Isn’t it ironic? Morissette isn’t feeling pressure

It’s been four years since the release of her previous album.

By JOHN BENSON

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

No pressure, no responsibility.

Welcome to the world of Alanis Morissette. Not only is the alternative rock singer-songwriter taking her time recording and writing a follow-up to her last album, 2004’s “So-Called Chaos,” but she also decided to open for Matchbox Twenty on its current tour, which comes through Cleveland Thursday for a show at Quicken Loans Arena.

“It was as simple as they asked me,” said Morissette, calling from Los Angeles. “I’ve known Rob [Thomas] briefly in little festivals we had done together, and he’s a sweetheart. I thought it was a perfect no-pressure situation to promote this [new] record in a more communal and fun environment, versus being shuttled around the planet.”

She added, “And the no pressure aspect for me is huge. I don’t have to worry about filling seats or anything.”

After spending the first decade of her career chasing the superstar status created seemingly overnight with the smash success of her breakthrough effort “Jagged Little Pill,” which sold more than 30 million albums worldwide, Morissette has recently taken a laid-back approach to recording.

Thus explains the four-year delay between her last studio effort and her new album, “Flavors of Entanglement,” which is due out this spring.

“I write when I need to write and when I’m about to explode,” Morissette said. “I listen to my own inner rhythms, and this last time around I did need a break because I was losing my [expletive].”

It was roughly a year ago when Morissette, apparently ready to explode, started to work on new material with producer Guy Sigsworth (Bjork, Madonna). Morissette said the album is an interesting collaboration of her acoustic folk rock sounds and Sigsworth’s electronica-influenced style.

Not only does Morissette’s current hourlong set list feature plenty of her hits, including a completely reworked version of “Hand in My Pocket,” but she’s also giving fans a sneak peek at the upcoming album by performing new songs “Citizen of the Planet,” “Moratorium,” “Torch” and “Straitjacket.”

“There was one song we were rehearsing for the tour and my sphincter tightened because there was no electric guitar in it and that’s a real stretch for me,” Morissette said. “I’m a little uncomfortable when I’m out of my comfort zone, so that was a good sign.

“But not really that scared, just more excited because my sensibility does lean towards loving techno, and Guy Sigsworth is a pure genius. To watch him in action is like watching a master.”

Speaking of comfort zone, Morissette recently finished filming her first lead role in the feature film “Radio Free Albemuth,” which is based on a Philip K. Dick book. When asked about a release date, Morissette’s no pressure, no responsibility policy is unexpectedly revisited.

“I don’t know, thankfully that’s not my problem,” Morissette said. “It’s the first time that something has not been my problem.”

And with that, Morissette, who hasn’t really got it figured out just yet, has one hand in her pocket and the other one is playing the piano.