Jagged Little Pill - Alanis Morissette > Reviews > The Angry Woman Of The Nineties

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Thought-provoking
Quality and consistency of tracks	Flawless
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Outstanding
Value for Money

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

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

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 all heard on the radio as well as a softer "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 she go down on you in a theater / Does she speak eloquently / And would she have your baby / I'm sure she'd make a really excellent mother...

This opening verse is very tensely sung, with a strong undercurrent of the
rage that bursts out from underneath the murky waters of the soul. The song goes on to take a few jabs at the ex-lover but, mainly, it is reflective of anger and a very real sense of hurt that the singer obviously experienced firsthand.

"I'm here to remind you of the mess you left when you went away / It's not fair to deny me of the cross I bear that you gave to me / You, you, you oughta know..."
Either version of this song is fine to play if you're feeling angry, hurt,
rejected, or just plain empowered.

The CD continues with "Perfect," a very soft ballad when compared to "You
Oughta Know" and other memorable tracks on "Jagged Little Pill."

"Sometimes is never quite enough / If you're flawless then you'll win my
love." This song is a VERY dramatic yet real look at children who cannot live up to their parents' disgustingly high expectations for them. The hurt and frustration are very apparent in this song - something that makes you want to cry for the children that experience this every day all over the world. It is executed flawlessly, with much dramatic (but not overly so) wailing from Alanis - something she is very good at, apparently.

Another track that I highly recommend for listeners is "Ironic." It is, of course, about the irony of day-to-day life. "It's a no smoking sign on your cigarette break / It's like ten thousand spoons when all you need is a knife / It's meeting the man of my dreams and then meeting his beautiful wife / And isn't it ironic, don't you think?"

The verses are slightly mellow but tinged with a sharp sense of cynicism - but not enough to ruin the song for those optimistic and cheerful folk out there. The chorus is more of a rough-edged alternative rock sample, which is the perfect backdrop for Morissette's powerful voice. The best part of this song is that NOBODY I have ever met can help themselves: They are all compelled to sing along - often at high volume. It's definitely catchy, and obviously an inspired track.

Strangely enough, I don't find myself fast-forwarding at any point in this record EXCEPT to get to the hidden track. It is several minutes after the final "real" track ends, so fast-forwarding is really the only timely way to hear it. It is an acapella ballad, a story-telling song in which Alanis goes into her lover's home while he is away. While she is there, she discovers that he is cheating on her. "Would you forgive me love...if I cried all afternoon, yeah...?" The background fade and echo on this track sometimes annoy me, but overall it tends to add to the realistic and "natural" appeal of this song. So, if you own the CD, don't forget to fast-forward and check this "hidden track" out.

The packaging of the album is good, despite the fact that there are no pictures or such printed on the liner notes. Rather, you get a track listing and complete lyrics to all of the "regular" tracks. Unlike releases from the Cranberries or early Melissa Etheridge, the lyrics are printed in a font that is fairly large and, of course, legible. Often I find this to be an advantage, because I generally get new and interesting messages from the songs I listen to when I read the lyrics as the tracks are playing - sort of an "insight" thing, I suppose. Whatever the case, don't expect lots of photos or color inserts in the liner notes.

Overall, this record is great. It ranges from ballads to heavy rock music, which makes it great to listen to regardless of the mood the listener is in. It also offers variety - Alanis gives her very own flavor to several musical styles on this record, and ensures that her emotions and feelings are captured throughout the record. Usually this can only be accomplished with a live recording, but in this case it works out wonderfully for the artist. You can almost close your eyes and imagine that you are in the singer's shoes, experiencing the things that she is writing and singing about. All in all, it is a powerful, emotional recording, one that reveals the frayed edges of Morissette's soul and leaves you wondering just how many scars she carries on that heart of hers.

I highly recommend that you pick up this record. If you already own it, go play it. You'll be pleasantly surprised at how much you will still enjoy the recording despite the fact that it's been on the market for several years. Alanis has a long-standing shelf life, something that enormously pleases her numerous fans all over the world. She is also versatile: She does not write about the same sappy, lame garbage all the time. You will experience a wide range of emotions and thoughts when you play this or any other Alanis record currently on the market, so don't hesitate - indulge yourself!