The year 1995 witnessed the arrival of a musical masterpiece that would go on to redefine the landscape of alternative rock and propel its talented singer, Alanis Morissette, to global superstardom. Jagged Little Pill was not merely an album; it was a cultural phenomenon.
The album’s impact was nothing short of seismic. Selling more than 33 million copies worldwide, it achieved a level of commercial success that was unprecedented in its time. Moreover, Jagged Little Pill clinched several prestigious awards, including four Grammy Awards, a testament to its musical and lyrical prowess.
The album’s first single, You Oughta Know, quickly ascended the charts, leaving an indelible mark on the music scene. Its music video received extensive airplay on MTV, serving as the launching pad for Alanis Morissette’s meteoric rise to fame. Her powerful and emotive vocals, combined with the album’s raw, unapologetic lyrics, struck a chord with listeners worldwide, particularly resonating with young women who found a voice in Morissette’s candid and honest storytelling.
Yet, it wasn’t just the album’s commercial success that set it apart; it was also its groundbreaking lyrics. Morissette fearlessly tackled subjects such as love, sex, and feminism in a manner that had not been seen before in mainstream music. This frank and introspective approach to songwriting connected with audiences on a deep and personal level, making Jagged Little Pill more than just a collection of songs but a source of empowerment and catharsis for many.
The critical acclaim that Jagged Little Pill received was equally remarkable. Reviewers lauded Morissette’s formidable vocal prowess and the album’s raw, emotional energy. It quickly earned its place as one of the greatest albums of all time, influencing countless artists who followed in the years since its release.
Beyond its commercial and critical success, Jagged Little Pill left an indelible mark on popular culture. In 2018, it made the remarkable transition from album to Broadway musical under the same name. The stage adaptation proved to be a resounding success, winning several Tony Awards and capturing the hearts of theatergoers, further solidifying the album’s enduring impact on diverse artistic realms.
Jagged Little Pill stands as a testament to the enduring power of exceptional songwriting and meticulous production. More than two decades after its release, it continues to be cherished and celebrated by a wide and devoted audience. Its ability to resonate with listeners on both a personal and cultural level remains a testament to the timelessness and influence of this iconic album.
The gear listed here shows what was used in both the tracking sessions with Glen Ballard and the mix sessions with Chris Vogel who mixed all but two of the songs on the album. Alanis’s voice was tracked through a AKG C12 microphone into a Demeter VTMP-2B Microphone Preamplifier, and into an LA-2A. During mixdown, it was run through an LA-2A again.
The dbx 263x DeEsser was used as well, but very minimal use as Alansis was not a fan of it. Chris Vogel did do some parallel DeEssing however through the dbx 263x and ran it back into the Demeter to add some colour. The dbx 160x was used on bass mostly, but there is a possibility it was also used on vocals here and there. The Lexicon 480L was used for reverb duties throughout Jagged Little Pill.
Alanis’s vocals were given a touch of reverb, not form the Lexicon 480L, but the Yamaha SPX-990 using the Symphonic and Thin Wood Room presets. The Alesis Quadraverb II was used for Benmont Tench’s organ with what is claimed to be the best ‘Leslie’ effect of any device to date. Every song was run through the TL Audio C-1 Tube Compressor, which is interesting as it is not exactly a high-end compressor that would normally be used for a stereo mix, but it clearly did the job.
