MUSIC: Defining Album Of My Life That is Jagged Little Pill

Jagged Little Pill, Alanis Morissette, Maverick Records

Me & Jagged Little Pill

In October of 2014 I watched a Q&A video of an youtuber. Somebody asked him what is his favourite album. He answerd with three albums - Avril Lavigne's "Let Go", Green Day's "American Idiot" & another one - Alanis Morissette's Jagged Little Pill.

At that time, I knew little to nothing about Alanis' music. I did remember a radio hit that she had back in the nineties called "Ironic". Since I loved the previous two mentioned albums, I gave a shot to Alanis'. And... "magic" happened - I was instantly hooked. I've never fell in love with an album so fast before.

Every day, until not so long ago, I listened to the full album at least once a day. This is just one of those things that you can't describe. It is truly magical, this album. Her beautiful voice, in-your-face attitude, intelligent lyrisc and music style that is all over the place ... perfect album. Everything is as It should be.

From in-your-face opening track "All I Really Want" to "I don't give a sh*t" "Hand In My Pocket". From emotional "Perfect" to "fun time" "Ironic". From aggressive "Right Through You" to sensible "Mary Jane". This album explores every possible emotion you can come up with.

Album Information

Released: June 15, 1995
Recorded: 1994-1995
Genre: Alternative rock, post-grunge
Lenght: 57:23 (12 songs + 1 hidden track)
Label: Maverick, Reprise
Producer: Glen Ballard

Story Behind The Album 

In 1991, MCA Records Canada released Morissette's debut studio album Alanis, which went Platinum in Canada. This was followed by her second album, Now Is the Time, but it was a commercial failure, selling only a little more than half the copies of her first album. With her two-album deal with MCA Records Canada complete, Morissette was left without a major label contract. In 1993, Morissette's publisher Leeds Levy at MCA Music Publishing introduced her to manager Scott Welch. Welch told HitQuarters he was impressed by her "spectacular voice", her character and her lyrics. At the time she was still living at home with her parents. Together they decided it would be best for her career to move to Toronto and start writing with other people.

After graduating from high school, Morissette moved from Ottawa to Toronto. Her publisher funded part of her development and when she met producer and songwriter Glen Ballard, he believed in her talent enough to let her use his studio. The two wrote and recorded Morissette's first internationally released album, Jagged Little Pill, and by the spring of 1995, she had signed a deal with Maverick Records. According to Welch, every label they had approached had passed on Morissette apart from Maverick. (source: wikipedia)

Commercial Performance

Overall, the album sold 33 million copies worldwide, becoming one of the most successful albums in music history. One of the best selling albums worldwide, in 1996 it was the best selling worldwide with 18.7 million copies sold with 500,000 or more copies sold during more than 15 non-consecutive weeks. As of 2009, it has sold 33 million copies worldwide. It is the third best-selling album of the 90's and second best-selling album by a female artist in music history.

Critical reception

The album received general acclaim from most music critics. The album went onto to be ranked by Rolling Stone at number 327 on its list of "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time".

  SONG LIST

 

1. All I Really Want (single)

2. You Oughta Know (single)

 

3. Perceft

 

4. Hand In My Pocket (single)

 

5. Right Through You

 

6. Forgiven

 

7. You Learn (single)

 

8. Head Over Feet (single)

 

9. Mary Jane

 

10. Ironic (single)

 

11. Not The Doctor

12. Wake Up

  

Hidden track: Your House

...my thoughts exactly :)

If you found yourself enjoying this album I would recommend to you, to also chech out her other two albums - Under Rug Swept and So-Called Chaos.

Enjoy music, enjoy life!