Customer Reviews

Hands Clean, Pt. 2

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Today I received my Australian import copies of the "Hands Clean" singles.

CD1 contains:
Hands Clean (album version)
Fear Of Bliss (non-lp track)
Sister Blister (non-lp track)

CD2 contains:
Hands Clean (album version)
Awakening Americans (non-lp track; not on UK single)
Unprodigal Daughter (non-lp track)
Symptoms (non-lp track)

Six new tracks on two singles!

Here are my thoughts:

First and foremost, CD1 contains an absolute jaw-dropper, "Sister Blister."
Not since Daft Punk's "Digital Love" have I listened to a song
that captivated me on first listen. They sound nothing alike but they
obtained the same exact reaction. "Sister Blister" is a loud, bombastic rock
track with biting lyrics. It is far and away her best hard rock track
since "You Oughtta Know." It's also infectious as can be and slickly produced.
I can't believe that Maverick left this off the album, although I suspect it was
Alanis' decision. It easily could be a HUGE modern rock track, even with the
female rock bias currently proliferating this format. If you liked "You Oughtta
Know," you must get this track now. Run, don't walk. Grade: A+

The other non-album track on CD1, "Fear Of Bliss" is also a very good hard rock
track with a quality hook. It's a bit less polished than "Sister." Grade: A-

Overall, CD1 is a no-brainer for any Alanis fan, even for those who dismissed
SFIJ.

CD2 contains two great tracks as well, "Unprodigal Daughter" and "Symptoms."
"Uprodigal Daughter" completes her "Hands Clean" return-to-rock trilogy. Like
"Fear of Bliss," "Uprodigal Daughter" has relatively quiet verses and loud,
catchy refrains; key elements to sucking me into a rock song. Great vocals
on this potential single. Grade: A

Between CD1 and CD2, the three rock tracks are better than those on SFIJ and
JLP. Absolutely brilliant.

CD2 has a good mid-tempo track in "Symptoms," along the lines of the pace of
"Hands Clean." Grade: B+

"Awakening Americans" is not quite my taste, as it has a country flavor. The
lyrics are powerful, nonetheless; Alanis sings about how privaleged Americans
are and how we need to do more in society. Nothing like you've heard from
Alanis in the past. Grade: B

Overall, two excellent import singles that are definitely worth the purchase.

I have avoided all samples of the new album, save "Utopia." However, if these

are the leftovers then "Under Rug Swept" should be nothing short of amazing.