Jagged Little Pill - Alanis Morissette

Advantages: Every song has something going for it - power, subtlety... lack of subtlety
Disadvantages: If you don't like her voice, the album sinks

...terrifying force that spurs along Jagged Little Pill, album no 3 for her, she was a dance singer. Yes, she was one of those twee pop stars who sing about how much they like boys and isn't basketball just the coolest and all those sorts of things. You think I'm kidding? Look her up for yourself. Alanis Morissette used to be a cute kiddie pop singer. I only mention that because on this album she is frequently terrifying. Come 1995 the once permed ...
...Ballard, her producer, and formed Jagged Little Pill, and album which made her famous, and she could never repeat again in her career, try though she did. "You Oughta Know" is the track we should start with here, because it's the song which most embodies the rest of the album - and is the most famous, probably. It just so happens to be the most bitter and angry song anyone has every performed. Sure, some people do death metal, and My Chemical Romance ... Read review

Advantages: Emotional rollercoaster
Disadvantages: That damned harmonica playing

...in the first place. Jagged Little Pill is one of a handful of albums that does this to me, it’s instantly likeable yet the interest never fades. There’s a song for everyone in here as Alanis writes and sings from the heart. She manages to write about her experiences, some of which I can identify with, some I can’t and others attached to memories etched in my brain. Especially ‘You Oughta Know’ where memories of jumping ... Read review

Advantages: Great songs, wonderful vocals
Disadvantages: It's a bit angry

...right now, Alanis Morissette’s 1995 Jagged Little Pill is really striking a chord with me. I bought it when it was first released, but recently it has made a comeback into my personal “most listened” chart. I’m a woman scorned, you see, so this album rather suits me at the moment, and you’ll quite often find me doing the housework with this on full blast, snarling the incredibly vicious lyrics out at the top of my voice ...
...skilful production. Before mixing Jagged Little Pill, Fogel was best known for working with Nine Inch Nails and you can still feel the edge. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*  ALL I REALLY WANT “Do I wear you out You must wonder why I’m relentless and all strung out I’m consumed by the chill of solitary. I’m like Estella I like to reel it in and then spit it out I’m frustrated by your apathy” Harmonica, ... Read review

Advantages: The songs are brilliant
Disadvantages: Mary Jane sticks out like a sore thumb

Alanis Morisette is an angry woman, or at least that is what her debut album portrays her as. She is mad at men who have let her down, intent on revenge and doesn't care who knows about it. She thrust herself onto the music scene after signing to Madonna's Maverick label, and made us all sit up and pay attention with her strong lyrics and even stronger vocals. This is a great anger to listen to and sing until you get rid of all your pent up frustration. ...
...out. 'All I Really Want' is a tremendous opener. You can imagine her singing this while stamping her feet in frustration at the things she wants but cannot have. If you think this is a strong track then you will be blown away by her debut release 'You Oughta Know'. Alanis claims she wrote this song about a married man she was seeing who dumped her and left her full of rage, and if this is anything to go by I would hate to get on the wrong side of ... Read review

Advantages: Diverse, powerful, and emotional.
Disadvantages: Do I REALLY have to fill in this field?

Alanis Morissette was virtually unknown in the United States until she recorded and released "Jagged Little Pill" in the mid-90s. This record was fresh, original, and jam-packed with solid emotions - something I personally had found lacking in the popular music industry of that time. The first single, "You Oughta Know," is obviously the most memorable of all tracks on this record. It is recorded in two versions: The popular "rock" version that we ...
..."ballad/R&B" type of version that makes its appearance at the end of the record. It was, and still is, considered "The Angry Woman Song Of The Nineties" because of the rage and hurt that lie just beneath the surface of the slick guitar work and pissed-off lyrics from one of our favorite Canadian musicians: I want you to know that I'm happy for you / I wish nothing but the best for you both / An older version of me / Is she perverted like me / Would ... Read review