It feels like ages since Alanis Morissette has graced the music scene. Fans are receiving her eighth studio album, “Havoc and Bright Lights,” as her anticipated comeback after her previous six albums were ill received by critics.

Marriage and motherhood have affected Morissette’s agenda positively since her debut, “Jagged Little Pill,” which is arguably one of the best breakup albums in rock history. The album won five Grammys, including “Album of the Year.” However, the Canadian singer’s eighth album comes up short with its monotonous sound.

Her jagged edges were smoothed over by her husband, rapper M.C. Souleye, and 1-year-old son, Ever, giving her life a more hopeful, happier nuance.

Nevertheless, “Havoc and Bright Lights” sounds like a combination of Morissette’s other albums with an electro-pop twist broken up by sentimental ballads. “Guardian,” the album’s opening track, is just one example of this. The chorus reads: “I’ll be your keeper for life as your guardian / I’ll be your warrior of care your first warden.”

While the track is commendable on a personal level, her entire album is a series of overlapping guitars, and it becomes hard to tell when one song ends and another begins.

However, her fourth track, “Celebrity,” strays from the rest of her album with a harsh metal sound. Its vibe differs from the rest of the album in an unsettling way, making it sound awkward and misplaced.

It is time for a change in Morissette’s musical style. She remains true to her authentic personality and distaste for chauvinism in her lyrics, but unfortunately her melodies don’t reflect the bright future she built for herself. Thus, she may bore her listeners with the same power chords they have been hearing for the past two decades.

Overall stars: 1 ½

Alanis Morissette’s newest album comes up short with its boring, dull melodies and instrumentals.