Jagged Little Pill - Dark Publications

Location: Home » music » General » Jagged Little Pill

Similar Items:

•	Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie
•	Under Rug Swept
•	The Collection
•	Pieces of You
•	So-Called Chaos

Editorial Reviews:

Amazon.com
Her intensely personal lyrics grabbed the headlines, but the bravest departure here is the way Morissette's unique vocals stand naked in the mix--a technique that drives home the painful honesty of tracks like "Right Through You," "Forgiven," and "All I Really Want." Sheryl Crow or an earthier Tori Amos are fair analogies, but Morissette is a genuine original with a rare ability to make listeners care, think, and question. --Jeff Bateman

Customer Reviews: Read 477 more reviews...

5 out of 5 stars

Angry on the surface but empowering at its core September 1, 2004
78 out of 84 found this review helpful

When you talk about the biggest albums of the 90s, you certainly have to talk about 1995's Jagged Little Pill. Alanis Morissette, to my mind, came to represent a version of the new woman of the 90s, leaving no questions as to her feelings and, some might say, demands. Decades ago, Aretha wanted R-E-S-P-E-C-T, but Alanis wants much more than that, and as far as I'm concerned, she deserves it. Apparently, at least one guy did Alanis wrong at some point; some women get mad, some get even - Alanis has the strength to do both. I for one love a strong woman.

To many, Alanis burst on the scene from out of nowhere with this mega-smash CD. I have one of her first two albums, so I know better. As a teenager, Alanis actually found stardom in Canada singing, of all things, bubble gum pop. I know - it's hard to believe. I don't think any artist has ever undergone such a radical transformation as Alanis did from her teen albums to Jagged Little Pill.

Do I even need to talk about the songs? Were any of these tracks not smash hit singles? It all started with You Oughta Know, which was a revelation of sorts to many radio listeners. Harsh, angry, a little perverted, cursed with a couple of those silly bleeps radio stations just have to use - this was something different, and it just so happened to rock, as well. Alanis says everything all the good girls wronged by bad guys want to say but cannot to the heels in their lives. Right Through You comes in from the other direction to hit the target; Alanis, as a new woman of the 90s, is far too smart to fall for all the shuck and jive guys try to sell the ladies. She knows what guys want, but she is not about to let herself become nothing more than a conquest some jerk can brag to his friends about. Experience has been one of her teachers, as described in the song You Learn. I think the song Forgiven plays into this theme, as well, although it's a little too complex a song for me to claim I fully understand it - it's got some of the edgiest, most passionate lyrics on the album, though. Of course, nobody's Perfect (clever segue, eh?), and life truly has a painful tendency to be Ironic at just the wrong times, but don't dismiss Alanis as some angry psycho-beast. She knows and likes herself, she knows what she wants (Not the Doctor vividly describes what she does not want), and Hand in My Pocket proves she is perfectly all right out there on her own. Wake Up, she urges the rest of us, and go get what you want rather than pining away waiting for it to find you. That very love that sends a person completely Head Over Feet is still possible - although you might have to go through a long line of jerks to find it. You don't have to become like Mary Jane, letting yourself waste away without hope.

In the end, Jagged Little Pill is not as angry an album as it might first appear. This music is all about self-empowerment, standing up and believing in yourself, living life with both eyes open and a never-dying sense of hope. I think a spirit of optimism runs through this music, negating the angry sentiment that lies on the surface. I've barely talked about the music itself from this album, and part of the reason why, I believe, is the fact that Jagged Little Pill is one of those rarest of albums, a collection of songs that transcends the music and speaks to the listener's mind and soul. Let it also be known, lest there be any doubt, that - to quote many a reviewer of music in this little online community of ours - this album totally rocks.

