Under Rug Swept [Enhanced]

Amazon.com
With all the attention Alanis Morissette's career has garnered, it's startling to think that on the release of her third studio CD she has yet to see her 28th birthday. Under Rug Swept finds Morissette in the producer's role, a position she seems more comfortable with at this stage than songwriter. The opener, "21 Things I Want in a Lover," finds Morissette ticking off her likes and dislikes before an attention-grabbing explosion of crunching guitar chords and a scratchy hip-hop beat. Swept's emotional flow is navigated by Morissette's vocal queues: her lower register accompanies confrontation and self-proclamation ("Narcissus"), the higher intimates vulnerability and reflection ("Utopia"). Every tone is enlivened by well-blended electronic and acoustic elements. The snag is that, as with her previous two albums, Under Rug Swept is marred by unabridged stream-of-consciousness lyrics. Her awkward syntax and distorted phrasing disorients music that's melodious and compelling. She remains acutely self-obsessed, delivering rants aimed at men who are fatally flawed and, naturally, irresistibly devastating. For now, her greatest strength as a musician lies in her ear for a powerful melody. Lyrically, she'd be better off keeping her contorted prose In Closet Locked. --Beth Massa

Product Description
Her first studio album in four years, the much-anticipated Under Rug Swept reveals a phenomenal success story of a woman who has become a truly major force in rock. Guests includes Flea & Meshell Ndegeocello. Maverick Records. Features enhanced material including videos. 2002.

Under Rug Swept,Alanis Morissette,Maverick,Adult Alternative Pop/Rock,Pop,Rock,Rock/Pop,Singer/Songwriter

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Under Rug Swept [Enhanced]

Average customer rating: Soul Music For those who loved Jagged Little Pill, may we suggest Under Rug Swept? Solitude... ... And I know what 5 stars mean ! well I gave it a chance

Under Rug Swept Alanis Morissette Manufacturer: Maverick ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Icons | Warner Brothers Records | Stores | Music Similar Items: Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie So-Called Chaos Jagged Little Pill Alanis Unplugged Feast on Scraps [Enhanced CD & Live DVD] ASIN: B00005TPKC Release Date: 2002-02-26

Tracks:

1. 21 Things I Want In A Lover
2. Narcissus
3. Hands Clean
4. Flinch
5. So Unsexy
6. Precious Illusions
7. That Particular Time
8. A Man
9. You Owe Me Nothing in Return
10. Surrendering
11. Utopia

Amazon.com

With all the attention Alanis Morissette's career has garnered, it's startling to think that on the release of her third studio CD she has yet to see her 28th birthday. Under Rug Swept finds Morissette in the producer's role, a position she seems more comfortable with at this stage than songwriter. The opener, "21 Things I Want in a Lover," finds Morissette ticking off her likes and dislikes before an attention-grabbing explosion of crunching guitar chords and a scratchy hip-hop beat. Swept's emotional flow is navigated by Morissette's vocal queues: her lower register accompanies confrontation and self-proclamation ("Narcissus"), the higher intimates vulnerability and reflection ("Utopia"). Every tone is enlivened by well-blended electronic and acoustic elements. The snag is that, as with her previous two albums, Under Rug Swept is marred by unabridged stream-of-consciousness lyrics. Her awkward syntax and distorted phrasing disorients music that's melodious and compelling. She remains acutely self-obsessed, delivering rants aimed at men who are fatally flawed and, naturally, irresistibly devastating. For now, her greatest strength as a musician lies in her ear for a powerful melody. Lyrically, she'd be better off keeping her contorted prose In Closet Locked. --Beth Massa

Album Description

Her first studio album in four years, the much-anticipated Under Rug Swept reveals a phenomenal success story of a woman who has become a truly major force in rock. Guests includes Flea & Meshell Ndegeocello. Maverick Records. Features enhanced material including videos. 2002.

Customer Reviews:

Soul Music.......2007-04-23

I had until very recently lost track of Alanis Morissette (and pop/rock in general) since her first three albums and would ordinarily see no point in adding my own review of a several-year-old album to the hundreds (412 at the moment) that have already been posted on this site, but having rediscovered how much I liked her music -- Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie and Under Rug Swept in particular -- I felt like writing a word or two.

