Customer Reviews
Good Collection 
2008-10-06
This is a good collection of all of her music to date. No hits seem to be missing on this one.
Read to see why 
2008-07-12
The reason I am giving this one star is because the hit, huge hit if I might add "All I Really Want" was left off. I remember buying this in the 90's and that song was all over the radio. It's also a great song. I don't understand why in the world they left it off. It's her best song. It's funny how you can go to i-tunes and type in Jagged Little Pill and all the kids download the five singles from this album, but not "All I Really Want" showing you they weren't around at the time to see how big that song was. They only look at this collection and take the five songs from Jagged Little Pill and download them.
Giving Credit Where Credit Is Due 
2008-06-28
OK now, let's be honest. Mention Alanis Morissette and most people think of one thing: "Jagged Little Pill". I was the same way. Alright, maybe throw in "Uninvited". I was never able to get interested in any of her other music. But, sometimes things sound better years later than they did when they were new. Maybe we mature, or become more open-minded. Maybe the music itself acquires a different "aura" when experienced as a thing of the past. Whatever the reason, I believe that I respect Alanis more now than I did even at the height of the popularity of "Jagged". After re-hearing the "Jagged" tracks ("You Oughta Know", "Hand In My Pocket", "Ironic", "You Learn" and "Head Over Feet", all of which sound excellent thanks to the remastered sound) and studying the ones I hadn't paid attention to before, I've come to regard her as the iconic philosopher of Gen X. And, if anyone still harbors doubts that her music rocks, let him or her listen to this entire collection, and then we'll talk.
Since the "Jagged" tracks are pretty familiar to all, I will concentrate on those that came later. "Thank You" is a song about healing and rationality. As Alanis herself has admitted, she went through a difficult period of chaos and suffocation during the "Jagged Little Pill" frenzy. In this song, she has emerged from that trauma, and she is serenely giving thanks to every person, place and thing that helped her through the dark period back into the light. In "Eight Easy Steps", which has a rocking Eastern ("Thank you, India") vibe, she points out the common but seemingly insoluble problems we all face. Example: "How to keep smiling when you're thinking about killing yourself?" "Everything" is pure Alanis lyrically, but musically it could be a U2 ballad. Her cover of Seal's 1991 hit "Crazy" follows his pretty closely and rocks the same. In "Simple Together", Alanis sings sweetly about the difficulties and disappointments in relationships, backed by piano and beautiful strings; in a similar vein, she asks for unconditional acceptance in "That I Would Be Good". "Sister Blister" burns up the place like "Crazy" does, while Alanis sings about women who, while advocating on one hand "sisterhood", still trample each other down to please men. "Still", from the film "Dogma", reveals more Eastern influence musically while the lyrics seem to indicate that God is providing a self-description, which would make sense because Alanis plays the part of God in the film. The spiritual feeling continues in "Uninvited". This, one of my favorite tracks, is beautiful in its majestic, almost religious solemnity, one of the most successfully serious tracks I have ever heard by any artist.
The collection closes with "Hand In My Pocket", which probably touches me more personally than any other Alanis track. The video was played constantly on VH1 at the time when my father contracted an illness from which he didn't recover, so I will always associate that song, as well as Madonna's "Take A Bow" and the Stones' "Out of Tears", with that time, when I had a problem that, sadly, I could not fix.
A good album 2008-02-26
The collecton is a good album, in fact I prefer it over "Jagged Little Pill." I will argue though with those who say that Alanis is a great or talented singer, she isn't. She can't hold a note for any length without it going sour; she can't sing a slow song without sounding shrill; she is terrible on the flute (which she does play on occasion.) I am not the only person who recognizes her limited vocal talent--which is to sing angry and make her point heartfelt. Lucky for her, her singing style mostly masks her clumsiness.
I still recommend this album, however, because Alanis is fresh and original. Her lyrics are oddly, even uncomfortably candid and yet mesmerizing, (even is she is not a poetic talent). This woman has a strange take on things and it comes across to the listener and gives them a window into to her weird world. Her talent is HER...her unpredictable and thoroughly self-centered thoughts...and her ability to capture them so nakedly in music.
