#69 Alanis Morissette, 'Jagged Little Pill' (1995)

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A very important record from my childhood, I clearly remember going halves with my sister to buy this CD. That would effectively make it the first CD I bought, or amongst the first few and I listened to it to death. While this is her third release, it was the first released internationally. A major shift in sound from her first two, many naively considered this her debut. Following her second album, Alanis Morissette moved from Toronto to L.A., where she met producer, Glen Ballard. Amongst many other releases, Ballard had contributed songwriting and production to Michael Jackson’s ‘Bad’ and ‘Dangerous,’ most notably ‘Man In The Mirror’ and ‘Keep The Faith.’ Influenced by Grunge and Alternative music of the time, Ballard would refine Morissette’s angst into well-crafted pop songs, resulting in 12 (13 really) incredible songs.

Why 13? Well, this might possibly be the first album on the list to include a secret track, the stalker song, ‘Your House.’ ‘All I Really Want’ kicks the proceedings off, setting the tone of songs to follow. The middle eight section in the song would be a recurring device used throughout. Track 2 is arguably Morissette’s signature song, ‘You Oughta Know.’ A revenge/break-up song allegedly about Full House’s Dave Coulier, Ballard assembles a super group of sorts to deliver the song; the soaring vocals of Alanis, the unmistakeable bass of Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Flea, as well as their one-time guitarist, Jane’s Addiction’s Dave Navarro. The song was essentially re-arranged by the pair with the middle section heavily resembling their own band’s song, ‘Aeroplane.’ Rounding the supergroup off is Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ organist, Benmont Tench. Although often rumoured, Taylor Hawkins from Foo Fighters doesn’t play drums on the recording (he was her live drummer). The 10/10 album also includes ‘Hand In My Pocket,’ ‘You Learn,’ ‘Head Over Feet’ and ‘Ironic.’ It was nominated for 9 Grammys, winning 5; making the 21-year-old Alanis the youngest winner (at that time) of Album Of The Year. It went to the #1 spot in 13 countries and to date has sold a staggering 33 million copies, making it one of the biggest-selling albums of all time (just behind MJ’s ‘Bad,’ coincidentally). It has recently been turned into a musical. I always forget how incredible this album is, until I relisten to it and I’m reminded all over again. Loved relistening to this after so many years.

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