Product Description

Though Morissette is known for songs driven by big, hard-hitting production, her larger-than-life sound translates surprisingly well to a stripped-down, acoustic-based approach. Backed by acoustic guitar, piano, and strings (and a tastefulrhythm section), Alanis scales down the grand scale of her arrangements for a more intimate, directly communicative effect. Listening to the almost gentle version of the formerly piledriving "You Oughta Know" will provide something of a revelation for Morissette's fans. The scathing lyrics achieve an even more cathartic effect with the contrasting feel of the music, and the singer/songwriter is revealed as a folk-rocker at heart.
Her previously noted preference for the confessional mode is further underlined here by an earnest version of the Police's soul-searching plaint "King of Pain". Thankfully, Morissette has enough common sense to avoid changing it to "Queen of Pain". The unfettered swoops and glides of her vocal style have more room to flow here as well, and Morissette sounds a bird in full flight throughout.

Track Listing

1. Uninvited
2. Ironic
3. You Oughta Know
4. You Learn
5. These Are The Thoughts
6. Princess Familiar
7. That I Would Be Good
8. King Of Pain
9. Joining You
10. No Pressure Over Cappuccino
11. Head Over Feet
12. I Was Hoping

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #30695 in Music
• Released on: 1999-11-22
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Live

Amazon.co.uk Review
Cutting the electricity only really began to sound like a good idea when Kurt Cobain picked up his acoustic on Nirvana's Unplugged In New York sessions, and on the whole it tends to bring out the worst in an artist and their audience--muso tendencies, obscure cover versions, and a reverential hush punctuated only by obsequious applause. Alanis Morissette's Unplugged, accordingly, is a mixed bag--there's plenty of dispensable moments, like the warbly dirge of "Joining You", or a singularly pointless "Head Over Feet", almost a carbon copy of the original. The gems, though, include a stripped-down, Tori Amos-esque take on "You Oughta Know", which reverberates with repressed bitterness over the minimal tones of piano and keening violin. Quite wonderful, but if only the sycophantic industry crowd weren't quite so enthusiastic in their praise. --Louis Pattison

Customer Reviews

Alanis puts out one of the better unplugged albums
"Alanis Unplugged" is one of the best of these stripped down live albums that have become more common in the last couple of decades. I would probably have to go back to the one by 10,000 Maniacs for the last time I thought an artist came off better live and unplugged than they did in the studio. In large measure that has to do with Morissette reigning in her vocal affectations while singing most of these songs, which benefit from being stripped down so that the personal lyrics are emphasized more. With Morissette it is always about cryptic lyrics and moody melodies, but rally being able to hear the words and the way she vocalizes these songs in a more intimate situation makes them more approachable (e.g., "That I Would Be Good"). These songs are song without her voice being piercing or jarring, and there may well be those who find it too much of a change from what they first came to like about her music, but I would not be one of those people.

You also have to take the song choices into consideration of this album as well since Morissette only does four songs from her hit album "Jagged Little Pill," devoting more time to performing songs from to her less successful "Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie" album. There is only one cover song in the mix, but it is Sting's "King of Pain," which fits nicely into the overall tapestry of Morissette's songwriting, and several previously unreleased tracks such as "No Pressure Over Cappucinio" (a rare occasion for Morisette to let her voice soar into the higher octaves) and "Princess Familiar." I like the range of these songs. Both "Head Over Feet" and "Ironic" strike me as more playful and "I Was Hoping" more moody and mystical. "You Oughta Know" is the one song that really does not fit for me because the production values seem at odds with the rest of the album, but it does set up a strong finish with a stark version of "Uninvited," so that is a minor caveat. "Alanis Unplugged" has simply become the Alanis Morisette album that I listen to the most because I think it is her best one, even if that opinion has me swimming against the tide.

Great!
Possibly the most suprising albums that I've ever bought. I wasn't expecting much from this album but I was stunned with what I heard.

Slightly swingy and generally chilled out tunes. A real good buy.

What can I say? It's excellent!

Alanis Live is a unique experience!
I had bought all three of Alanis' major albums, so I decided to buy "Alanis Unplugged." I didn't expect much, as I had heard all the songs before on the albums, but to my surprise yet again, I love this CD more than I expected! Alanis sings with such honesty and emotion when live. It's just herself and her microphone, along with hardcore fans taking in the energy surrounding them. It's very inspiring. The set kicks off in wonderful style with the song "You Learn." From the Jagged Little Pill album, this song was a huge hit all over the world and one of the most-played radio hits of the 90's. Alanis is superb on it, and things get better with her powerful performance of "Joining You" from the Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie album.

Alanis then sings a new song, "No Pressure Over Cappuccino," said to be inspire about her brother and his sexual orientation. It's a great song, which is followed by "That I Would Be Good" and "Head Over Feet." Another new song, "Princes Familiar," is debuted next. It's the best 'new' song on the album, and it has the melodic excellence to rival anything from the Under Rug Swept album. Next comes a great performance of "I Was Hoping" and a high-pitched sunlit version of "Ironic." Another new song comes along in the form of "These R The Thoughts," which is followed by a cover-version of "King Of Pain." The crowd goes wild for it, and so will the listener! Next comes a wonderfully diverse performance of Alanis' trademark hit "You Oughta Know." The audience goes wild with excitement, and are then treated to the fabulous "Uninvited."

OVERALL GRADE: 9/10

Out of all Alanis Morissette's albums, I'd say that "Alanis Unplugged" is probably the least important. If you want to get into her music, you should be buying Jagged Little Pill, Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie and Under Rug Swept. Three essential albums. This CD is essential for hardcore fans, however, and we get to see the real Alanis. She jokes about spilling water over herself and thanks the audience at the end by saying, "Thank you. Very much. It's been such a pleasure. I love you." She proves she isn't afraid of small spaces and groups of people, but most importantly, she proves that she is just human like the rest of us which has to be one of the most gifted and special parts of being a huge celebrity - remaining grounded and focused on the important things in life.