Alanis Morissette "Jagged Little Pill" (1995)
Another of those albums that was EVERYWHERE while I was in high school.
I remember being vaguely aware even at the time that Alanis had had
albums before this. Reading up on it, her self-titled album and "Now
is the Time" were Canada-only releases in more of a dancey pop vein.
The release of those two records completed the two-album deal she was
signed to and she was free to move to Toronto, get together with
producer/writer Glen Ballard to put together "Jagged Little Pill".
A lot of people view it as her debut, and certainly it is her first
international release and her first album in the more raw, alt-rock
vibe.
Morissette seemed to be up for trying different things. The single "You
Oughta Know" was given to Dave Navarro and Flea (at the time both in
Red Hot Chili Peppers) to essentially jam out a new arrangement over the
existing beat and vocal.
My favourite track "Head Over Feet"
has fuzzy and acoustic guitars blending over a drum-machine beat that
gives it almost a hint of the UK's 'baggy' scene. Lyrically,
Morissette covers topics from sexual guilt, predatory music industry
types, hope, a little humour, and that lyrical stalwart: the
ex-relationship.
Yep, let's not even talk about "Ironic" and whether it's actually ironic (don't ya think?)
