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List Price: $18.98 | | Label: Maverick
Salesrank: 4358
Released: May 18, 2004 |
| Our Price: $4.90 |
| Used Price: $0.01 |
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| Media: Audio CD |
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So-Called Chaos Track Listing:
1. Eight Easy Steps
2. Out Is Through
3. Excuses
4. Doth I Protest Too Much
5. Knees Of My Bees
6. Not All Me
7. So-Called Chaos
8. This Grudge
9. Spineless
10. Everything
Editorial Review:
It's been a long time in coming, but with So Called Chaos Alanis Morisette has finally produced a worthy follow up to her globe-conquering debut. Calmer and more focused, the songs exude a new, mature woman, firmly in control of her life. "I'm not threatened by every pair of legs you watch go by," she sings with Zen-like serenity on "I Doth Protest Too Much" (as if she'd have said that on Jagged Little Pill). Time mellows--leave the angst to Avril Lavigne.
Overexposure once made her fantastic voice grate, but now it's like welcoming back an old friend--that distinctive little warble, that softness…it's her most valuable asset and the simple, clean production wisely allows it to breathe freely. Most of the songs follow a slow, quiet verse/loud sucker chorus pattern and there's nothing on here that rivals anything from her debut, but everybody (including herself) has accepted that now. The absence of a world-class co-songwriter plays a part, but it's a refreshing change to see no external involvement. Accept Morisette for what she is--a female singer/songwriter with an exceptional, original voice and you won't be disappointed. --Ben Johncock
So-Called Chaos Reviews:
Average. 
2009-04-07 - This is an okay album, not her best work at all. It didn't grow on me whatsoever. The only songs that are REALLY good ones are "Eight Easy Steps" Which is a Pop/Rock song with a hyper power-pop chorus and has Avril Lavigne's name written all over it. Another track that's radical is "Out Is Through" this is a great song in general, I really like the arrangment especially the chorus, It's a positive song with chiming guitars and great harmony, It's my favorite on the whole CD. That song alone is worth buying the album, If you ask me. "Excuses" is another track that caught my attention but it's not as good as the first two that I mentioned. Overall this album is MEDIOCRE. What takes the rating down is how small the album is, 10 tracks Alanis'? ...really?. Such a small tracklist only creates pressure for the artist, The lesser the tracks, The better the songs have to be. For every track that's "not good" the smaller the record becomes to the listener. She's not the only one who's done this. Alongside... The artwork doesn't even look like she's with a major label. This is a great big Flop album. Poor Alanis.
Dark sounding, decent mixes/effects on the songs 
2008-10-05 - If you are already a fan of Alanis' fan, you won't be disappointed. There are a few dark sounding songs with decent mixes and effects. It has got some of the Infatuation junkie feel to the album. In my opinion, it's a satisfying release.
Notable songs i enjoy are: So-called chaos, not all me, spinless and eight easy steps.
1 star was deducted for the number of songs on this album. A few more please next time :D
Short but Cohesive : Alanis' Most Underrated Work
2008-09-18 - "So Called Chaos" may never reach the cult status of "Jagged Little Pill" or even "Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie", but I've always believed this album contains the best set of tunes Alanis has ever released. The only problem is the production, or rather the 'over' production that takes away from the melodies a little. However, this is very much a repeat-play album and it will take you a good six to seven full spins to truly appreciate.
Eastern-tinged tracks such as "Knees of my Bees" sit very comfortably next to an exalted classic like "Excuses" (seriously, what a song!). And while the album does tend to sag toward the end, the music is always quite solid. The lead track, "So Called Chaos" is actually the weakest link here, but on singles "Out is Through" and "Everything", Alanis shows us that she can do wonders with the simplest of melodies.
And its that simplicity that probably went against the album. This is one of Alanis' worst-selling records, and theres a reason - almost every song is in the same key, leading you to conclude that 'every song sounds the same', when you listen to it the first time (almost every listener has that complaint about this album). While that may be true, remember that this is very much an album that you need to invest in.
The bonus CD content is great. It contains her Sessions at AOL, with a live performance of "Excuses" - sung in the upper register - and Alanis looks really good with that short hair (the performances are from 2004). Also present on the CD is an EPK - a fifteen minute making of "So Called Chaos" that pretty much chronicles where Alanis is in her life - quite eye-opening, actually. There is also an acoustic MP4 Version of "This Grudge", which wasn't that great, but hey, Alanis is at least being a sport by bundling all this exclusive content on the physical CD.
"So Called Chaos" is my favorite Alanis album after "SFIJ", and its a pity that this isn't much appreciated even with serious Alanis fans. Get it and listen to it with an open mind - its a happy record, a tad overproduced, but still essential to your pop-rock collection.
Four Stars.
All Aspect of Living 
2008-06-30 - I received "So-Called Chaos" on MP3 about three months ago. And I am stilling loving listening to it!
I have always enjoyed Alanis Morissette, but this is my all-time favorite.
I have to say that I don't think there is one song on this CD that could have been written just to be a fun song. Every song on "So-Called Chaos" is meaningful, and pertains to intense spiritual and personal growth that many of us are currently facing.
"Excuses," my favorite track, is about letting excuses hold us back from living an authentic life. It's gentle, yet powerful.
"Everything," my other favorite, is about letting ourselves be loved no matter what imperfections we seem to have.
"Eight Easy Steps," brings to mind our leaders and teachers who moment to moment fail to walk their walk, and fail to see the greater needs of humanity. It's quick and upbeat and I really love the drum track!
"The Grudge" is about the pain we can experience when we continue to hold on to a grudge. It's a very smooth, quiet song, bittersweet and powerful.
"Knees of my Bees" is a fun song... not quite sure what it's about though ;)
There are ten songs in all. I love the CD, and find it both personal and spiritually uplifting.
Ryan who?
2008-05-21 - I've never rxd to the fact that any of the tracks on this album came from the Reynolds in her life. As you see, they live on even after dissolution of that "couple". Love permeates through this disc, but never allows you to feel it without paying dearly prior to.
