Product Description

1. Front Row 2. Baba 3. Thank U 4. Are You Still Mad 5. Sympathetic Character 6. That I Would Be Good 7. The Couch 8. Can't Not 9. UR 10. I Was Hoping 11. One 12. Would Not Come 13. Unsent 14. So Pure 15. Joining You 16. Heart Of The House 17. Your Congratulations

Track Listing

1. Front Row
2. Baba
3. Thank U
4. Are You Still Mad
5. Sympathetic Character
6. That I Would Be Good
7. Couch
8. Can't Not
9. UR
10. I Was Hoping
11. One
12. Would Not Come
13. Unsent
14. So Pure
15. Joining You
16. Heart Of The House
17. Your Congratulations

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #24182 in Music
• Released on: 1998-11-02
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .22 pounds

Amazon.co.uk Review
When Alanis Morissette visited Mother India in 1997, she gained new composure and, in a state of numinous bliss, wrote 17 songs for Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie, each suffused with the search for enlightenment and self-knowledge. To the likely dismay of many fans, Morissette now rages at herself. But this long-awaited follow-up to 1995's record-smashing Jagged Little Pill is far from a disappointment. Imbued with dark, swirling psychedelic licks borrowed from Jimmy Page's song book, the disc is paradoxically both more enigmatic and revealing than Pill. And while Junkie shows that Morissette is no less stingy about revealing herself to her fans--her staccato stream-of-consciousness style is again employed to surrender her secrets and foibles a little too easily in these tales of abuse, lost love, and self-flagellation--Junkie also makes one wonder what this musical sphinx holds back. In "Baba" she takes on competitive spirituality, sneering at the fashionable grasp for enlightenment. "Would Not Come" returns to a similar theme--taking us on a tour of her diary. "Would Not Come" and "Your House" offer the only hints of sexual innuendo. The only revenge she wreaks on an errant lover is in the percussive "Are You Still Mad", this time dishing up a much subtler payback than on "You Oughta Know". The record's standouts, meanwhile, are "Thank U" and the hip-poppy "So Pure". One complaint (and there is only one): Morissette's rapid-fire wordplay is at times engulfed by ponderous instrumentation. The worldbeat rhythms and elaborate guitar play add fresh twists to the album, but they also sometimes bury her message. --Jaan Uhelszki

CD Description
Alanis has a lot to answer for; in the process of changing the face of '90s pop music, she opened the door to scores ofinferior imitators who crowded the charts with their transparent careerist fury. What they missed was the renegade spirit that lurks beneath Morissette's statements off vengeance and dissatisfaction. It's that spirit that enlivens INFATUATION JUNKIE. From awkward title to the unconventional lyricalconstruction, it's clear that the years between this album and Morisette's previous breakthrough recording have not dulled her iconoclasm or put soft edges on her anger. INFATUATION JUNKIE is at once more immediate and more artfully constructed than its predecessor. Songs like "Baba" are full of thrusting guitars and sledgehammer rhythms, but from "Front Row" to "So Pure", Morissette displays an expanded understanding of pop song mechanics. It's this melodic progression thathelps INFATUATION JUNKIE live up to Morissette's daunting past.

Customer Reviews

Supposed Former Jagged Little Rug
To think that this album was dismissed by the public! If this had been recorded by anybody but the person who had previously made the best album of all time, it would have been hailed as perfection. I cannot believe such a genuis as Alanis faded into near-obscurity.

Thank U is fantastic, but not really representative of AM's style on this album. My favourite tracks as 'That I Would Be Good' and 'Can't Not', both of which are so beautiful I could cry every time I hear them. Perhaps 17 tracks was a little too long, but there is no need to abbreviate genius!

There are a couple songs I'm not wild about, and I think a stronger tune towards the beginning of the album might have made more critics listen properly, but, all in all, this album is a MUST HAVE - if you're reading this and considering buying it but aren't sure then DO BUY IT : IT'S NOT A LOT OF MONEY AND YOU WON'T REGRET IT AT ALL!!!

For me, better than Jagged Little Pill.
There are only three singles here. But don't let that put you off, because as with most albums the singles tend to be the best and the rest is filler. With 17 tracks, you have to make sure that that does not happen. Alanis Morissette has crafted a work of absolute brilliance, and this in my opinion is better than both Jagged Little Pill and Under Rug Swept (but only just). Here is a track-by-track analysis:
FRONT ROW - It has a great, memorable hook line and sets the tone of this record perfectly.
BABA - Rockier and with use of electric guitar. But the chorus is still catchy.
THANK U - One of the best here. Morissette's vocals are purer than ever and the lyrics are close to her - a standout.
ARE YOU STILL MAD - Doesn't live up to the others with its slower, less melodic tone. But it isn't a filler.
SYMPATHETIC CHARACTER - Even rockier than "Baba" with lyrics that struggle to fit in. But this is still a great one.
THAT I WOULD BE GOOD - Vocals here are beautiful and it is the most acoustic song here. Another standout.
THE COUCH - Um...er...can't remember this one as much as the others, if that says anything. Sorry!
CAN'T NOT - Yet another rockier one. This album is rockier but better than JLP! Great hook.
UR - A quieter one with a pretty melody. Lighter than the others but by no means weak.
I WAS HOPING - The way she expresses her vocals here is original and stunning. Possibly the best track, but maybe an acquired taste to some.
ONE - Slower, melodic, brilliant.
WOULD NOT COME - Ranting and raving Alanis in full mode here - but that makes it all more fun.
UNSENT - Dear... is the storyline here. Writing unsent letters to former boyfriends with an irresistible melody. This woman is ace.
SO PURE - Shortest song on the album, the one with the fastest beat and a great hook...again!
JOINING YOU - This song has a chorus like no other. Not in the way of melody and that it's worse but that others are not written like this. In the Top 5 best tracks.
HEART OF THE HOUSE - High vocals, offbeat but you'll love it for it.
YOUR CONGRATULATIONS - More high vocals from Alanis and a perfect closer. An end to a terrific record.
Well, some will like this and some won't. It is not another Jagged Little Pill but it should keep most fans happy - even with a darker, rockier feel.

Wholly different
This is an album composed entirely from 'growers'. Every single track on this album is an instant classic, and no matter how many times you listen to this album you will get something new out of it each time.

For me, the highlights are the beautiful 'One', a very retrospective song which inspired me to listen to the rest of the album, 'Joining You', which is a wonderfully rocky song which makes me want to sit down every time I hear it, to fully appreciate it. Also fantastic is 'The Couch', a song about her father and her life. This song along with 'I Was Hoping' are plain amazing for their tunes and their random lyrics which suit the songs perfectly.

Oh, go on. Buy it. And no matter what other people may say, this is NOT a way to alienate fans. It is just a way to get true fans, because this album sees Alanis plumbing new depths. And I like it.