanis is in fine voice.
Cons: Sometimes she whines and rambles too much.

As a writer and generally word-loving person, I am fascinated with Alanis' stunning vocabulary and how she manages to wrap a great melody around the poetry of her lyrics. This, of course, can work against her; experiments like the rambling, incoherent ...

Pros: Good sound, great flow from beginning to end. High quality music.
Cons: Only 40 minutes long, 10 tracks, enhanced CD doesn't work well.

So you're looking at grabbing up the latest of Alanis Morissette's productions. You won't be dazzled, but you won't be disappointed either. I picked up this album as soon as I could. Alanis' music can be some of my favourite music. Her vocabulary ...

Pros: Finally Alanis is in a happy place
Cons: Her wordiness can still be grating at times

Alanis Morissette had an awkward start to her career. In her teen years she got signed to a record contract with MCA Canada and pretty much became Canada’s answer to Paula Abdul. Her music was faceless (sounding like a cross between Abdul, Janet ...