Good Music is Generational
Alanis Morissette
Jagged Little Pill
1995 maverick, reprise
(2020 Reissue Limited-edition crystal-clear vinyl)
*my daughters copy
Such Pretty Forks in the Road
2020 gatefold
Label: Crush music
From Gen-X to Gen-Z…
From a parent to a child…
Good music is generational…
Yes, this is a coming-of-age post.
My teenage daughter joined me in collecting records in high school (proud dad moment here) and one of her first buys might just be the official soundtrack for teenage girls.
I am aware enough I’m knocking on the door of female/ woman’s territory here. As a girl dad I don’t want to over step into mansplaining here, I’m all about empowering strong independent women! Just saying when this album released, every girl I knew in high school was knee deep in sharing her anger, angst, and emotions. And we’re all still talking about it today.
Good music gets handed down. Good artists let you feel that someone is on the journey with you.
Reflecting on how much change and growth came from Alanis, her music & and lyrics; (and if you're that old too) how 'bout your own maturing through the 25-years between these two album releases! This is not only great nostalgia for me to relive with her, I think it’s good for the soul to see how far we’ve all come. (Spiritually, Emotionally, and of course Musically).
It’s exciting to see my kid get into music I love, equally as moving is seeing how “Jagged Little Pill” affects the playlist that surrounds her high school experience. My parents gifted me a span of music from Bob Dylan to the Monkees. As much as those teenage years are about rebellion and your parents' music isn’t all cool, good music sticks with you through the years.
So many artists/ bands/ music as we grow are attached to the memories of that timeframe, what you hear in high school seems to stick different. All the music my parents played for me to reminisce their high school soundtracks, now I get to share mine with her... what bands will she introduce me to... what will stick for her in 25 years… from Father to Daughter from high school to adulthood.
Ok let’s get to the songs.
Fittingly enough 'You Learn' is one of her favs. So perfectly relevant to this post. Even on this gentler musical offering from Jagged, Alanis is stilly edgy or at least agitated, but working to the realization that true joy and knowledge come through pain. Where learning takes an action/ putting yourself out there: loving, crying, loss, bleeding, screaming, choking, grieving, praying, laughing, and of course living. So, swallow it down, what a jagged little pill.
I'll land my plane here with the track 'Ablaze!’
Alanis’ journey now walks with us through parenting, middle age, partnerships. More mood that catchy radio hooks, all the anxiety that bubbles under that elusive peace. All packed into almost meditative music.
“To my girl, all your innocence and fire
When you reach out, I am here hell or high water
This nest is never going away
My mission is to keep the light in your eyes ablaze”
…And now you know it's decades of #alanismorissette on #parkersplaylist
Need to add some Alanis to your vinyl collection? The Vinyl Swap has you covered!
Jagged Little Pill Acoustic - $40
Enough About You LIVE IN ROME - $30
