Alanis Morrissette-Jagged Little Pill Acoustic

Ron

Bought this the day it came out here and I agree with everything you say about it. And, if you haven't already got it, I bought her MTV Unplugged disc while I was waiting for JLP-A and I think the unplugged disc is very good as well.

Jeff A

You lucky guys - will have to wait until it goes into official channel, I guess...

Stefan

Send me your mailing address at uagain51@hotmail.com and it would be my pleasure to pick one up at Starbucks Saturday and mail it Monday. You can return the favor down the road somewhere.

Good Listenin'

Jeff A

quote:

Originally posted by Jeff Anderson:
Send me your mailing address at uagain51@hotmail.com and it would be my pleasure to pick one up at Starbucks Saturday and mail it Monday. You can return the favor down the road somewhere.

Good Listenin'

Jeff A

Jeff - U got mail.

Stefan (a happy chap)

10 years! No wonder I'm looking older. JLP was great for a while, but I went off it for a long time. It will be interesting to hear the 'adult' version.

I look forward to it.

Sean

It's on the cd right now and it's a great addition to the collection, mellower a tighter band and a little less intense but still as powerful as ever.

Nice one AM but why sell it in Starbucks???

Andy

Its a trend here in the US of A for some unlikely non-music enterprises to have certain temporary exclusive rights.Target for instance has had some big name band CDs for a month before general release. Starbucks probably got the Alanis deal because they paid handsomely for those rights, knowing well that the demographics of people who still listen to Alanis coincide with those who like a good cup of latte. Indeed I went to Starbucks instead of my regular Panera just to get that CD, and also had a large latte with 2 extra shots of espresso. And maybe in so doing will convert me to go to Starbucks ALL the time.

Regardless, this is a fantastic reinterpretation of an iconic work. It has been one of the very few albums in the last few years that has been on almost constant play on the CDS3 and the iPod, and continues to bring emotive shivers down my skin.

quote:

Nice one AM but why sell it in Starbucks???

Chaps,
nice piece of music. As mentioned: Mellower, more feeling, less provocation and harshness than on the original, less "over-produced".

To MY taste, not always ideal audio production. AM's voice breaks apart in some songs, and has this metallic tone which I don't think she originally has. But who cares.

What I like especially is that she slowed down on most of the songs. Beautiful: "You Oughta Know" and "Ironic"

Thanks for the hints !!!

Stefan
PS: Jeff, I hope you'll enjoy Chris Jones as much as I enjoy AM...

Remember to listen for the 'hidden track' that pops up after one minute of silence after the final one-just like on the original album. This is one of the best pieces on the whole album, and may be missed by many.

Cant say I heard too much in the way of metal tone-at least not with the CDS3/552 etc.

If I ever did have to make a 'best of the year' list, this album would rate very high.

Well, the mail takes the same time in both directions, apparently Your package arrived today and I look forward to listening to it tonight. Thanks, Stefan.

Jeff A

Well, every review that I've seen of the acoustic version within the last week suggests that it is terrible, particularly the singing.

Any views, anyone?

I love the original, and am listening to it now, for the first time in ages.

Graham

quote:

Originally posted by graham55:


Any views, anyone?



Graham

fickle music press / music reviewers I'd have thought Graham ?

with regard to the singing I highly doubt she sounds as bad as Dido ? , music press seem to hold her in high esteem for reasons unfathomable to me

always seems to be a case of who's in vogue or 'fashionable' if you prefer that terminology - I dare say if the acoustic JLP had been released 10 years ago the reviewers would have been doing cartwheels over the fact a female artist could produce such a work of genius ? - FWIW having heard the acoustic JLP I have the same sentiments as Ron in so much as I admired the original version of JLP but find this acoustic version betters it

we need to remember how these reviewers were wetting their pants 10 years ago and eulogising to a man about a certain group called 'Oasis' - best British group since The Beatles , apparently !!! - to anyone who had musical ears a 'here today gone tomorrow' group of Football terrace geezers would have been the correct call

I have listened to the acoustic JLP maybe 50 times so far. I still feel it is a stunning reinvention of the original and the singing far more emotive and mature. And this is not because I am an Alanis fan..I found her earlier works to be far less compelling, including the original.

Ron

Played it this evening to a friend who has just discovered the original album.

He summed it up nicely.

