Alanis Morissette - Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie

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• MORISSETTE ALANIS SUPPOSSED FORMER INFATUATION JUNKIE

Free Music Notes for Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie

Free Music Review: Up there with Fiona's 'When the Pawn'
Hit: 5 Stars

Lets wade through the album, track by track. Just for the record, this album is NOT Alanis' 'second' album as people call it. Its actually her third. Her first album was simply called 'Alanis' and released by MCA in Canada. Finding it these days is easier than you would think though Alanis herself has distanced herself from the project (just as Tori has done, with 'Y Kant Tori Read').

The tracks :

1. Front Row : Alanis' first track delves into spurned anguish almost at once. This, as we have come to realize is a woman who loves telling us how she was done wrong and how she will never be able to forgive or forget. However, for all of 'Front Row's powerful message, (its also the lyrically longest song on the CD) the words get lost in some god-awful instrumentation. The warbled vocoder bit is not at all effective and much of the message is drowned. This is not a song you can sing along to, but curiously, this is one track that I listened to many times, signifying that theres something here that contains repeat value.

2. Baba : Alanis in India. Her few months there apparently got her on a spiritual trip, though admittedly she went through many false gurus before finding someone truly enlightened. This song is devoted to those false and lying spiritual masters who claim to be the channel to The One. I loved the almost heavy-metal like mood of the song, and Alanis sings with determined rage. As for lyrical content, well, lets just say that I haven't heard any contemporary musician talk of Indian spirituality in such ironic terms as Alanis does, and its refreshing.

3. Thank U : The first single, and the most talked about video. This song also is dedicated to India, but to its' positive aspects. Alanis thanks the country for making her 'wake up' and smell the roses, in a matter of speaking. I loved the lyrics ('How bout them elusive dangling carrots?'). This is one track that you will keep playing. I did.

4. Are You Still Mad : In a softer mood, and the albums' first real ballad. I didn't care too much for this one, though it shows that Alanis' voice is no featherweight instrument. This girl can sing.

5. Sympathetic Character : Alright, I'll be honest. I hated this song. Nothing works on it. Very reminiscent of Sinead O'Connor's 'Daddy, I love you'. But at least I could sit through that one.

6. That I Would Be Good : Another ballad, but this ones terrific. Alanis at times seems like a little girl aiming to please (most evident on 'Perfect', the most sensitive antistatement on 'JLP') and this track is amusing and captivating in its' honesty and simplicity. I loved the gentle melody that never jarred one bit. Very appealing.

7. The Couch : So we're all slightly mad. Now thats nothing to be ashamed of, is it? Alanis doesn't think so. Here she plays a Southern Belle from a troubled dysfunctional family and has no qualms about bearing the story of her life and her handicapped and insane family. This is more information than we can take, but its very welcome.

8. Can't Not : Very similar to 'Sympathetic Character'. These are the two songs on the album that I totally detest. Theres something wrong with the melody, or perhaps its just that I dont like such melodies. It irritated me, and no one I know has played these tracks more than a few times.

9. UR : Amazing. This is one of Alanis' finest rock moments, and the blend of pop and alterna work in sync like never before. Sheer single material. Burn the books, they've got too many words and psychoses, she says. I totally agree. I have no idea why this wasnt given more attention. Very compelling.

10. I Was Hoping : One of the 'filler' tracks. Some have said that its the stand-out on the CD, but I must disagree.

11. One : You know, this song reminded me so much of U2's song of the same name. They have nothing in common lyrically, but the message is the same. For some reason, the song lacks power and vocal strength, but you'll love it after a few listens.

12. Would Not Come : The most solid track on the CD. I loved it years ago and I love it now, and I have no idea why people have trashed it. This is also the most interesting Alanis song ever, because you keep thinking that 'Would not come' is a veiled reference to sex, but she surprises us by revealing at the end that its really not, and all of a sudden, the song takes an unintended spiritual turn, which got to me. This is funk with attitude and meaning. Wonderful.

13. Unsent : Alanis reads her unsent e-mails to her past lovers on this song. It was the second single release from the CD yet never made it to the charts, really. Though I thought I would get tired of it, I never did. Its quite profound.

14. So Pure : The third single from the CD is also the most pop-like, and has the most infectious beat. You'll be dancing away on this one. Psycho-electronica is the mood of the moment and Alanis masters it like no one else. I loved the seemingly nonsensical lyrics - 'You from New York, you are so relevant - you reduce me to cosmic tears'. Now go analyze that !

15. Joining You : Not very nice. I listened to it and thought about it, and liked it for a few reasons, but its musically weak and repetitive.

16. Heart Of The House : This is Alanis doing her 'I can be better than Tori' imitation, and you know what? For some reason, she actually IS better that Tori here. It works, marvellously! Especially on the lifting 'All hail the Goddess' chant that Alanis does so well. She sounds VERY different on this song and its worth checking out.

17. Your Congratulations : To end the album on a ballad seems a strange move. JLP ended with 'Wake Up' which, though being rather slow and winded, jolted you out of your reverie. This one lulls you back to sleep, which is why most people think of the CD as a whole as a sleeper flop. Its NOT, I assure you.

For people who have JLP and those who are thinking about getting this one, I HIGHLY recommend this album to you. Its much better than most female alternative rock albums out there today, and deserves cult classic status. Its right up there with Fiona's 'When the Pawn', and Tori's 'From the Choirgirl Hotel'.

Yes, THAT good...

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