My attention was initially caught by Beth Massa's (professional reviewer) comment:
"The snag is that, as with her previous two albums, Under Rug Swept is marred by unabridged stream-of-consciousness lyrics. Her awkward syntax and distorted phrasing disorients music that's melodious and compelling. She remains acutely self-obsessed, delivering rants aimed at men who are fatally flawed and, naturally, irresistibly devastating. For now, her greatest strength as a musician lies in her ear for a powerful melody. Lyrically, she'd be better off keeping her contorted prose In Closet Locked"

This, I think, completely misses what is for me the core appeal of the best music on her first three albums: her raw honesty. An honesty which more often than not cuts both ways. I, obviously, have never had an interview with Alanis Morissette, but my feeling is that her "stream-of-consciousness lyrics", or blank verse if you like, is nothing more than her communicating how she thinks and feels about an event or issue in the way most natural to her, and if her chosen words and phrasing happen to be displeasing to the style police why should she or anyone else give a tinker's damn? Real honesty is rare enough in itself. Intelligent, thoughtful, honesty is practically an endangered species in popular culture. It seems to me that rewriting blank verse that is honest and powerful (and a perfect match for the music in my opinion) into some sort of equivalent of iambic pentameter would be an ugly and insane triumph of form over substance. And I will also add that she doesn't seem to be any more "self-obsessed" than anyone else I know. How can anyone write a song about personal pain or anger without sounding self-obsessed anyway? That fact that there may be bigger things going on in the wide world can give us some perspective but it won't make the pain go away. Kurt Vonnegut once said something to the effect that all real literature was about the same thing: Being a human being is a bummer. This is vintage Vonnegut but the point is that the most meaningful art is about the pain, and confusion, and confounded fallibility of being human. The best of Alanis Moressette's music (which includes most of the songs on this album) is certainly of this type. What some have refered to as "soul music". I will choose it over "style" music any day of the week.

As evidenced by her first three albums Alanis Morissette is one of the best alternative pop/rock musicians out there both musically and lyrically. Jagged Little Pill was a great album. Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie, and Under Rug Swept are outstanding.

For those who loved Jagged Little Pill, may we suggest Under Rug Swept?.......2006-10-29

This release is kind of like Jagged Little Pill with a slightly older and much wiser Alanis at the creative front. Under Rug Swept marks her first self-produced effort and the result is one of the best CD's Morissette has released to date. Like JLP, Under Rug Swept offers a variety of emotions throughout and each song seems to follow easily into the next, almost as if Morissette is writing about her continuing metaphysical journey filled with happiness and heartaches of love and life. There isn't a bad song on this CD with memorable hooks and melodies. Lyrically, Morissette continues to write from her depths with feelings of deep reflection, overwhelming loss, and spiritual transformation. And like JLP, you'll finish listening to this collection feeling like Morissette just wrote a personal chapter of your own life.

Solitude..........2006-10-26

This is, probably, the most relatable Alanis' album for me. Maybe, because by the time I picked up this record, I was going through a rough time, so there's sort of a connection going on here.

Why is "Under Rug Swept" the most relatable for me? Well, although I'm a huge fan of JLP and SFIJ, I find JLP "too angry" and SFIJ "too experimental and hard to sing-a-long to". But this album, I think, combines the wordy lyrics on SFIJ and the catchiness on JLP.

The album opens with 21 Things I Want In a Lover, filled with roaring guitar riffs and superb lyrics, it's truly a standout track.

Narcissus, although not exactly my favorite, the lyrics are, again, intelligent and 'into the point'. The sound is quite similar to the previous track, but less agressive.

The hit single, Hands Clean, which by far is one of (if not the most) Alanis' recognisable tracks. The lyrics are superb, the tune is incredibly catchy, no wonder it was a huge hit.

Flinch, is the longest track on the record, offers self-reflection and solitude through its lyrics and the music blends well with Alanis' stunning voice.

Finally, the gems have come. So Unsexy, with its hooky beat and relatable lyrics, is definitely my favorite. A feeling we can deeply relate to, feeling worse/less/inferior than someone else..I just love this song.
Meanwhile, Precious Illusions, is one of Alanis' finest tracks. I really love the lyrics, and the grief it offers ('These precious illusions in my head/Did not let me down when I was defenseless/And parting with them is like parting with my childhood best friend').

The stunning ballad, That Particular Time, is simply an amazing. A song about the fall of a relationship, it's just lovely.

A Man and Nothing in Return experiment with electronic sounds, reminiscent of SFIJ. Lyrically, A Man talks about homosexuality (I guess, because it's kind of hard to understand what the song is -really- about) and Nothing in Return talks about sincere love, giving without wanting to be given back, such a lovely track.

