Under Rug Swept

Alanis Morissette | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 26, 2002)
• Original Release Date: 2002
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Maverick
• ASIN: B00005TPKC
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  DVD Audio  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (408 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #16,679 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

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

Editorial Reviews

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.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

69 of 73 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Full Circle March 9, 2002

By Bryan Bradford

Format:Audio CD

Alanis Morissette's latest effort "Under Rug Swept" brings her progression as an artist full circle. Starting with the feminine angst driven and post-teen disenchantment of Jagged Little Pill; continuing with the sagacious, inspiring, alluring, and authenticity of Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie; and progressing with "Under Rug Swept," an album where Alanis puts on a sensual and human interaction hat.

21 Things displays a sort of sensual passion that works attractively with Alanis. The loud guitar and bluntly said prerequisites and check-list orientated requirements are both tongue-and-cheek and revealing, as the listener sees a bit more of Alanis's moral composition.

Narcissus is a critical track that is a musical masterpiece. It's written in the format of carping little notes to various "boys," such as "egotist boy" and "narcissus boy." The lyrical quality is amazing and complements the stunning arrangement perfectly. A perfect balance between rock and easy listening.

Hands Clean is the first and current single and an intriguing one that everyone has been trying to interpret. Some say it's a recollection of Alanis's life in the recording business; while most simply deem it as an interesting synopsis of a relationship plucked out of the plethora of alluring associations Alanis has had over her mere 27 years. Hands Clean is a remarkably strong piece that shows that Alanis can produce a hit without having it backed with loud drums and a roaring guitar. The bridge: "what part of our history's reinvented and under rug swept? / what part of your memory is selective and tends to forget?" will sweep your breath away.

Flinch, the longest track on the album at just over six minutes, is a breathtakingly simple song that affects the listener as only previous songs like "Front Row" could. Although Alanis choose a more country theme for the song, I found myself really enjoying it. Describing a relationship and its effects, Flinch is an amazing song backed with stunning lyrics. Self-disbelief and the effects of rejection are somewhat new topics for Alanis, but she discusses them remarkably well and doesn't sound querulous or too melancholy while she does.

So Unsexy is definitely geared to be a single, yet is a very good song that almost makes you feel sorry of Alanis's seemingly lack of self-belief and confidence during the certain incidence she describes, but I think we've all felt it at some time.

Track 6, Precious Illusions, is yet another song geared to be a single, but happens to be the best song "Under Rug Swept" offers. Alanis looks back, describing the illusions she keeps about life and accomplishment, and it's a highly authentic, relatable, and applicable song that many of us can relate to.

Track 7, That Particular Time, is an absolutely amazing, low key piece that demands eventual notice with its stunning, gentle piano and Alanis's heart wrenching vocals, comparative to "Your Congratulations." Alanis describes a "time" where the relationship she was in presented her with quite a desperate emotional quandary and she comments on the partner who acted as a catalyst to this quandary.

A Man is the only other rock track on the album, but occupies its position will a soaring melody and powerful delivery. Its lyrics exhibit Alanis's ability to play different roles in her music. (Other rock tracks are featured on the Hands Clean import singles.)

You Owe Me Nothing in Return describes what Alanis expects in reciprocation from her partner and is accompanied with magnificent instrumentation that couples with the lyrics to create an unbelievable song. The content of the song is that of almost of a dismissive, selfless Alanis that may contradict some of her earlier ideals showcased in such songs as "Pollyanna Flower," but then Alanis could always be infusing the song with a little esoteric deciphering as well.

Surrendering is a brilliant track that once again talks about human interactions on a personal level but does so with attention paid to the other person and the role that Alanis plays in his life. With Alanis breathy vocals, it makes for an exciting track.

Utopia describes Alanis's "ideal" situation and is beautiful, peaceful, and has stunning multi-layering of voices, which really highlights the simplistic beauty of Alanis's voice.