"Good songs, all grown up"

Hmm. Picked this up a couple of days ago based on the recommendations here. Have to confess my initial thoughts were along the lines of "where's the rawness gone". For me the appeal of the first release was the raw edge - the bitterness & rage of late adolescence, which inevitably mellows with the passing of another decade, but...

I stuck with it & I have to confess it's now growing on me. Some of it still comes across as overly mellow, but in particular, the new arrangement of "One Hand In My Pocket" has wedged itself into my head, & I just can't stop playing it.

Thanks for the tip Ron

Any OZ member know when JLP acoustic is available here ?

Cheers ,

Peter.

If you like good Latte /coffee why go to Starbucks then?

Howard

quote:

Originally posted by Jason Milner:
Have to confess my initial thoughts were along the lines of "where's the rawness gone". For me the appeal of the first release was the raw edge - the bitterness & rage of late adolescence

Man - I remember hearing my mate at uni's copy of JLP LOOOOONG before the album went ballistic in the UK - I wore my CD copy of that out in 1995! The rawness of "Right through you" is a great way to tell if a system is "smooth and dull" or not

quote:

Originally posted by Jason Milner:I stuck with it & I have to confess it's now growing on me.

So is this worth a punt then? I'm tempted - my housemate's going on music reviewers' comments, but as mentioned here, we know how wrong THEY can be.

Incidentally, Oasis' first is the only decent album they've done. They can't even try to compare to the Beatles, and no amount of coke will improve the sound no matter what Liam and Noel think ("Be here now", anyone?? ).

Okay, the alternative view.

The original JLP was the very definition of a hyped, corporate album. Alanis 'vision' was predominantly that of her co-writers as borne out by the many similar sounding artists who subsequently used some of the same co-writers in the hope that some of the "magic" would rub off. In common with many female artists today who present as strong and feminine and original her vision was actually a superb example of male demographic marketing.

Her status as a minor artist has been established by her subsequent recording career and JLP acoustic is a sad piece of niche marketing that a depressing number of people seem to have fallen for. "Nothing to say and two ways to say - neither interesting"it to paraphrase someone I can't quite recall.

Her vocals were originally quite mannered, which as a fan of M2oH, Jane Siberry and Victoria Williams is nothing I object to, however, in the manner of Michael Jackson she has gradually stripped away the singing until there is as one review put it "nothing left but the vocal tics".

The idea that the music press are fickle I think is a cheap shot wheeled out when someone we like is often rightly criticised. The idea that the music press are somehow pro-Dido is highly amusing. That's some poor quality music press you must be reading out there. I can't remember reading a positive review of her beyond the press releases and the self-ineterest stuff that sells the tabloids.

I love my Starbucks but folks this is not what your hi-fi is for. There is so much great, original female music out there and this is just a waste of space IMHO.

Mike

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quote:

Originally posted by Mike Hughes:
[Morissette's] vocals were originally quite mannered, which as a fan of M2oH, Jane Siberry and Victoria Williams is nothing I object to, however, in the manner of Michael Jackson she has gradually stripped away the singing until there is as one review put it "nothing left but the vocal tics."

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I've never been a fan of Ms. Morissette, although a couple of songs are OK ... except for her singing, which I also find to be mannered beyond the point of distraction.

I saw her on TV recently performing an acoustic version of one of her hits, and would strongly agree that there's "nothing left but the vocal tics." Add to that her propensity for rolling her eyes up into her head like a lizard swallowing an insect and she just creeps me out.

However, in the interview she seemed like a nice, intelligent person.
.

quote:

Originally posted by Mike Hughes:
There is so much great, original female music out there and this is just a waste of space IMHO.

.

I'll take Jonatha Brooke or Shawn Colvin any day.

Fred

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quote:

Originally posted by Mike Hughes:
but folks this is not what your hi-fi is for. Mike

what could I have been thinking, I have been properly chastised.

substituting the word "my" for "your" would at least make it a reasonable statement.

I listened to Shawn this morning so I guess this evening it will have to be Alanis. I am still hating Ricky Lee. Hoping the hifi survives the torture.

Jeff A

Well I have at least provoked responses from two of the more reasoned/seasoned contributors to these shores.

Fred, as a musician you always strike me as admirably restrained in your comments on fellow artistes and tend to confine yourself by using the over-used maxim "If you can't say nuthin' nice..." as far as I can tell, so, for Alanis to provoke you to "she just creeps me out" should be a message for all reading. There really is a limit for everyone and finally we have found yours!

