By Rocco Colella
Ten years have passed since rocker Alanis Morissette belted out the famous lyrics from her “Jagged Little Pill” album, telling the world about her movie theater fellatios and general built-up anger.
The Canadian songstress, who usually stops at the Tweeter Center in Mansfield on her tours, decided on Boston’s more intimate Wang Center last Friday night.
The tour, billed as the “Diamond Wink” Jagged Little Pill Acoustic Tour, coincides with Morissette’s release of her “Jagged Little Pill Acoustic”, which also includes extra acoustic tracks. She played Friday night at the Wang Center, with Jason Mraz opening.
Morissette’s “Jagged Little Pill” became an overnight sensation back in 1995, scoring four Grammies, including Album of the Year and Best Rock Song (“You Oughta Know”). It is also the biggest selling debut album by a female solo artist, having sold over 30 million worldwide.
Billboard Magazine hailed it as the “album of the decade.” Friday night, Morissette walked onstage to an almost full audience, from fans who bought “Pill” back in 1995 to tie-dyed wearing preteens who giggled when she dropped the F-bomb in “You Oughta Know.”
She began with “Your House,” the hidden track from “Pill.” Sung acapella, the stage remained free of any light as Morissette belted out the pains of discovering a cheating beau.
Morissette, now 31, has matured both personally and with her music. Once a hard-rocking and angry young woman, she now appears more spiritually sound than ever after recently announcing her engagement to fellow Canadian Ryan Reynolds, known for his starring role in “Van Wilder.”
In between songs, she spoke about the importance of milestones and anniversaries.
Before getting into “21 Things I Want in a Lover,” she told the audience the “21 Things” she looks for in a man are pretty flexible. Now that she is engaged, she added, some of the things she looks for she doesn’t even find in herself.
Morissette sang all 13 songs from “Jagged Little Pill,” from the mainstream smashes “Hand in my Pocket” and “Ironic” to the lesser known, but still worthwhile, “Forgiven” and “Wake Up.” Before singing “Forgiven,” Morissette poked fun at herself by telling the audience “some people may think of me as a little bit angry.”
Peppered into the set list were non-“Pill” gems like “Everything” and “Simple Together.” When a fan yelled out for her to sing “Hands Clean,” she came out for an encore to specifically fulfill his request.
While anger and angst may be a part of her music, these qualities do not define Morissette by any means. While singing “Simple Together,” a melancholy ballad from 2002’s often neglected “Feast on Scraps” album, tears built up in her eyes. After the song, she said that crying is a good thing and she recommends everyone does it, but when it happens while singing onstage, it can become a bit of a problem.
When asked why she was releasing an acoustic version of her debut album, Morissette said that she has spent the last ten years evolving as a singer and a songwriter. “[I] will reinterpret the songs in ways that have developed in my touring and acoustic shows over the past ten years,” she said.
While she may never reach the mainstream popularity she did with “Jagged Little Pill,” Morissette still remains one of the most dependable women in rock. Never afraid of putting herself and her feelings onstage, fans are lucky enough to see an emotionally naked artist at work.
The acoustic album will be released July 26, but is available now at participating Starbucks coffeehouses. According to her Web site, a greatest hits CD is in the works for later this year. For more info on Morissette, visit her Web site at www.alanis.com.
