(11-track album/ MAVERICK)
While Alanis' astounding 'Jagged Little Pill' album was one of the best-selling titles of the mid-90's rock niche, her subsequent albums in 'Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie' and this 11-tracker seemed to receive very little recognition in comparison and didn't seem to sell anywhere near as many copies as her aforementioned debut LP.
Still, over the course of 50 swaggering minutes, 'Under Rug Swept' (which was self-produced by Alanis) delivers just as many outstanding moments as 'Jagged Little Pill' did, opened by the cool angst-rock of '21 Things I Want In A Lover.'
The most glorious anthems bound forth in the form of 'Hands Clean,' 'So Unsexy' and 'Surrendering,' the latter tune being one of my favourite songs of all-time, borne out of the fact that it thematically deals with the importance of respecting people where and when genuine respect is due.
Alanis, undeniably, is a brilliantly emotive singer, and even when the pace of tunes slackens and the vibes become more downbeat, this serves some ideal opportunities for her vocal talents to shine yet more, as in the subtle tenderness of 'Flinch ('How long can a girl be haunted by you?') and 'That Particular Time.'
Passionate to the hilt, Alanis always injects her all into both her live performances and studio recordings, in a similarly intense vein to Tori Amos. The final track of 'Under Rug Swept,' mind you, might remind you of Country-star Alison Krauss more than anyone, as Utopia's sublimely spiritual beauty finishes this quality album with idealistic and uplifting fervour.
'Under Rug Swept,' after all is sung and done, is simply divine. If only everybody who'd rushed out and bought 'Jagged Little Pill' had done the same on this album's release...
(Steve Rudd)
www.alanis.com