Who needs Prozac when you got Jagged Little Pill?

The first time I heard Alanis Morissette I couldn’t stand the sound of her. Her anguished war cry that kind of sounded like a strangled yelp of a kicked dog made the little hairs on the back of my neck stand to attention. I wondered what record executive could have possibly though her caterwauling would capture anyone. Then I got dumped. All of a sudden her caterwauling sounded like a scream for justice and her yelps sounded like the hiccups of a bruised ego. I could relate.

Years later, Jagged Little Pill is still one of my favorite listens. The raw anger is really something I still am amazed over yet she also showed she had some musical sensibility. “Hand In My Pocket” is a song that to this day makes me feel like somebody out there really understands what my life is like. It’s kind of a spirited list of complaints that comes to the realization that despite all the bullsh*t life is still pretty good. The music is kind of repetitive but I think that lends to the charm of the song. 5/5

“You Oughta Know” is infamous for its scathing lyrics and the hostile release of a deeply hurt woman. Every line is venomous and there is no restraint or softening the blow. She manages to vocalize the anger with a penetrating intensity. Then she kind of moans in anguish but soon gravitates back to anger. It’s a truly memorable song. 5/5

“Ironic” is probably one of the more lighthearted tracks. Well, at least on the surface. It has a sly sense of humor but it also talks about regrets and lost chances. She somehow manages to come off as flippant yet a little disappointed. 5/5 “Right Through You” is more angry than the music indicates with its pop inclinations. The lyrics to this song and Alanis’s delivery is what gives this song it’s bite and Glen Ballard’s production doesn’t quite fit in my opinion. 4/5 “You Learn” is another one of my favorites and I just love the lyrics and for a long time this could definitely have been my theme song. The hook, like pretty much all of the album, is tenacious and when she shouts the “yie-eh-ah”’s at the end of the song it just feels kind of triumphant. 5/5

“Head Over Heels” is really the only love song on the album and even this one has an air of caution. She seems a little tentative and her suitor might be a little obsessive but you feel a glimmer of hope right along with her that somebody might be decent. 4/5 “Not The Doctor” is a song that talks about saying no to co-dependence and has some pretty cool lyrics. I don’t think you will ever hear a line as interesting as “I don’t want to be the sweeper of the eggshells that you walk upon” on too many other albums. 5/5

She has two ballads on the album and they are both very personal and really express some serious baggage. “Perfect” is a very compelling song about people expecting you to never make a mistake. She kind of sounds like a kid who is crying and the bridge is vocally a mess yet so effective. 5/5 “Mary Jane” is a song I actually like even better now than then. It’s a sad song and it’s a powerful one with some pretty impressive vocals showing that Alanis can sing when she isn’t caught up in being p*ssed off and cathartic. I think that gives you respect for her because you realize she is willing to be vocally imperfect to serve the needs of the song. 5/5

A review of this album would not be complete without mentioning the brilliance of the acapella hidden track after the alternate version of “You Oughta Know”. It’s an intimate account of finding out someone is cheating and it’s gorgeous as it revels in naked pain and hurt.

There really is no filler on this album. A lot of albums have songs that just kind of fade away over time but almost ten years later, this album seems as vibrant and intense as it was back then. To me it doesn’t even sound like it was made ten years ago. It could have been made yesterday and still be amazing. Many people have tried to duplicate the emotional structure of this album but I don’t think anyone has ever pulled it off.