A former child actress (You Can’t Do That On Television), Canadian Alanis Morissette transformed herself into a confessional alternative singer/songwriter
Flea and Dave Navarro from Red Hot Chili Peppers added a bit of musical clout (and instant credibility) to Alanis Morissette’s breakthrough single, You Oughta Know, with some raucous bass and guitars. The track’s explicit nature also prompted comparisons between Morissette and her boss – she was signed to Madonna‘s Maverick label.
Her 1995 album Jagged Little Pill took America – and then pretty much the rest of the world – by storm. Two years of hard touring resulted in worldwide sales of 30 million – the highest ever sales for a debut album.
The follow-up album, Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie (1998), and the single Thank U, both reflected the enormous changes in Morissette’s life since 1995. Standout tracks included the single, the spine-tingling Front Row and Baba.
Adopting a more light-hearted approach for Under Rug Swept (2002), Morissette ended up sounding rather trite, although she maintained a wit and intelligence to her writing throughout.