Jagged Little Pill

Let's get one thing out of the way: this album is DATED. The mixing, the songwriting, the instrumentation ... everything about this album firmly plants it in a specific time frame. Usually, that's a bad thing when the time frame is mid-90s. Somehow (and I'm not sure how, honestly), "Jagged Little Pill" manages to be both a perfect example of an album from '95 AND a great album. There are things that I don't like ... but not enough for me to give it anything less than 5 stars. There are too many great tracks. It demands a 5-star review.

God has spoken.

Men on this list when they're broken up with: "The clouds in my heart shed cumulus tears / the pain won't mend for a matter of years" Women on this list when they're broken up with: "Does your new bitch even let you bust in her mouth?" Fuckin' A, Alanis. It's definitely one of the more dated sounding records the generator's handed out so far, but that didn't stop me from digging Neneh Cherry, and it doesn't stop me here. Nix some of the softer filler tracks and you have a real banger on your hands. Key tracks: All I Really Want, You Oughta Know, Right Through You

I didn't grow up in the 90s but this is what I imagine it sounded like.

It's a noteworthy accomplishment for Alanis to represent such emotional and dark themes through an up-beat, mainstream pop driven instrumentation. The album is a collective statement and fierce representation of her artistry within the rock genre. There is no doubt that Alanis is one of the most unique and distinctive singer-songwriters in modern music history, which this album solidified. Stand-Outs: All I Really Want, Perfect (understated song), Head Over Feet, Ironic, You Oughta Know

Gen X's "Blue", which means that "Exile In Guyville" is Gen X's "Tapestry". I had those albums reversed at first until I remembered that, like Joni Mitchell, Alanis is from Canada. Besides, I prefer Guyville-Tapestry over Jagged-Blue, and I'm an actual Gen Xer, so I'm allowed to make my own silly rules. Your mileage may vary, but apparently Liz Phair and Alanis have become good friends. I guess it depends on whether you prefer blow jobs in a theater or getting fucked until your dick turns blue. They both sound like fun to me. A song as great as You Oughta Know deserves to be about someone other than Dave Coulier. I prefer the deep cuts over the hits here, and that's surely because everything released as a single after You Oughta Know was overplayed to the point of exhaustion. Alanis may not appreciate that. She doesn't seem to fully understand irony. But we shouldn't begrudge Alanis Morissette for that. She made a kick-ass album.

Alanis Morissette gives the post-break-up singer-songwriter confessional album a new and decisively 90's overhaul in a post-grunge, post-riot grrrl world. It's bitter, jaded and cynical pop-rock, meaning that her best lyrics are the most conversational and cutting, the lines which drip with sarcasm. The first moment of genius comes in the second verse of "All I Really Want", when she asks "why are you so petrified of silence- can you handle this?" And then everything cuts to a few seconds of dead silence... before the voice comes back in- "Did you think about your bills, your ex, your deadlines, or when you think you're gonna die, or did you long for the next distraction?" It's glorious. She sells her anger perfectly and convincingly throughout: "You Oughta Know", "You Learn" and of course "Ironic" glow with a perfect combination of visceral rage, lyrical insight and radio-friendly rock. On the other side of the spectrum are the more optimistic, plaintive "Hand in My Pocket" and "Head Over Feet", sticking out like sore and lovesick thumbs. They might be lyrically trite in comparison, but they still shine with their sweeter, more pop-friendly melodies. My problem lies with the songs that don't quite seem to hit either side well, either sitting awkwardly in the middle or just becoming unpleasant on the ears. "Forgiven" shoots for a "You Oughta Know" style catharsis, but just feels grating and repetitive when the previous tracks have already got there, and "Not the Doctor" suffers coming off the back of "Ironic", dipping the pace to a lolloping growl. "Wake Up" is a weak ending as Morissette mumbles and shrieks her way through, in search of both a strong hook and a definitive sign-off. I didn't really feel either arrived. I find Morissette's vocals very overbearing at times, but Glen Ballard's production is also part of the problem: his de-facto method for going "angry" or "confessional" is by upping the distorted guitars and bringing more searing, wailing vocals up front. Even though Morissette's lyrics and subject matter allows for it, there's not a lot of dynamic range in the sound, or different means of expression. It frustrates me that we don't get more dialled back material on the level of "Perfect" or "Mary Jane", both showcasing Morissette's versatility as a songwriter and a vocalist. I'm intrigued to hear there's an acoustic version of the album recorded ten years later- and will definitely check this out to see if the songs are served any better. Despite all this, I'm feeling generous and can't argue against the strength of a lot of the songwriting. Bearing in mind a lot of the records I have given 3* and like a lot less, it's scraping 4* here. Definitely worth a listen for any songwriters getting in touch with their angry side!

