Over the last few years, an assortment of books have been published by a variety of authors about a variety of musicians. According to GoodReads, “Music Matters is a new series of concise books that make outsize arguments for the meaning and legacy of a wide range of popular artists. These short, sharp polemics will make the musical, cultural, experiential, and personal case for the artists we love, all filtered through the consciousness of writers of distinction working in music criticism, journalism, academia, and literature.” Some of the subjects include Mariah Carey, Willie Mae Thornton, The Beach Boys, Karen Carpenter, The Ramones, and Alanis Morissette – which is the book I picked up. Published in March 2025 and written by Megan Volpert, Why Alanis Morissette Matters is an analysis of Morissette’s music, the global impact of her landmark album – Jagged Little Pill – and why she became such a seminal figure in music.
While the author’s thorough investigation of Morissette’s songs, background, and imprint on the industry is well-researched and well-written, there are parts of the book that were not what I was expecting. I know why Morissette matters to me and I remember playing JLP so many times on my boombox that I had to get a new CD. With this book, I was looking for another perspective of Morissette (who I’ve seen live three times) and JLP that explained why they both became (and still are) such a phenomenon. That type of analysis is definitely there, but too much time is spent speculating about the psychology of the singer’s Catholicism and queer tendencies that were obtained from indirect sources rather than her own interviews. It was almost like the author wanted to drive the reader a certain way rather than provide information and allow the reader to draw their own conclusions.
All that being said, one of my favorite aspects of the book is the way Volpert seamlessly integrates the artist’s lyrics with her words throughout the book. For example, in the first chapter, when the author is talking about Morissette being a highly sensitive person (again with the psychology), she writes: “All she really wanted was a way to calm the angry voice.” Here’s another example: ‘“Hand In My Pocket’ serves as a shorthand reference for a common emotional state among sane but overwhelmed strong female leads, showing up to provide some anti-hero ambiance for complex women who do not have the time or space to be chicken shit.” She is interpreting Morissette while quoting her lyrics. Brilliant.
Another interesting point Volpert makes is about the “Right Through You” lyrics that call out the male-driven record business that treated women like they were inferior in the 90s. Writing and singing “Now that I’m a zillionaire | You scan the credits for your name | And wonder why it’s not there” was a bold move because she wrote those lines before she hit the music stratosphere. As many times as I’ve listened to JLP over the years I never thought about that – Volpert did.
In addition to being a skilled writer, Volpert is clearly a Morissette fan. In chapter 8, which focuses on “Head Over Feet,” Volpert talks about how she adhered to the singer’s checklist of finding someone who asks how her day was, is braver than expected, is healthy and rational, among other traits. I love that part! In chapter 9, she points out that “Mary Jane” is one of the only songs on JLP written in the third person. Next, the author spends a significant amount of time talking about JLP the musical which makes sense as it illustrates the ongoing effect of that album – 20 years later. She also points out the irony of “Ironic” – a subject that has been discussed for years – and how it was used in the musical. Chapter 11 is dedicated to “Not the Doctor” which didn’t get the same attention as other singles but is one of my favorite songs. Volpert’s postulates that “kids are going to be kids and fans are going to be fans, and neither of them really knows what price Alanis has been willing to pay for these relationships. She wants to keep the lights in our eyes ablaze even though we don’t know that it might be too much to ask for.” Again – brilliantly weaving those lyrics into her analysis which exemplifies Volpert’s excellent writing abilities.
Fun Facts:
- JLP is one of only three albums to sell over 15 million copies in the United States since Nielsen SoundScan began tracking these stats in 1991.
- In 1998, “Hand In My Pocket” was supposed to be the theme song for Dawson’s Creek. I had no idea!
- Morissette was on the covers of both Spin and Rolling Stone in the same month after JLP came out.
- Even though all five singles released in the US before “Head Over Feet” charted, the song was Morissette’s first to land on Billboard’s Adult Top 40 list. “Head Over Feet” also marks Morissette’s directorial debut for a music video.
- Nothing fun about this fact but it’s worth noting: As of 2023, only 61 of the Rock Hall’s 719 inductees were women.
Quotes:
- “From Jagged Little Pill onward, even casual fans have been aware of her penchant for hidden tracks.”
- “A lifelong learner has an endless capacity to grow from struggle.” Amen.
- “The ghosts of my past inform my present approach to life – in a healthier manner each day, if I am focused and lucky.”
- “JLP sticks and leaves a trace. The album and the artist refuse to go away even when critics refuse to learn from them.”
- “Most of the significant intellectual growth spurts in my young life occurred either in lit classes or debate tournaments.”
- “Her fans and her children can vouch for Alanis always having been there.”
- “JLP was a battle-ax on the front lines of the nineties culture wars.”
- “The house JLP built has been renovated and we can recognize the bones of it everywhere when we turn toward the newer materials.”
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