Back to the rock, Surrendering is another catchy track, not a standout unfortunately, but it's still a pleasure to listen to.

The final track, Utopia, closes the album beautifully with dreamy guitar sounds and beautiful lyrics, it really gives you comfort, it's one of the songs that evoke images in your head. Simply stunning.

All that being said, Under Rug Swept is highly recommended to Alanis' fans AND to those going through a rough time..it's a reflective, relatable, emotional and contemplative record.

**

... And I know what 5 stars mean !.......2006-08-28

Among all kind of reviews, I've always seen the song by song reviews as the most helpful ones. Im reviewing here an album that I heard more than 150 times, so I know what Im tellin here.

NB : I am NOT a jagged-little-pill fan.

1) 21 Things I want in a lover :
A nice opening, with nice lyrics. And lyrics in this album are among the best in history. A rare wisedom. The song is more heavy in guitars, but fairly short. It is not the one that made me fall in love with the album. 7/10

2) Narcisous :
Now here Alanis is talking to a spoiled boy she s in love with. Slightly less electric than the previous one, and less pleasing on the first time u listen to it. A little satiric, but very nice. Once again the lyrics are great. 8/10

3) Hands clean :
It s where the words "Under rug swept" were taken from. Easy song and very pleasing on the first time u listen to. Very appealing. Much more acoustic than the two previous ones. I got the album for that song. And I never regretted it. U can see she s talking about the same guy. The lyrics in this album are a whole story. 8.5/10

4) Flinch :
A 5-minutes acoustic song that s so beautiful. Less complaining and much more searching for the "guy" of the album. When u listen to album plenty of times (like 5, not 150), this one stays in ur mind. 8.5/10

5) So Unsexy :
"I can feel so unsexy for someone so beautiful". The album is gaining beat again. A song to offer to the love of ur life when u feel "Thirteen again, am I thirteen for good ?". Alanis is a showing to be more a wise woman in the album. That s why Im sure she s no more selling. 8.5/10

6) Precious illusions :
Another single (after hands clean), which means the song is catchy ! I love these comparaisons she do "You'll rescue me right, in the exact same way they never did ?" Upbeat and more electric :) 8.5/10

AND HERE STARTS THE FABOULOUS PART :

7) That particular time :
A tale that describes the changes of a relation in 3 months before it s ended. The best Alanis Ballad. Wonderful lyrics and music. 4 great minutes. It s not the best song when u first listen to the album, but surely will be one of your favorites if u listen to the music from the "ears in your heart". The bridge in the song is one of my ever favorite ! 10/10

8) A Man :
The album is getting way Better ! U ll like this song from the first time u ll listen to it. Great vocals, with a heavy-rock parts, yet not hard on ears at all. Here she trys to understand that selfish-narcisous guy. And she does it well, wearing his skin for once in this album. I can give it more than 10 so... 10/10

9) You owe me nothing in return :
Such a soft song. Water like 5 minutes song. The lyrics are SO powerful, tender. It s the true concept of loving in a song. My ever-favorite Alanis song. I let u discover it. 10/10

10) Surrendering :
To end the story of this relation, she chooses it face 2 face, yet with a tendreness. I recommend the lyrics (as i will for the last song). The music in this song is distinctive and catchy. 10/10

11) Utopia :
Used to be my favorite in the beginning. I ll let u discover why on ur own. 10/10

So such a wise album might take a couple of times to get to u. Anyway, I strongly recomment reading the lyrics while listening to the songs. If u like catchy and easy albums such as her "Jagged Little Pill", well run away !

In the end I wish to do some recommendations, taken from the spirit of this album :
Verspertine - Bjork (experimental has never been so wise)
Lara Fabian - Lara Fabian (remember this name, her songs CANNOT be performed BUT by herself)
Boys for Pele - Tori Amos (Rage + coldes pianos give such a wonderful way to throw away ur inside fires)

well I gave it a chance.......2006-07-28

under rug swept was given positive feedback upon it's release and I was enjoying the song hands clean so I decided to check out the rest of the CD. Although alanis is a talented singer and songwriter I just wasn't feeling this CD although I give it to her for trying to be more musically diverse. It sounded too much like sugary pop to me I couldn't get into the rest of it.

Average customer rating: More To Sweep From Under The Rug This CD gave me chills.