And I will make another point: I do not believe that any other singer could sing these raw lyrics with the passion and honesty of Alanis. On anyone else these lyrics would seem a ridiculous joke. She is unique, not just in having such thoughts, but in boldy turning them into lyrics.
Travesty Unlimited : A Sick, Twisted 'Homage' to Alanis 
2008-02-07
Even if this just a `collection' as the title suggests, everything remotely interesting that was released by Morissette has been omitted in favor of the regular suspects from "Jagged Little Pill". Why? How could Alanis have thought that this was the collection that fans would want? It leaves out her best tracks, some important singles, and the `rare' additions to the CD are ultimately pointless and useless. Even if you're new to Alanis, this is a horrible place to start. No wonder it hasn't sold much over the years. Someone please inform Alanis' record label on how to really go about releasing a Greatest Hits album.
First of all, what is possibly one of Alanis' greatest songs - "So Pure" - is completely left out of this collection. Secondly, why the poor-sister treatment of her album "Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie"? True lovers of Morissette's music will know that SFIJ was her best album by far. The songs on that album are monumental in my life even more than a decade since its' release. Such amazing gems - "Would Not Come", "UR", "Heart of the House", and "Joining You" - and none of them feature on this album!
Instead we get the usual singles from JLP - "You Oughta Know" (this is essential though - I do understand), "Head Over Feet" (I would have preferred "Right Through You"), and "Hand in my Pocket". But they leave out one of the best singles on JLP - "All I Really Want". It makes no sense.
The record labels' idea of giving the fans what they want, are somewhat realized with the inclusion of some rarities. The best amongst these are the breathless big-band version of "Lets Fall in Love" from the De-Lovely Soundtrack. I had heard this before, but the last minute of this song was painful to listen to it, as even Alanis seemed to be lost on how to sing this to the very final note. "Mercy" from the rare album "The Prayer Cycle" is indeed a welcome addition for new fans, but really, this song has very little Alanis, who is reduced to some background warbling here (and she sounded way too screechy on this song to be considered spiritual in any way or form). Primarily, its sung by a male vocalist, so this is not an Alanis track per se.
"Still" from the Dogma soundtrack is appreciated, but there is absolutely no excuse from not adding on one of Alanis' Top 5 of All Time songs here - "Precious Illusions" from "Under Rug Swept". There is also no "Utopia", but at least they added "Uninvited" from the City of Angels soundtrack.
And what about the two actual best tracks from JLP - "Wake Up" and "Not the Doctor". Certainly either one of them are better than "Head over Feet"?
Heres the thing - granted that "Jagged Little Pill" was Alanis' most popular album, but I think they should have collected some decent tracks from "Under Rug Swept" for this as well. Alanis has an incredible body of work behind her, and she deserves a 2-CD retrospective, if they're going to get it right. First, I would appreciate it if they started paying "Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie" the respect it deserves, and elevate "So Pure" to the classic status it requires. Also, this collection leaves out "Unsent" - a cult Morissette favorite.
"The Collection" is a pathetic assortment of Alanis tracks. Even with the `rare' tracks added on, it seems very poorly thought-out and not at all coherent. The song sequencing is terrible. The album begins with "Thank U" - a great song, but a really weak opener to the album. New listeners might actually fall asleep watching for the album to pick up momentum. The album ends with the now-jaded "Hand in my Pocket", which is a very poor way to close any Alanis album. For new fans of Alanis, make your own Alanis collection from the songs I've mentioned here instead.
Skip this tepid release, and lets wait for the day they decide to put out an actual collection of Alanis' best work. For both fans and new listeners, this CD is an exercise in pointlessness.
Two Stars.
