Havoc and Bright Lights

For me, Alanis Morissette’s Jagged Little Pill was the right music at the right time—an album that will be forever flawless in my mind. Nothing else has ever matched those first few notes of “All I Really Want.” After seven years of holding out hope for lightning striking twice, Havoc and Bright Lights has found its way into my rotation, and though it’s not lightning, there are some serious sparks. Morissette seems to have found the middle ground between the angst of Jagged Little Pill and the spiritual mundanity of its follow-up, 1998’s Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie. There’s enough raw discomfort in “Woman Down” (great crescendos!) and “Lens” to balance out the retrospective and almost too-personal “Win and Win” and “Receive.” “Celebrity” is a perfect example of the melting pot that is her style, with its touch of Bollywood sound mixed with almost-screeching vocals and a mellow but poignant discourse that punches home the story of its title. In many ways, it seems that this album would have served as a great bridge between Jagged and Junkie, as it introduces the dominant sound in the latter while appeasing fans with a touch of the former. Regardless, Morissette always creates unique sound filled with honesty, and this album is no exception.