She Gets to Play God

I've rarely found an album that had such a strong body of work. Listening to any album, we are lucky if 1/3 the content blows us away. Steve Miller's Fly Like an Eagle was pretty awesome the summer I turned 17.

Jagged Little Pill is filled with wonder. Released in 1995, I was still in a car with a cassette player and I listened to this one over and over again. I was a non traditional student and I went back to school that year. I was determined to graduate from college and that involved me driving 50 miles one way for almost two years. Jagged Little Pill got me there and back.

I still listen to this album and it still moves me after so many years.

I remember being shocked at some of the lyrics but I got into them very soon. I'm a mom and a school teacher. You Oughta Know. The vocals are edgy. Alanis has a voice that has clear tones when she's wailing and then the tone grows smoky and earthy. Her voice is never without feeling. It carries me.

Most of her songs have a strong rhythm that is catchy and helps direct the listener into a groove. "Hand in My Pocket" shows that she can wail. One gets into the rhythm with the harmonica background and the acoustic riff and then Alanis gives us a "peace sign." This song presents a list of contrasts. The vocals are clear and challenging. The lyrics are relevant.

"No one's got it figured out just yet." This song is moving on so many levels. Just when the groove gets comfortable the artist's voice pierces into our awareness and shakes us up.

Some songs are really soft. "Perfect" is an example. There is lilting acoustic guitar and soft vocals that direct us to seek perfection. In some ways this song sounds like like an admonition from a parent to a child. This song doesn't have the strongest vocals, Alanis goes a bit flat in a couple of places but it's still nice.

This is how the track list goes. . .

1. "All I Really Want" – 4:44
2. "You Oughta Know" – 4:09
3. "Perfect" – 3:07
4. "Hand in My Pocket" – 3:41
5. "Right Through You" – 2:55
6. "Forgiven" – 5:00
7. "You Learn" – 3:59
8. "Head over Feet" – 4:27
9. "Mary Jane" – 4:40
10. "Ironic" – 3:49
11. "Not the Doctor" – 3:47
12. "Wake Up" – 4:53

Jagged Little Pill is very musically strong. Each song is well written and orchestrated. Alanis has a strong clear voice that has a lot of variety and some major wailing strength. She is accompanied by quality musicians who render the melodic line with beautiful guitar riffs and moving percussion.

And after all, if you watch the movie Dogma, Alanis is God and she's wonderful!