Under Rug Swept Alanis Morissette Manufacturer: Japanese Import ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Pop | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Alternative Rock | Imports | Stores | Music Rock | Imports | Stores | Music ASIN: B00005NO9W Release Date: 2002-04-23

Tracks:

1. 21 Things I Want In A Lover
2. Narcissus
3. Hands Clean
4. Flinch
5. So Unsexy
6. Precious Illusions
7. That Particular
8. A Man
9. You Owe Me Nothing
10. Surrendering
11. Utopia
12. Sister Blister
13. Sorry 2 Myself

Album Description

Japanese edition of the Canadian singer/songwriter's fifth album. Includes two exclusive bonus tracks 'Sister Blister' & 'Sorry 2 Myself'. 2002.

Customer Reviews:

More To Sweep From Under The Rug.......2002-08-19

Although I realize all of UNDER RUG SWEPT's b-sides will be placed on an EP due out in the winter of 2002, the import version of the album seems too limited. I own this item only for its collectibility, but I would think twice before buying it for the bonus tracks. My suggestion is to go for the album import singles ("Hands Clean" Parts One and Two, & "Precious Illusions")so you can have more songs for the price you pay. Needless to say, "Sister Blister" is an ear-catching Jagged Little Pill-esque type of tune, and "Sorry 2 Myself" was described perfectly by Nick's review above...beautiful. But more impressive is the batch of other b-sides awaiting worldwide release: "Fear of Bliss", "Awakening Americans", "Symptoms", "Bent 4 U", "Offer", & "Unprodigal Daughter". I'd only pay the expense for this item if you want it as a part of your collection. Otherwise, get the singles...or wait for the EP. Either way, try to hear these masterpieces. They're not even b-side quality, and would fit perfectly on SWEPT anywhere.

This CD gave me chills........2002-04-30

Ok, so this is my first review and why I took the initiative was because of the 13th song on this CD, Sorry to Myself. I am still dumbfounded at how entirely beautiful this song is. I'm listening to it right now and I'm still getting chills. I have been a long time fan and I have never been able to say which one of her songs were my favorite because I love everything she has done but this song by the second verse instantly became my favorite song ever, it has brought not just my love for her but my love for music to a brand new level. The 12th song is also an amazing song but I would pay the price just for Sorry to Myself. If you are a fan of Alanis you owe it to yourself to have this amazingly beautiful enchanting song and even if you are not a fan this is something every music lover should own. I am still getting chills, honestly.

Average customer rating:

Under Rug Swept Alanis Morissette Manufacturer: Maverick ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music ASIN: B000LYPYDS

Average customer rating:

Under Rug Swept Alanis Morissette Manufacturer: Maverick ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music ASIN: B000LYOSP8

Average customer rating:

Under Rug Swept Alanis Morissette Manufacturer: Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Pop | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Alternative Rock | Imports | Stores | Music ASIN: B0000D8RLA Release Date: 2003-11-17

Tracks:

1. 21 Things I Want in a Lover
2. Narcissus
3. Hands Clean
4. Flinch
5. So Unsexy
6. Precious Illusions
7. That Particular Time
8. Man
9. You Owe Me Nothing in Return
10. Surrendering
11. Utopia
12. Sister Blister [*]
13. Sorry 2 Myself [*]

Album Details

Japanese Version featuring Two Bonus Tracks: 'sister Blister', and 'sorry Two Myself'.

Average customer rating:

Alanis Morissette: Under Rug Swept + Bonus Manufacturer: FR Company ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music ASIN: B0009PXF8A

Product Description

Rare import edition of this great album. Includes 18 songs. First 10 are from the regular album. 11. City of Angels 12. Forgiven (acoustic)13. Still 14. You Learn (acoustic) 15. Ougata Know (acoustic) 16. Uninvited (acoustic) 17. Right to you (acoustic) 18. King of Pain feat. Sting (acoustic)

Average customer rating:

Under Rug Swept Alanis Morissette Manufacturer: Wea International ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Pop | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Alternative Rock | Imports | Stores | Music Rock | Imports | Stores | Music ASIN: B00006GJM1 Release Date: 2002-10-08

Album Details

Limited Double CD Japanese Version featuring a Bonus CD with Six Tracks: "Unprodigal Daughter", "Symptoms", "Awakening Americans", "Offer", "Bent Four U", and "Hands Clean (Acoustic Version)".

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