5 out of 5 stars

Nice to know that pain makes good music April 30, 2000
21 out of 29 found this review helpful

This CD is, in my opinion, is the best that I have in my entire collection. And I have a pretty big collection of every type of music. I like everything when it comes to music, which really means this CD has really proven itself. Many people consider Alanis Morissette angry, but I think that all of this music is not about anger, but wanting everyone to know about her pain. Some people say that pain makes the best music, and Alanis has enough to go around. Alanis is a simply beautiful woman and she has a wonderful voice, though her high screechy notes don't always show her voice to it's potential. Her lyrics are the most soulful of all that I have ever heard. She uses eloquent words for her lyrics that the average person would have no ida what they mean. I love to get the the CD jacket out and sing along with the music (the lyrics are on the jacket). Even the album cover shows some emotional distress or something. Since I loved Alanis so much, I recently bought her CD Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie. I know it sounds weird, but I didn't think it was as good becuase it didn't include the "anger" that this album contains. The kind of world we live in doesn't want to hear about being at peace, I guess, but this CD is still a classic. There is absolutely no song on the entire album that I hate, unlike most records these days. "All I Really Want" isn't the best song on the CD, but it was a very good way to begin everything. This really complemets her feelings in a way of utter, passionate, raw expression. "You Oughta Know" is probably there the whole "angry girl" idea came from. It is a little obnoxious. It contains her ideas on her ex-boyfriend and obviously she is not happy. Either way, this song is extremely free and unfocused. She just jets around from topic to topic in, I must admit, an agry fashion. If you want one of her more mellow songs, "Perfect" is it; plus, it has a good message, bust I don't seem to like it quite as much as all the others. "Hand in my Pocket," "Right Through You," and "Forgiven" are all about Alanis being okay with the way she is now and comming to peace with herself. "You Learn" focuses on the life lessons that everyone goes through and that in everything you do, a bit of knowledge is gained. It's a very strong song. "Head Over Feet" is about Alanis finding love again and "Mary Jane" is the story about a girl who doesn't love herself. "Ironic," probablt my favorite song, is so inspiring it's hard to explain. By the end of the CD, though, the songs like "Not the Doctor" and "Wake Up" seem a little to redundant and too much like the ones throughout the entire thing. The hidden track is simply beautiful and emotional. I think it's obvious to ALanis Morissette lovers that this girl put so much effort and uncensored passion into this CD and I cannot reccomend it any higher.

5 out of 5 stars

"You...You...You...OUGHTA BUY THIS ALBUM!" April 23, 2002
21 out of 23 found this review helpful

This is by far Alanis' best work and always will be. There really is no question why this record sold 14 to 20 million copies, being that from start to finish you get the ultimate music experience. It's a perfect fresh start the public needed after Kurt Cobain's death. Each of the songs are fresh, raw, and catchy, and the lyrics are honest and empathetic. Being a teenage girl, I can relate to and understand each and every lyric much better than I would have been able to five years ago when I received this as Christmas gift in 1996 at 11 and one half years. Oops! I just revealed my age and probally repelled the reader from finishing this. I liked the music, but could only understand some of the words which makes listening to this today two times the charm. Alanis was 21 when she wrote and recorded this, and though she was speaking of her own angst and pains, I'm sure she intended to reach out to other people in her age group including me. The music alone is great and the entire album is one large highlight. Here's a brief summary list of the songs and I how I interpereted and connected to the lyrics:
1) "All I Really Want" A request for an escape from stress and to take happiness in the things that really matter.
2) "You Oughta Know" Well, this is her first single, and I'm pretty sure we all know what this song is about. I'm avoiding dating but I can relate to similar situations with any jerk.
3) "Perfect" This song is basically about being pressured to satisfy everyone around you and not being accepted. Alanis specifically wrote it about parental pressure and her anorexia.
4) "Hand In My Pocket" This is a great catchy song, and I'm pretty sure it's about not having to be all or nothing: you can be satisfied in the middle and enjoy a variety, you get what I'm saying?
5) "Right Through You" Yeah! Couldn't have said it better myself! Listen to the song and you'll know what I mean.
6) "Forgiven" I'm not quite sure, but this song might be about religious pressure?
7) "You Learn" This song is about learning from your experiences and don't be afraid to experiment with life.
8) "Head Over Feet" This is basically just a love/friendship song. The music is better than the words.
9) "Mary Jane" This is an ode to a lost and confused grieving friend.
10)"Ironic" This many peoples' favorites and hence the title it's about irony in life.
11)"Not The Doctor" This is one of those songs I can relate to more than anything, it's about being fed up with having to be responsible for someone 24/7.
12)"Wake Up" This song is a message to people who are so dissatisfied with life, but don't do anything to improve.
13) "You Oughta Know" (reprise)
14) "Your House" An accapella. Boring.
I know a lot of people who own this album, and I don't hear any complaints.