worst album i’ve ever heard I would rather get a blowjob from a piranha than listen to this again the whole thing it just some canadian hoe bitching about her ex boyfriend while making donkey moans and terrible harmonica solos

One of, if not THE first CDs I ever owned. I remember my dad being pissed that my mom let me listen to it. Def would’ve been a Lilith fair attendee

Alanis Morisette looks like John Travolta. This album really does nothing for me. It occupies the mid-90’s cultural slough whose festering miasma spread well into the 2000’s. It is an anthem for being too hot in pyjama pants on a summer day at 12:45 pm and wanting to kill yourself; that feeling of having completely wasted your day and that, consequently, you’ll do the same for your entire life. It makes me feel like my head is under a heat lamp, like I’ve been sitting on a hot sidewalk all day. The vibe is just not good at all. The lyrics and vocal technique feel like an Adam Sandler number. It’s very cheesy, the kind of thing women like Tony Soprano’s sister listen to. It’s what your very sweaty, overweight, bead obsessed aunt and her boyfriend listen to in their 1995 Honda accord with no air conditioning while they smoke with the windows up and sway their heads back and forth like they’re waving candles at some boomer concert, then consistently, loudly, and obnoxiously shushing whenever you ask them to turn it down or crack a window. It’s fine, just not really my thing.

Absolutely legend. 90s in the best way possible.

Like an angry version of Friends. Anthemic, feminist themed. Vocals start to jar after a while but some interesting lyrics in parts.

What is worse than something that is just bad? Something that almost is good sometimes, and then spoils it with more badness. Almost a 1, but "forgiven" and the really fantastic bass part on the otherwise blegh "you oughta know" saved it

The influence of Jagged Little Pill on post-pop progressive death metal cannot be overstated. 4

Dripping in 90s cheese, when it hits is very good, but when it misses its downright awful. It hits more than misses but I cannot shake the feeling that computers are working overtime to give it that sound. It's a 3

So 90's that it borders on distracting. There are a ton of iconic jams on this album. Alanis' trademark strained vocals fit right into the alt rock / grunge that the 90s were seeing. This is one of those albums that made it out of that decade not looking completely ridiculous in the process. Enough here that anyone could enjoy.

Alannis seems to have had some bad relationship experiences, and I'm not 100% surprised - it sounds like she would be a bloody nightmare 🤣. Overall an OK listen and some good tracks but a bit angry & shrill so won't be rushing back to it!!

Isn't it iconic, er, ironic don't ya think?

Alanis Morissette rocks!

i was originally disappointed seeing this album pop up because i *LOATHE* "ironic," but it wasn't as bad as i thought. largely fine, though her voice really irritates me. i know that's not an original critique, but i don't care!

Another day, another dose of nostalgia from the 1001 Albums Generator. These early-mid 90’s records really end up putting me in an odd headspace sometimes. This isn’t a record I ever listened to intentionally, but I know a lot of it…how could I not? I was a teenager in 1995, consuming as much MTV as I possible could and I knew plenty of people who were Alanis Morrisette fans. So when a record like this gets assigned, it’s inevitable that I end up thinking about those people, the fun times…about the 90’s. …and you know what, it’s comforting. It feels good, most of the time. Occasionally, that comfort becomes uncomfortable: you think about something stupid you said to someone or how you haven’t really kept in touch with some of the people you are thinking about and you’re not really sure why that happened other than it’s just what happens as you get older. An odd feeling, without a doubt and I’m not sure I’m conveying it well through these written words. Funny how that happens, you have this feeling going on and, try as you might, you can’t really convey it properly. I don’t know…it’s…I guess if I had to really pinpoint it, narrow it down for a stranger, I would probably tell them… IT’S LIKE RAAAAAAAAIN ON YOUR WEDDING DAY IT’S A FREE RIDE WHEN YOU’VE ALREADY PAID IT’S THE GOOD ADVICE THAT YOU JUST DIDNT TAKE AND WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT? IT FIGURES.

Yes, she's angsty. But it's great writing, passionate songs. Really diverse and a great listen. I have to let my OCD relax listening to Ironic given that nearly all of her examples aren't really irony. Oi vey.

