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Alanis Morissette quietly released the video for her new single "Not As We," a ballad from her amazing yet underrated album "Flavors of Entanglement." Directed by James Whitaker, the video shows simple and clean stills from Alanis performing the song interspersed with bleak images of a pensive Alanis drinking coffee, reading a book, laying on the beach, taking a bath and looking out of the window. This song might bore some of you to no end while others might be touched by Morisette's emotive delivery. I'm leaning towards the latter depending on what mood I'm in. It's pretty perfect for a rainday. (Click here to get Alanis latest CD on Amazon.com for only $5.99. That's a steal.)

Watch this short EPK that features Alanis Morissette speak about her upcoming new album, titled "Flavors Of Entanglement," which is out in the U.S. on June 10.

This brief clip is great for three reasons. First of all, she smiles. Secondly, she explains the meaning of a few songs, which should help some of us wade through her cryptic lyrics. And lastly, she announces a festival tour this summer that her fans will be excited to hear about.

I've been listening to an advance copy of this new Morissette LP and I must conclude that it is a pretty solid collection of songs. It is not as radio-friendly as her earlier records, but it is meaningful, authentic and the teaming with Guy Sigsworth gives her a welcome new glow.

The reality is though that Alanis Morissette is no longer a chart-topping, made-for-top forty-radio artist. Gone are the days of "Hand In My Pocket" and "You Oughta Know." She is a mature album artist now, much like Tori Amos, Sheryl Crow, Sarah McLachlan and others for whom the creative process of crafting an album is more important than writing the latest greatest radio ditty.

Look at her! Even though Alanis hasn't had the easiest time over the last couple of year, she managed to smile a little for her new promotional photos.

The singer's new album, titled "Flavors of Entanglement," will be released on June 10. According to a press release, the creation of this new album was a "cathartic" process that helped the singer to deal with  "the big transition in her life," which might point to her break up with fiancee Ryan Reynolds in 2006..

Check out her new single "Underneath" that was produced by Guy Sigworth (Frou Frou, Imogen Heap, Bjork). The song is described as a good example of "Morissette's yin/yang view of the microcosmic self being evidenced in the macrocosmic world" that "reflects Mahatma Gandhi's notion that 'You must be the change you want to see in the world.'" That's deep.

Even deeper are lyrics like, "How I've spun my wheels with carts before my horse. And shine on the outside springs from gloom. Spotlight on these seeds of simpler reasons. And score bourne into corn, stretching my limit." Huh? Not sure what that means exactly, but I'm sure it posses a lot of meaning for the singer.

Welcome back, Alanis.

Listen to Alanis Morissette "Underneath" (QT)
Listen to Alanis Morissette "Underneath" (WMA)

Rob Diament was right when he reminded us what a gifted songwriter Alanis Morissette is. He previewed her entire new album at Guy Sigsworth's studio in London and wrote about it here.

The singer wrote and recorded this new record, titled "Flavors Of Entanglement," together with Sigsworth (Frou Frou, Imogen Heap, Bjork) over the last year. Morissette has said that her new LP is a "snapshot" of her personal journey in 2007.

A good example of Morissette's poignant songwriting is her rumored new single "Underneath." She sings, "How I've spun my wheels with carts before my horse. And shine on the outside springs from gloom. Spotlight on these seeds of simpler reasons. And score bourne into corn, stretching my limit."

The singer's literary storytelling and idiosyncratic vocals go very well with Sigworth's trademark all-digital sound design that is filled with quirky sounds effects (notice the clicks and glitches during the verses of "Underneath"), wavetable synths and atmospheric harmonics.

I find that the video for "Underneath" fits the song very well. Director Matt Doctors shows ordinary, fully-dressed people jump in a pool fully dressed to create the impression of liberation and letting go. The video was produced by DoctorTwins in Los Angeles.

This new track is very promising. Looking forward to hearing the entire new album.

Watch Alanis Morissette "Underneath"