Havoc and Bright Lights
by Alanis Morissette
  • Record Label: Columbia
  • Release Date: Aug 28, 2012
Metascore
55

Mixed or average reviews - based on 17 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 17
  3. Negative: 3 out of 17
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  1. American Songwriter
    Sep 5, 2012
    70
    Morissette's poetic discourse of intimately describing her feelings still abounds, but is elegantly emoted here with cool restraint.
  2. Boston Globe
    Aug 29, 2012
    70
    There are a couple of clunkers, including the finger-wagger "Celebrity," directed at those who seek fame as its own reward, and the droning "Win Win." But for the most part Morissette and producers Guy Sigsworth and Joe Chiccarelli keep the proceedings crisp, tuneful, warm, and sincere.
  3. Paste Magazine
    Aug 29, 2012
    80
    Havoc embodies relief, release and refuge.
  5. The A.V. Club
    Aug 28, 2012
    67
    Like Morissette, Havoc And Bright Lights remains fearless and vibrant despite its shortcomings.
  6. BBC Music
    Aug 24, 2012
    70
    Sometimes the production is too slick, but Morissette avoids blandness because she's so idiosyncratic.
  7. The Boston Phoenix
    Aug 24, 2012
    63
    Sometimes it gets too cheerful.

Awards & Rankings

53
#53 Most Discussed Album of 2012

User Reviews

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User Score
7.1

Generally favorable reviews- based on 54 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 37 out of 54
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 54
  3. Negative: 7 out of 54
  1. AloudSound
    Sep 1, 2012
    8
    "With its more radio-friendly beats, experimental trance, complex lyrical content and softer tone music, its truly good enough to say that its"With its more radio-friendly beats, experimental trance, complex lyrical content and softer tone music, its truly good enough to say that its a great welcome back to Mrs. Morissette"… Full Review »
  2. nick4bty
    Aug 28, 2012
    10
    This album couldn't better paint Alanis' life at the moment. There are so many fantastic moments in this album that it almost takes the knifeThis album couldn't better paint Alanis' life at the moment. There are so many fantastic moments in this album that it almost takes the knife out of the four-year-wait-cake. We are served a full album filled with sonically-brilliant moments and true pieces of pop art. As an artist, Alanis never fails to express herself in beautiful ways. Listening to the music offers music ingenuity, but reading the lyrics and truly understanding each song and what it stands for is how you can get the most out of this album. Everything about it clicks. 17 years since Jagged Little Pill, and still on top of her game. Havoc and Bright Lights is easily one of her best works to date.… Full Review »
  3. Foxmodem
    Aug 28, 2012
    10
    this is easily one of Alanis Morissette's finest albums, proving that you don't have to be miserable or depressed to be inspired to createthis is easily one of Alanis Morissette's finest albums, proving that you don't have to be miserable or depressed to be inspired to create art. It's already trite to compare her albums to Jagged Little Pill, so I will just compare this to her previous "happy" album, So-Called Chaos. While SCC struggled to find words, rhythm, and coherence to describe that so-called happiness, the songs of Havoc and Bright Lights show clarity and genuine joy both in lyrics and melody. Lots of potential radio hits here: Receive, Empathy, Spiral, Win and Win, Woman Down. If there's an album that should propel her back to the charts and awards shows this would be it.… Full Review »
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