+ Hand in My Pocket + You Oughta Know + You Learn + Head Over Feet + Ironic

Ridiculously good alt rock album even though it is definitely something that could have only come out in the 90s. Experimental enough to make me question how this album became so popular in the first place

Catchy, annoying, bad and good. A snapshot of the 90’s worth a listen but I still have trouble liking this

Absolutely miserable experience. Lyrics and vocals are annoying, over-the-top making this album a chore to listen to. If you never liked listening to 'Ironic' then skip this one. Best song: Right Through You (the least irritating song, very radio-friendly) Worst song: You Oughta Know (someone was very salty about their ex)

I'm telling my kids this is what the mid 1990s sounded like

This is the most 90s album i've ever heard just from the opening guitar riffs. I like her voice when she's not doing weird things with it. I think that was kind of her trademark but I don't really like the cracking that she does and a lot of country singers do. She's working through a LOT in this album. jagged little pill walked so that Sour and Guts could run.

Really great album all around. Strong and well known albums all throughout. 10/10.

This middle finger to the patriarchy is just perfect. It's fun to give this a good listen as an adult with adult feelings. I felt the emotions of the album as a 12 year old but I understand the lyrics better as an adult.

Still so good. Nothing but cuts.

amazing album. played on repeat for a few months during college

Five stars isn't enough.

5/28 Raw, emotional, mature. Standout Tracks: All I Really Want, Perfect, Forgiven, You Learn, Head Over Feet, Not the Doctor, Wake Up, You Oughta Know (Jimmy the Saint) / Your House

my favourite album ever

Made an instant classic by Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon

Like the music but not the vocal nor lyrics. A microcosm of the 90s I guess.

Im so sorry, but really not the biggest fan of her voice

May the protagonists in her songs look back on this as fondly as I do now. Sneered at it back then, now see it for what it is: a strong set of wailers with all the contemporary alt-rock bells and whistles, powered by a voice that seems to embody domestic discord, which is not a criticism.

My relationship with this record is one of grudging acquiescence. I tried to avoid it, but in 1996 this proved an impossible task so I learned to appreciate some of the quirky wit therein: "Do I stress you out? My sweater is on backwards and inside out And you say how-[e-yow-e-yow-yow] appropriate" "You took me for a joke You took me for a child You took a long hard look at my ass And then played golf for a while" etc You know what it sounds like - basic, screechy, dated and cheesy, but utterly era-defining (if you ever turned on the radio or left the house). Characteristically, and unfashionably, I think she actually got better on later albums, and will recommend "Under Rug Swept" (despite its perfect Spinal Tap-esque review in a UK rag: "Very Good Not") Would a 3 be ironic?

You read, you learn. You hear, you learn. You rate, you learn.

Nr. 161/1001 All I Really Want 3/5 You Oughta Know 3/5 Perfect 3/5 Hand In My Pocket 3/5 Right Through You 3/5 Forgiven 2/5 You Learn 3/5 Head Over Feet 3/5 Mary Jane 2/5 Ironic 4/5 Not The Doctor 3/5 Wake Up 3/5 Average: 2,92 Okay-ish pop record, just a bit too whiny at times for me.

A 90s classic but not really my bag, and I find Alanis’ voice a bit grating at times. Important record for WOMEN in ROCK though, and I am an ALLY.

Pretty good album overall

If you’ve ever listened to an adult contemporary station you know the highlights. Great singles boring deep tracks

meh

I have known for a while that Alanis isn’t my cup of tea and this listening didn’t change that. I respect her songwriting, but it veers a bit whiny or self-pitying for my tastes and her voice is just really annoying to me. The way she uses it is very strange. 5/10

A few undeniable hits but the rest is BORING 90s contemporary radio filler

It’s very 90s: Seattle-ish angst with a bit of a Britpop dressing. Her vocals get really tiring after a bit though.

kinda meh,

Not for me whatsoever, the only song I enjoyed on the record was 'perfect'

Las dos canciones conocidas no están mal. El resto bastante flojo.

Banger. Probably in the top 5 best albums of the decade. The hits are killer. The deep tracks are killer. 5 stars all day.

No private session used for Spotify. I remember when this album came out, there was a vast sea of angry white men rock, angry white women rock was a welcome change and this album was embraced with constant airplay. Now, I will admit I have spent too many hours discussing the song "Ironic" and how none of the stories in the song were ironic at all, but it's still a nice song.

