Something Old, Something Upcoming
June 4th, 2008 - Written by stevek
Alanis Morissette: Flavors of Entanglement
This is an album that we all knew was coming. Morissette has never, ever been one to shy away from autobiography in music. So when she split publicly from Ryan Reynolds in February of last year, we knew the writing was on the wall: there would be a new album from Alanis, and we could anticipate a few songs about the end of her relationship with him.
Although she never names names on this album (despite having done so in the past; “Unsent” off ‘Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie’ springs to mind), “everyone” knows who she’s talking about and who she’s talking to, when she sings songs like “Straightjacket”, “Not As We”, or “Torch”.
This is familiar territory for Morissette and her fans, but the thing with relationships is that no matter how often we make the same (or similar) mistakes, the misery we cause ourselves and others is always somehow fresh, new, and previously undiscovered. The same is true for ‘Flavors of Entanglement’. Though there might not be any new ground to cover, Morissette still manages to make the material fresh, evocative and cathartic.
I especially recommend this album to anyone in touch with their emotions who has recently gone through a breakup, particularly a bad one. This is the type of music-as is often the case with Alanis Morrissette’s work-that will help you get through and possibly, with the help of trademark clever-turn-of-phrase personal observations-even help you realize something. She’s a lot less preachy than Doctor Phil.
Alanis Morissette: Flavors of Entanglement
Warner
Steve’s Rating: 8/10
Sleepercar: West Texas
Sleepercar is a side project of Jim Ward, singer and guitarist of Sparta, and At the Drive In. Listening to this CD was my first introduction to either act, and I must say that my interest has been quite pleasantly piqued. The CD came out at the end of April, and it’s unfortunate that I only got around to listening to it recently; it’s a disservice to the music on this album to offer a late review, but hopefully I’ll be able to remedy the slight, by heaping some praise on this work.
The label “alternative rock” has been used so often that it has become banal. Everything that can’t be otherwise neatly labeled is thrown into this genre category. Such is the fate of Sleepercar, and undeservedly so. Their debut merits a category all its own.
Listening to Jim Ward flex his vocal muscles through the 11 songs on ‘West Texas’, I was highly impressed with his range. Ward reminds me of a young Mick Jagger on tracks like “Wasting My Time”, “Fences Down” and “Kings & Compromises”. The anthemic “Wasting My Time” is refreshing in its upbeat intensity, and the song is appropriately stripped down to the bare necessities, musically speaking. Ward switches gears quickly, giving listeners a folksy, twanging country ballad with “Fences Down”, creating not only a potential rock-country crossover hit, but capturing the feel of “Wild Horses” without so much down-tempo.
Thematically, ‘West Texas’ reminds me of the very early work of the Rolling Stones, back before Jagger et al got caught up in the glam of the rock and roll lifestyle; back when they were still artists. This is a very creative album, delivering one unique song after another. No two songs sounding alike off this CD, each of them interpreting a different style and sometimes even different genres of music; yet this album somehow manages to maintain its cohesion, its focus, not coming off the rails as similar projects all too often do.
I’ve already put this one on my MP3 player; again, I regret not having gotten around to this CD sooner, if only because it is so wholly enjoyable.
Sleepercar: West Texas
Dine Alone Records
Steve’s Rating: 10/10
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