Alanis Morissette

What do you get when you cross Alanis Morissette with an industrial/meditative groove and what sounds like it was a particularly painful breakup? Evanescence, apparently: "Versions of Violence" finds America's favorite Canadian seriously channeling Amy Lee. But Alanis has a few more tricks up her sleeve, too. Our favorites are the dancefloor confessionals -- like the Madonna-esque "Straitjacket" and "Citizen of the Planet" (which is like "Thank You"'s much angrier twin) -- where the introspective, heavily literal lyrics and earnest politics are framed by dark, clubby beats.

Nothing gets folks on your team like losing your fiancé to a Hollywood bombshell. So just
imagine what Alanis Morissette has been doing since her ex, actor Ryan Reynolds, traipsed
off with Scarlett Johansson. Writing about post-romantic stress disorder isn't new for
Morissette, but her latest album doesn't rage like "You Oughta Know" — it sounds more like
grief. Producer and co-writer Guy Sigsworth (Björk) frames Morissette's candid l... More >