This is almost post grunge. The vibes on this album are absolutely immaculate, and the perfect lens to view this period in time through. Almost every song on this record is instantly recognizable as Alanis Morissette. There’s also no bad tracks on this album either, in my humble opinion. I’m a huge fan of her voice, and the distinct vocalizations present were definitely both novel for the time and trend-setting going forward. Nothing but good things to say here, 5*

Perfect and Forgiven still gut me all these later.

What a gem. I think all 5 of these stars are nostalgia-related, but whatever, this album is still great. When I was in middle school, I had to pick a biography to read for a book report and much to my surprise, my local library had one on Alanis Morissette. I don't doubt that I had the coolest book in the class hahaha.

Robin daggers 90s masterpiece

A classic from the 90s! It's really interesting how the sound of this album remains fresh to this day. It feels like it was released yesterday! There's not much to argue with. A classic 90s rock album, with really good songs... 5 stars!

this is the queen

Awesome!

God herself, great album.

Brilliant album. I just love the bitter rage of You Oughta Know and coupled with All I Really Want, it’s one of the best opening to an album, ever. It did ride a little closer to a 4 than I was expecting though. At nearly an hour long, it lost a bit of power in the middle and the irony of completely missing the meaning of irony in Ironic is no longer funny to me, it just seems straight up stupid - like, do 10mins worth of research before releasing that? But it’s an absolute banger and still an easy 5.

Iconic 90s album.

So powerful, so alive, so good 4.8

Alanis Morissette - Jagged Little Pill This album is the epitome of being heartbroken. I heard about this album before but never really took the chance to listen through it until now, it caught me off guard, because it really has that "don't judge a book by it's cover" vibe. I expected it to sound like an average"pop" album from the 90's, but in the end, I underestimated how catchy and good it sounds, especially with the riffs and melodies that it has to offer. Almost every song here is a highlight, that's how good it is. Words can't even describe how amazing this album is, specially to those who went through what the album is talking about. 1.- All I Really Want = 9/10 2.- You Oughta Know = 10/10 3.- Perfect = 8/10 4.- Hand In My Pocket = 9/10 5.- Right Through You = 10/10 6.- Forgiven = 10/10 7.- You Learn = 9/10 8.- Head Over Feet = 10/10 9.- Mary Jane = 8/10 10.- Ironic = 10/10 11.- Not The Doctor = 8/10 12.- Wake Up = 9/10 FINAL SCORE = 9.1/10

Really nostalgic. Really enjoyable. So many hits.

Great album

I didn’t really care for this so much when it came out initially. Maybe because it was just overplayed on every radio station you can ever think of. But over the years I really come to appreciate this album. And she clearly never repeated this again. But she didn’t really need to. Since she probably made so much money on this first album.

Landmark album of my early teenage years. My dad had it. My brother got a copy from my uncle. I got it too. Alanis Morissette is the reason I wanted to become a singer-songwriter.

Easy 5. Monster of an album, captures the nineties easy.

Fuck yeah bud I love this album! My cousin made me a cassette that had most of this on one side and the Space Jam soundtrack on the other. If you have a more 90s thing than that you can shove it up your ass with your Talkboy! “Get outta here you nosy little pervert or I’ll slap you silly.”

Oh hell yes, Alanis goes hard. She sounds so raw, a hoarseness that I never noticed before. I love it. Easy 5* Highlights: ironic, hand in my pocket, you oughta know, all i really want, right through you, forgiven (chills during the chorus), you learn, head over feet Ok, I think I just don't like the soft fillers (mary jane, perfect, wake up), but otherwise enjoyed the whole thing.

This album is perfection of 90s. Some true anger and heart put into this. A raw emotion and music just is perfect 90s sound.

One of the great albums of the 90s. If it was possible to wear down a CD mine would be gone.

Incredible voice, and exciting tunes.

Enjoyed this since I heard it the very first time when I was 11 or 12

love

I think I know all these. I lived this album in real time. I forgot about the opening track. But once I heard it it came back. I love the expressiveness of her voice. The more I listen the more I remember. This album is phenomenal.

Beethoven? Mozart? Chopin? Never heard of them. All I know is Alanis Morisette. The Vibe: 90s teen flick soundtrack

Thank you, Uncle Joey

I was prepared for a dull singer-songwriter thing, but I found myself getting really into this! Some songs I didn't realise I already knew, and the others were mostly really poetic and enjoyable. Thank you Alanis hehehe (Dary from Letterkenny did ruin this for me tho lol)

Obvi one of my faves!

