The Collection
Alanis Morissette was due for a greatest hits compilation. Hailing in 2005, "The Collection" has classic after classic song that will make heads spin. The album consists of Moriessette's musical work from as early as 1995 to 2005, as well as pieces from soundtracks and a cover song. Although the record is missing some of her catchy songs, like "All I Really Want" and "Precious Illusions," the whole collection is a fantastic mix of tracks throughout her music career.
What would Morissette's collection be without the five songs, "Head Over Feet," "Ironic," "You Learn," "You Oughta Know," and "Hand in My Pocket," from her third studio album, "Jagged Little Pill"? These songs are characteristic of her cracky vocals and original lyrics. It may not be surprising that the words in these songs slide out of your mouth with ease after last hearing them in 1995. More recent songs, like "Eight Easy Steps" and "Everything," from her 2004 album, "So-Called Chaos," will flow through your lips with the same effortlessness. Taking two songs (excluding the Australian bonus track, "Uninvited") from the 1998 album, "Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie," "Thank You" (spelt "Thank U" on the "Junkie" record) and "That I Would Be Loved" will rekindle the love that you have for her music. "Hands Clean" and "Sister Blister," from 2002's album, "Under Rug Swept," gained their spots on the compilation, while the 2004 Vancouver Sessions of "So Unsexy" is honored on the record.
Morissette includes soundtrack pieces to her collection, such as "Still," from the film, "Dogma," and "Let's Do It," from the movie, "De-Lovely." Although the song, "Let's Do It," doesn't really fit her singing voice, she makes up for it by covering Seal's "Crazy." She takes the song, "Mercy," from American film and television composer Jonathan Elias's album, "The Prayer Cycle," in which she sings powerfully and reverberantly. From her live album released in 1999, titled "Alanis Unplugged," she adds "Princes Familiar" to the assortment of songs and also puts the track, "Simple Together," from her CD/DVD package, "Feast on Scraps," onto the record.
"The Collection" is like a burrito filled with Morissette's timeless songs that will quench hunger. Having come out with her seventh studio album a little over a year ago, Morissette seems to be well on her way to her second collection album. Let's keep out fingers crossed.