Jagged Little Pill is the third studio album by Canadian-American singer Alanis Morissette, released by Maverick on June 13, 1995. Recorded in Hollywood at Westlake with production by Glen Ballard, it is Morissette‘s first album to be released worldwide. It marks a significant stylistic departure from the dance-pop sound of her first two efforts, Alanis (1991) and Now Is the Time (1992). She began work on the album after moving from her hometown Ottawa to Los Angeles, where she met Ballard. The pair had an instant connection and began co-writing and experimenting with sounds. The experimentation resulted in an alternative rock album that takes influence from post-grunge and pop rock, and features guitars, bass, keyboards, drum machines, and harmonica. The lyrics touch upon themes of aggression and unsuccessful relationships, while Ballard introduced a pop sensibility to Morissette‘s angst. The title of the album is taken from a line in the first verse of the song “You Learn“.
Jagged Little Pill received positive reviews from critics, who praised its music and Morissette‘s lyrics and vocals. It received nine Grammy Award nominations, of which it won five: Album of the Year, making her the youngest artist to win the award at the time; Best Rock Album; Best Female Rock Vocal Performance (“You Oughta Know“); Best Rock Song (“You Oughta Know“); and Best Long Form Music Video. It was certified ten times platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), seventeen times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), and double diamond by Music Canada, making Morissette the first Canadian artist to achieve double diamond. With combined sales of over 33 million copies worldwide, Jagged Little Pill is one of the best-selling albums of all time. It has been included on several all-time lists, such as those of Apple Music, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Rolling Stone.
The album has been re-released twice: on October 30, 2015, in a two-disc deluxe edition and a four-disc collector’s edition commemorating its 20th anniversary; and on June 26, 2020, in a 25th anniversary deluxe edition. An acoustic re-recording of the album was released on June 13, 2005, to mark its 10th anniversary. It inspired a musical stage production, which premiered at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, Massachusetts on May 5, 2018; it transferred to Broadway the following year, and was nominated for 15 Tony Awards, including Best Musical. A world tour celebrating the 25th anniversary of Jagged Little Pill began in early 2020 but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tracklist:
- The Bottom Line
- Superstar Wonderful Weirdos
- Closer than You Might Believe
- No Avalon
- Comfort
- Gorgeous
- King of Intimidation
- Death of Cinderella
- London
- These Are the Thoughts
Credits:
Musicians
Alanis Morissette: harmonica (tracks 1, 4, 8), vocals (all tracks)
Glen Ballard – guitar (tracks 1, 3, 4, 7–12), keyboards (tracks 1, 4, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12), drum machine (tracks 4, 7, 8, 11), programming (tracks 1, 2, 7, 12)
Dave Navarro: guitar on “You Oughta Know”
Basil Fung: guitar (tracks 3, 10)
Michael Landau: guitar on “Forgiven”
Joel Shearer: guitar on “Right Through You”
Lance Morrison: bass guitar (1, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, 12)
Flea: bass guitar on “You Oughta Know”
Michael Thompson: organ (tracks 3, 10)
Benmont Tench: organ (tracks 2, 5, 6, 7, 9, 12)
Rob Ladd: percussion on “Ironic”, drums (tracks 3, 10)
Matt Laug: drums (tracks 1, 2, 5, 6, 9, 12)
Gota Yashiki: groove activator on “All I Really Want”
Production
Glen Ballard: producer, engineering, mixing
Scott Campbell: mixing
Ted Blaisdell: additional engineering
David Schiffman: additional engineering
Victor McCoy: assistant engineer
Rich Weingart: assistant engineer
Chris Fogel: engineering and mixing
Francis Buckley: additional mixing
Jolie Levine: production coordination
Chris Bellman: mastering
Tom Recchion: art direction, design
John Patrick Salisbury: photography
