So-Called Chaos

by

Alanis Morissette

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I remember seeing the video for "Everything" on VH1 and I asked, "This is Alanis Morissette?" Not that it's a bad song, but I was surprised not to hear any yelling (for lack of a better term). And there really isn't any loud singing on the album, except maybe on the song she has out now, "Eight Easy Steps". Apparently a lot of reviewers feel the same way I did, saying that the old Alanis was more entertaining than the new Alanis. Yes, if you have all of her other albums and enjoy them, you may not feel the same --at least, at first listen -- about So-Called Chaos.

This album was written in the midst of her relationship with her now fiancé, Ryan Reynolds (best known from playing the title role of National Lampoon's Van Wilder; or didn't anyone else see that movie either?). That probably explains why many of the songs on here are romantic. But these songs aren't sappy or anything. There are lovely songs like "Out Is Through" and the aforementioned "Everything". And when Alanis gets innovative with the subject matter, it's still impressive, as evidenced by "This Grudge" (some think it's a response to "You Oughta Know") and "Not All Me".

With a slim ten tracks totaling just over 40 minutes, So-Called Chaos is an album that's just right for a quick listen. The only real flaw is that I have no idea what she's talking about on "Knees of My Bees". But love Alanis' new style or hate it, you should still add this to your collection. Who knows, you might like it after a while.

Anthony Rupert

Judging by the lyrics, someone has definitely answered Alanis's personal ad "21 Things I Want In A Lover", the opening track on "Under Rug Swept". Though it's wonderful to see Alanis come full circle, this proves to be her most disappointing album yet. "So-Called Chaos" tries too hard to find its own sense of style, which each of Alanis's other albums succeeded in doing. Also, she often fails to use her vocabulary in the right context, or uses it in a way that makes the lyrics sound sloppy and written with the help of a thesaurus (which has always been the case with Alanis). She tries too hard to feign intellect. "Jagged Little Pill" was explosive because of it's simplicity, it's maturity, and it's beauty. It was successful because it was angry yet optimistic, all the while remaining coherent. On "So-Called Chaos", Alanis's first time using a producer other than Glen Ballard or herself, the bombastic production is used to keep the interest of the listeners because the material itself is boring. These songs don't show any growth made since "Under Rug Swept", except for her new-found romance. If indeed this is Alanis starting a new beginning, than "Under Rug Swept" served no purpose other than to keep her fans satiated until she found what she was truly looking for; an end to the pain shared on her earlier albums. Too many of the songs lack lyrical structure. While they aren't stream-of-consciousness like "Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie", they don't do much but make a list of things for what Alanis is trying to get across. Alanis's voice was once guttural and strong, yet soft at the same time, she was always able to shout through the angry rock numbers, but sounded vulnerable and lovely on the pop songs and the ballads. This time, with the help of the new producers, Alanis's voice makes a weak attempt to growl through the rock songs ("Eight Easy Steps", "So-Called Chaos") and comes off nasaly and sloppy; and on the pop songs ("Excuses", "Everything"), she sounds dull and lazy and unable of singing beyond one note. Perhaps the standout song on the cd is "This Grudge", it covers the romantic fallout which has been the center of much of Alanis's music for the last nine years, but this time, she leaves all the aggression aside and doesnt shroud her feelings in big words or run-on sentences. It is simple and beautiful and concise (like "Jagged Little Pill"!). The lyrics on "So-Called Chaos" (the cd) don't have many valuable things to say, and the run-of-the-mill production was already worn out by Michelle Branch. Many fans will put this cd on repeat just waiting for when it will endear itself to them, but sadly it won't (which might also explain how this album of all of Alanis's albums has sold the least). Alanis should wait until she makes more personal growth to make a worthwhile album. Though I hate comparing Alanis to the lesser-talented Avril Lavigne, it seemed like the entire purpose of "So-Called Chaos" was just to give Avril time to catch up.