Angry Little Pill

I was just going through a painful breakup when I discovered this album. I had never heard of Alanis Morissette before, but one of my internet friends said I should listen to her because I could relate. Boy, was he right!

Alanis brings out the strong emotions that most of us keep bottled up tightly and never expose to the real world. We would be baring our souls if we did.

All I Really Want
I must admit that some of her lyrics do not make much sense with me, but when she is singing them, they relate on other levels that I cannot explain. It is almost like she is singing in broken thoughts like a skipping record but finishes the song and still the song means something.

This song is exactly like that. It's about a confused, angry woman trying to work her way through her heartbreak and disillusionment of life.

You Oughta Know
This song is a personal favorite of mine. This is the tune that my friend, nicknamed Master P, told me to listen to when I was dumped by my boyfriend for a girl he chatted with on the internet from Texas (who was living with a guy too. It was a mess!). The lyrics could have been reversed because I was the older woman dumped for a young girl, but the message was the same. Anger and pain mixed together as her soul cried out for retribution. Alanis then represented all the jilted women and became an icon.

Perfect
Perfect seems to be directed more or less to her parents who expected Alanis to always win and do the best that they expected. This is such a hard responsibility to place on one’s child; however, I find myself doing it at times, and I have to remember that each person is an individual and develop differently. Just because someone is Miss Teen Queen does not mean they will be a success in life or as a human being. The pressures of trying to live up to these expectations show through this song.

Hand In My Pocket
This depicts the struggle of one’s mind and the two different poles in which one can be at the same time. It sounds confusing, but I know how it feels. This song is about hope and trying to figure out life.

Right Through You
Apparently the man who hurt Alanis so much is clearly shown in this music. Her heart cries for the abuse she endured and how she was used and carelessly thrown away. However, on a bright note, she climbs up from the ground and not only survives but surpasses what’s-his-face. She can not only put on a brave face but can smile at her success that she created without him.

Forgiven
The lyrics in this piece are a little vague to me since I do not know much about her personal life, but it seems she was a religious or church going type at some time in her life. It seems she is trying to understand why everyone was there and how everyone really fit together in the scheme of things.

You Learn
This catchy little song is a unique way to describe life. Learning is a very difficult process especially when one does not exceed or meet the goals he has placed on himself. This is another one of my favorite tunes on this album.

Head Over Feet
Finally a love song! After all the deeply soul-wrenching songs we have heard so far, here we have a light hearted (compared to the others) tune. The lyrics are interestingly written to portray that she had to love him because of his pursuing, and she finally gave in. I love this cute, upbeat tune.

Mary Jane
This song is about a woman that is concerned about a good friend as she sees her slipping into a lifestyle that is doomed for destruction.

Ironic
Here is another song with an “ironic” outlook about life. Life is portrayed as never getting what you need or want because it will always be the opposite. Not everything in life is really like that, but at low times in your life, it make seem like it.

Not The Doctor
This song to me is about a person that does not want the responsibility of dealing with someone else’s problems and is giving this lecture right back at them. She does not want to be the crutch for someone to lean on.

Wake Up
The final song talks about a person that takes the easiest path of least resistance throughout life, and it seems she’s trying to wake them up from this type of personality.

The CD only cost me about $15.00, and it had high quality sound. Although the artist’s voice takes some getting use to, her lyrics are haunting and her experiences she shares in her music are true-to-life.