5 out of 5 stars

When Rock Was Reborn March 19, 2002
20 out of 23 found this review helpful

Well, it seems like it's been a very long time since we've heard from Alanis Morissette, doesn't it? With her newest CD "Under Rug Swept" out now for not quite an entire month, I feel I should review "Jagged Little Pill" once more.

Coming out of the wave of late 80's "cutting edge" rap, Mariah Carey reaching her peak with albums like "Butterfly" and "Rainbow," and of course the Spice Girls/Hanson pop explosion, there were lots of different types of music floating around. When we turned on our televisions and saw a seemingly ordinary Canadian woman with a guitar, I think 98% of the world stopped to watch.

Alanis Morissette shocked (and pleased) everyone with her emotional world-debut single "You Oughta Know." It's just so easy to love every song on this CD, especially "You Oughtta Know" (Who can resist lyrics like "Does she know how you told me until you die-but you're still alive?")

The album has such amazing works on it.

3. Perfect is one of my favorites. The pressure people put on you, what they expect from you- it's just to exhausting sometimes. "We love you, if you're perfect" is often the feeling you get from parents or siblings. Anyone could relate to this song.

5. Right Through You is simply irresistible. "You scan the credits for your name and wonder why it's not there." "Narcissus" (On Under Rug Swept) sort of sounds like a follow-up to this.

7. You Learn is possibly my favorite of the album. You live, you learn, you lose, you learn. This is so universal and always sounds fresh. I love listening to it!

9. Mary Jane is a really odd song, but very soft compared the rest. It's a nice change in tempo.

10. Ironic is absolutely outstanding. She tells several stories with the lyrics and it too is a little bit softer than the other tracks.

5 out of 5 stars Alanis Morissette Jagged Little Pill - Raw yet beautiful! December 27, 2003
16 out of 29 found this review helpful

As Alanis was making her way to the top she thought that `All I Really Want' is to make it big with some great music that millions will enjoy and `You Oughta Know' that this album is going to be `Perfect' for those fans and as I put my `Hand In My Pocket' I'm seeing `Right Through You,' although those who jaded me may not be `Forgiven' `You Learn' that these things don't matter in the end although I had my "Head over Feet' "Mary Jane' thought it was `Ironic' in the end that I was `Not the Doctor' and that I should `Wake Up' and enjoy the success of this album!

With "Jagged Little Pill", Alanis Morissette burst onto the music scene with an album that is stuffed from the first track to the last with raw yet very beautiful music! In her voice and her lyrics, this listener finds beauty and intelligence unmatched by her peers in the industry. "Jagged Little Pill" and her next two albums, for me, are required music for any long trip down the highway at any given time.

While many may find the subjects and lyrics of this debut album for the ever beautiful Alanis Morissette to be somewhat jaded, as they are, they are also that which launched a spectacular career for her due to that very jaded nature of her music. It is that jaded nature of many of the songs on this phenomenal CD that adds such a personal feeling to her music that it draws the listeners to her music. From the very first song to the last, which includes an untitled and unnamed song some time after the last one ends; this CD entertains completely and thoroughly! I highly recommend this and any other album by Alanis Morissette! {ssintrepid}

Powered by Associate-O-Matic

T-shirts, Posters

Pentagram T-shirts, bags, etc...

Gothic Posters