FROM: MITCH SCHNEIDER/LATHUM NELSON/MARCEE RONDAN
ALANIS MORISSETTE
TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM
‘UNDER RUG SWEPT’ FEBRUARY 26;
“HANDS CLEAN” IS SET AS FIRST SINGLE AND VIDEO;
PRESENTED WITH GLOBAL TOLERANCE AWARD
FROM FRIENDS OF THE UNITED NATIONS
Alanis Morissette’s new record under rug swept will be released February 26 (Maverick) with her having decided on 11 tracks out of a written-30-and-recorded-25 selection. (A subsequent release of some of the tracks that weren’t included on this record will follow the release of under rug swept.) Written and produced by her in both Canada (writing and demoing) and Los Angeles (subsequent tracking, layering and mixing), the songs were created with her playing both acoustic and electric guitar and keyboards and were written in a very stream-of-consciousness accelerated way. The album’s first single “Hands Clean” will be released in mid-January, with a video–recently shot in Los Angeles by director Francis Lawrence–to follow shortly thereafter. A worldwide concert tour, set to commence in North America, will follow the release of the album.
Invited to join her to play on this record–a mix of guitars and keyboards with subtle atmospheric guitar and pedal sounds and percussion/loops–were many gifted musicians, some of whom include Meshell Ndegeocello, Dean DeLeo (Stone Temple Pilots) and Eric Avery (formerly of Jane’s Addiction), along with Alanis’ previous bandmates Nick Lashley, Joel Shearer, Chris Chaney and Gary Novak.
UNDER RUG SWEPT ranges from the guitar-heavy “21 Things I Want In A Lover” and “Narcissus,” to the subtle rhythmic grooves of “So Unsexy” and “You Owe Me Nothing In Return,” to the expansive balladry of “Flinch” and “That Particular Time.” “Hands Clean” examines a past relationship and how its effects linger. Employing a haunting lyrical approach, the verses are written from the presumed viewpoint of the person whom the song is about, while the chorus and bridge represent her own feelings. “I like the idea of him ‘speaking’ to me from the past and my responding from the present,” explains Alanis. “It was really healing and empowering for me to be able to have that virtual dialogue. My songs often inspire me to be more courageous and authentic in my day to day life as the process of writing a song leads to a clarity and courage that I have, at times, a more challenging time accessing outside of the songwriting and artistic process.”
In other news, Alanis was honored by the Friends of The United Nations with a Global Tolerance Award Tuesday, December 11 in New York City. According to the organization, the critically acclaimed singer, songwriter and musician was recognized for making outstanding contributions to promote tolerance through the arts in addition to her work on behalf of tolerance in her personal life and activities. The presentation, which coincided with the U.N.’s Human Rights Day, took place at the United Nations Delegates Dining Room with senior U.N. personnel, members of the diplomatic community and key representatives of the private and civil society sectors in attendance.
For more information on Alanis, visit her official website at www.alanismorissette.com .
The complete track listing for UNDER RUG SWEPT is as follows:
- 21 Things I Want In A Lover
- Narcissus
- Hands Clean
- Flinch
- So Unsexy
- Precious Illusions
- That Particular Time
- A Man
- You Owe Me Nothing In Return
- Surrendering
- Utopia
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