At eleven tracks, this cd isn't particularly long and is rather isolated in its focus. The constant references to relationships and their affects may be a bit of an adjustment from the passion and earnest questioning/gradual affirmation of "Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie," but the songs have grand melodies and easily learned lyrics. Alanis shows that she's still sensual, even if she wore the hat of sage beautifully and grandly. Her voice is different on the various tracks, sometimes more "Supposed" and sometimes more "Jagged," and excitingly enough, something new. She also produced the entire album and wrote it (with lyrics that tend to demand decryption and feature a stellar use of the English language). For Alanis's continued progression as an artist and constant creativity, Under Rug Swept easily merits 5 stars in my book.

Track listing: 1. 21 Things I want in a Lover (3:28) 2. Narcissus (3:38) 3. Hands Clean (4:31) 4. Flinch (6:03) 5. So Unsexy (5:08) 6. Precious Illusions (4:11) 7. That Particular Time (4:21) 8. A Man (4:33) 9. You Owe Me Nothing in Return (4:57) 10. Surrendering (4:35) 11. Utopia (5:00) Total Time- 50:25 ~Includes link to website containing a letter from Alanis and bonus materials

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Thank You, Alanis April 24, 2002

By Texas Brian

Format:Audio CD

This is Alanis finally finding herself, coming into her own. Where "Jagged Little Pill" found her exploring a new rock sound and coming to terms with raw emotions, and "Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie" was an expression of enlightenment and spiritual rebirth, "Under Rug Swept" is the product of an artist who finally has clarity of mind and is comfortable on all levels in verbalizing her feelings.

The track starts out with the crunching guitar riff of "21 Things I Want In A Lover," a driving standout cut. Here, she's edgy and strong musically, but she's also honest and fun lyrically. ("Are you uninhibited in bed? More than three times a week? All for being experimental?")

"Narcissus" is one of those songs where you instantly associate it with someone. "Dear Narcissus boy / I know you've had your butt licked by your mother ... why do I try to love you / when you really don't want me to?" She says all the things that we've wanted to say to the self-centered people in our lives. And she does it in a mid-tempo quirky clever way.

The early hit from here, "Hands Clean," is classic "new" Alanis -- simple, conversational lyrics, non-threatening hummable melody and a hook that sticks in your head. And for that reason, it's already become a radio favorite.

Other standouts include "Flinch" -- raw emotion set with a sparse arrangement where her voice pierces and haunts. It's a kindred track to the earlier smash "Uninvited." Another is "Utopia." This is definitely a fan track -- very folksy and esoteric and sparse -- but it's clean and simple and lyrically inspiring in a John Lennon "Imagine" sort of way.

My only issue here is that Alanis, since parting ways with Glen Ballard, has pursued her own writing. That's good in that it brings about honest, true-to-life lyrics, but Alanis has an annoying tendency to just write stream-of-consciousness. Whereas a lot of "Jagged Little Pill" was nonsense ("I'm like Estella ... I like to reel it in and then spit it out ... I'm consumed by your apathy ... slap me with a splintered ruler") both "Junkie" and this disc feature things like "We thought a break would be good ... for four moths we sat and vacillated ... we thought a small time apart would clear up the doubts that were abounding ... You knew you needed more time, time spent alone with no distraction, you felt you needed to fly solo and high to define what you wanted..."

The result is often clunky and unmelodic. Alanis ends up phrasing words awkwardly to get them to fit the music, which sometimes ruins the flow of the song. Thankfully, it's less of a problem here than in "Junkie." Also, Alanis has a tremendous sense of melody, so she is able to craft songs that are hummable anyway -- and that's a gift.

In short, this CD is playable, fun, catchy and brilliant. It's still in my player from the day I got it.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars under rug, swept away! July 30, 2005

By Lee Noble

Format:Audio CD

Alanis has been criticised for using "unabridged sentences, and '..awkward syntax' with '..distorted phrases'. As any fan will tell you, this is what we LOVE about Alanis, the way she will take a simple feeling, 'Alanisise' it then throw it back out twisted and reworked so we have to think about her wording to uncover what she means, that is her artistic license that makes her so addictive and unique. Don't be put off by Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie's not so hot reviews, it wasn't well received, but 'Under Rug Swept' in in some ways a back to basics album with great melodies, thought provoking lyrics that make u smile with recognition of having the same thoughts and feelings in your own past relationships. If you're looking for a reason to come back to Alanis, this is it. a Fantastic album.