Someone I know is doing one of those challenge thingies and nominated me. It’s “albums that influenced your musical taste.” And since he’s ignoring the “rules,” so am I.
Album 9, Jagged Little Pill, is absolutely iconic, and with it, Alanis Morissette became the voice of Generation X. The lyrics are forthright but still imaginative and clever. She discusses many of the mundane, relatable pressures of burgeoning adulthood. At the same time, though, her metaphors are whimsical (though not to the point of being ridiculous) and her descriptive detail is vivid and incisive. That balance gives the work a wry tone that is definitive for our generation.
While there were female vocalists in the ‘80s and early ‘90s who pushed away from the typical style expected to achieve success (like Tina Turner or Joan Jett), Alanis Morissette’s broad, nasally vocals went in a different direction. The full voice of her singing style complemented the openness in her lyrics, and as a result, the album comes across as heartfelt and relatable.
Oh, and I’m supposed to nominate someone else to do it, so today that’s my husband, of course. You don’t have to, but if you do, please give me a mention so I get a notification and see what you pick 🙂