The Perfection of Alanis 2007-07-28
The first retrospective of the career of Alanis Morissette, The Collection spans 1995-2005 with hits and more, as a new recording, "Crazy" joins some of the most popular songs of the era, from "You Oughta Know" and "Hand in My Pocket" to "Ironic."
It's the first one, and it's not bad...but 
2007-07-25
I almost got this one just for the "Crazy", and sorta rare "Uninvited" songs, plus the one from a movie or two I guess. Having all her albums, and even a couple acoustic CD's it's hard to imagine even wanting this one...it does have a starter song list I guess, but leaves off a single or two, and includes hard to find songs also, so it's just a strange mix like some have stated. Perhaps a teaser from each of her releases to gain interest, but other than that, I'm really not sure what audience this is for, it confuses anyone really perhaps. It kinda goes against the norm of just the radio hits in the first release of greatest hits, but it's interesting I guess.
Some of this is also available on her "Feast On Scraps" CD/DVD which is highly recommended if you like what you hear here also, and I'm sure with each passing year, more and more definitive and diverse collections will appear by this fine artist. It's hard for a devoted fan to not gobble up everything and be a completist, but this one is almost a no-brainer since you know all these songs will be available probably on a more comprehensive list in the not too distant future.
A great Collection 2007-06-28
I Love this CD! Most of My favorite songs are on this cd! Alanis has a song for every mood and she is in my opinion one of the best singer and song writers of my generation!
PERFECT ALBUM - but some seem to Not understand the point of Greatest Hits albums 2007-03-12
I know. It doesn't explicitly say "greatest hits" but that's what this album is. It presents the songs that were so popular with the radio audience, that they went straight to #1 (or close to it).
GH albums do NOT present songs that either (a) never got radio play or (b) got played but flopped, because the audience did not like them.
Simple as that, and I have to say I am EXTREMELY happy with this album. It presents the "best of the best" songs Alanis ever made, without including a lot of junk I've never heard. ------ It's also perfect so I don't have to waste a ~$100 going out and buying all the separate albums. I can spend a SMALL amount of money, and get the songs I remember hearing (on the radio) during the last 15+ years.
PERFECT.
Like the curate's egg, good in places 2007-03-08
The last time I saw Alanis in concert, she was on stage at Hyde Park London, opening for the Who performing Quadrophenia for the first time, followed by Eric Clapton playing perhaps his finest ever guitar in 30 years. Not a good place to be, then, with two major acts at the peak of their form. Who wants to be opener for Pete Townsend in any circumstances?
In fairness, she did well. The songs, mostly from "Pill", were played competently and agressively. She sort-of gallumphed around the stage, yodelling away with the best of them, occasionally bending almost double to give it some on the harmonica, of which more later. She was endearing and brave, and I rather liked her show, as did the crowd.
What of this CD, then? Well, it's a very mixed bag. At her best, she writes sensible and thoughtful words, sometimes somewhat feminist, like a less angst-ridden P J Harvey. At her worst, that yodelling and seventh/octave vocal tic can become incredibly irritating. The Columbian lass Shakira also has that irritating sub-yodel in her voice, and Dido does that tiresome actave/senth yodel too. Alanis has a strong voice that could cut tin so I wish she would not do this.
This is an odd collection and contains a few crackers and a few rather odd choices. The lowest point is when she is allowed to play harmonica on "Head over Feet", a nice song with sweet words. The harmonica break is unspeakably and irredeemably awful, and does the near-imposible in making Bob Dylan look accomplished in this field. "Let's do it, let's fall in love" is a very odd choice, but she carries it off well. "Simple together" is just lovely, softly sung and very moving indeed. "Hands Clean" and "ironic" are both absolutely smashing, but the rest is a powerful potion to take in one go.
The trouble with Alanis is that when she emotes she yodels, and when she sings it straight she is just fantastic. If you buy this, I suggest that you listen to it in bits. Alanis is chock-full of talent and there are moments of excellence: but, oh, that awful harmonica - took me back to Hyde Park.
Generally very good, but a few odd moments prevent this getting 4 stars. She has done better than this.