The way you still managed to get in a mention for Jonatha and Shawn merely heightens the admiration really. This is probably not the moment to mention that I've not heard a single thing by you but I might start now (I need my musicians to have a little bite).

Jeff,

Our tastes seem to often coincide but clearly not on this occasion. I am quite happy to substitute "my" for "your" if it makes you happy but the original line had a certain humour, nay irony, that I would hope have communicated itself without the use of smileys etc. Apparently not.

If you're hating Rickie Lee then perhaps it's time to admit you're hi-fi hasn't perhaps survived the torture and is behaving erratically. There should of course be a wink smiley at this point but I'm sure you're keeping up with me.

Tee hee,

Mike

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quote:

Originally posted by Mike Hughes:

Fred, as a musician you always strike me as admirably restrained in your comments on fellow artistes and tend to confine yourself by using the over-used maxim "If you can't say nuthin' nice..." as far as I can tell, so, for Alanis to provoke you to "she just creeps me out" should be a message for all reading.

Yes, but I'm sure she's kind to animals and small children.

quote:

The way you still managed to get in a mention for Jonatha and Shawn merely heightens the admiration really. This is probably not the moment to mention that I've not heard a single thing by you but I might start now (I need my musicians to have a little bite).

Well, my music has a bit of bite, but they're more like love bites.

Feel free to check out the excerpts residing on this site.

quote:

If [Jeff is] hating Rickie Lee then perhaps it's time [for him] to admit [his] hi-fi hasn't perhaps survived the torture and is behaving erratically.

Although I dearly love Rickie Lee, especially her latest album, The Evening of My Best Day, I can see why some might find her singing as mannered as Miss Morissette's, although to my ears there are mannerisms, and then there are mannerisms.

I really don't have that big a problem with Miss Morissette's music aside from her singing ... and as long as I can't see her iguana impression.

Fred

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I've seen at least half a dozen reviews of the acoustic JLP now, including one in the new Mojo. All have been strongly anti, which must say something - which surely can't be explained away as a reviewers' conspiracy against AM.

Graham

I was actually quite the rebel last night - after Alanis I listened to some Sting, then some Damien Rice (have y'all kept up with the Great-Damien-Rice-Undeserved-Success Conspiracy Theory on some threads?), then I actually played Coldplay's new one - such guilty pleasures, and never once feeling like a coporate (male or female) victim. (smiley available, insert as needed).

My Rickie Lee comment was actually a friendly poke at Fred ('cause I knew of, and respect his passion for that album)... and he is correct, the irony of the mannered vocal discussion and how I would apply it was most intriguing to me.

I have always been fascinated by how I seemingly realize a kinship with someone I never knew/met before over a passion for a particular artist, and then as we broaden our range of artist discussions, our assumed similar likes rather quickly diverge. Apparently just an example of how the unique magic of music in all its forms touches each of us so individually.

My spouse enjoyed the JLP-A so much that she said "if she ever comes to town and plays acoustic I would like to go". So we did, and frankly, we both came away a bit disappointed from the experience. Have no idea who was making the choices, corporate or individual, but it was a real stretch to call this show "acoustic" - it was a rock show. And the sound engineers, sitting just to my left, weren't hearing what I was hearing, or again, we just differed in individual expectations/perceptions. I can't totally blame it on the venue, as the opener, Jason Mraz, who actually did perform an "acoustic" set, was terrific and sounded sensational to me. But I was not disappointed in Alanis' "artistry" or vocals or songs and left with the same overall respect I had previously, just bemoaning a little different experience live.

I am about to immerse myself in a new guilty pleasure - again, with coporate overtones. I have tickets for the Sept 8, 2005 Portland appearance of the John Mayer Trio. In no way intimidated by the "22-28 yr old female-sugar coated pop-success-story" of this artist, I am looking forward to sharing the live experience of his new project, a trio with Steve Jordan on drums and Pino Palladino on bass, in a venue with a capacity of 1,400. I think JM is a very tasty guitar player and have complete respect for Steve and Pino's history and credentials. And I promise to be very discreet in any follow-ups on this experience on future posts.

And keep the likes, dislikes and recommendations coming, I try most all of them, and savor many.

Good listen'

Jeff A