Bought it, loved it, played it to death. It’s aged phenomenally well; as emotionally galvanizing to a 56 year old full of menopausal rage as it was to a 27 year old who had just entered into a short and very ill-advised marriage. Not a duff track on it and it’ll get played to death again over the coming weeks.

honestly really good album already knew several of the songs alanis can be a really insane vocalist

Jesus, this is almost 30 years old. I feel old now. This was revolutionary in how it gave voice to a sort of female anger. Definitely not the first, but incredibly influential and successful at the same time. Pity that the most annoying song on this album - Ironic - became its most successful track.

This is such a classic album

I definitely hated on this as a kid (I mean, I still chuckle a little at that Canadian pronunciation of “it figures”), but listening to this in full, probably for the first time, I realize that Alanis create a true masterwork with this album. It’s crazy how many hits this had, her sound was in the right place at the right time, but it’s also aged well (maybe not the drum machines). You Oughta Know is a badass break-up song. Perfect is a beautiful sweeping ballad. You Learn, Head Over Feet, and Hand in My Pocket are all great 90s singles, and of course the smash Ironic. The non-singles are all pretty good quality too. I convinced myself this is a classic, it figures.

Aw hell yeah! This was the first tape cassette I ever asked for and received as a kid. I was 9 when this album was released, but I think I got it a year later, in 1996. In retrospect, 10 is pretty young for this type of content, but my parents were always cool about that sort of thing. As long as it wasn't costing my parents time or much money, they DGAF what we did, watched, or listened to. However, I admit I had NO IDEA what this album was really about at that age. When Alanis bemoans "the mess you left when you went away," 10 year old me always envisioned someone leaving her apartment messy and she had to tidy up after them. How rude! And yes, I was absolutely scandalized when I found out it was Uncle Joey she was cursing. Anyway, this album is full of bangers from start to finish. Obviously I'm biased since this was a seminal album for me, despite my youthful innocence about the content matter.

YEAH

An absolute no skips album. So happy to have this appear on this list. Easiest 5 stars yet!

HELL YEAH!!!! I cannot be objective about this album. I haven't listened to it in decades, but this was one of my very first cassettes (!) as a kid, and I listened to it and read all the lyrics over and over. Honestly this album changed my life, and might have been the reason I became a singer. Every god damn song on this is incredible. I can't believe how many singles there are! And the non-singles are just as good. I mean I am almost in tears listening to Forgiven, and just remembering scream singing along to it as a 10 year old (catholic) girl. Thank you 1001 for including this album and reminding me of this part of my life. 5/5

Groovy, angsty, heavy, singalongable.

All time favorite, need something new.

I have always been a little sad that Alanis's career didn't unfold better. This is such a good and strong album. It is pop, but it also has a lot of depth to it, and Alanis unflinchingly faces demons that so many women face at the hands of abusers. Despite all of that, she has a hopeful tone that finds it way out in song. Brave Alanis. Great album.

I was only 8 when this came out but still somehow managed to absorb so many of the songs, given how huge this album was, all the radio airtime for the singles etc. It's easy to see why it was huge though, her writing really taps into the angst of being a jilted lover. It's a common trope in music but I can't think of many albums that capture this better. The vocals deliver the big hooks with an emotional punch, you believe what she is singing

So unabashedly 90s; this is what I imagine that era to sound like whenever I think of it. You just can't get tired of this album.

What can I say? I love this album...the drama, the heartbreak, the Joy that comes out of it. I love listening to it

I knew a lot more of these songs than I would have guessed. There's a cohesiveness that made them blend together a touch but generally just works. Morissette's voice is so strong and distinct and it's used in a bunch of ways. She utilizes lyrical rhythm really well (typically throughout the verses). Production, mixing, etc. is also really strong. There's flashes of the Jeff Buckley album on a handful of songs. It's fun to see the content flash between immaturity and deeper thoughts. It captures that early 20s timeframe really well.

Hvað get ég sagt? Alanis bjargaði mér með þessari plötu. Fyrsta sprungan í grímuna mætti þegar ég stúderaði plötuna og textana í fyrsta sinn. Gæti spilað hana í hausnum á mér nótu fyrir nótu frá upphafi til enda án þess að fara sekúndubrot út af taktinum eða tónhæðinni. Elska Alanis.