Album review: ALANIS MORISSETTE – Live At Montreux 2012

Eagle Rock

The fact that Alanis Morissette has sold over 60 million albums is pretty impressive. The fact that over half have been her been her monumental 1995 ‘debut’ album Jagged Little Pill, suggests that it’s a career highpoint that she’s never going to equal. None of her subsequent 5 albums have come even close.

But such was the success of Jagged Little Pill that she continues to command a loyal following and in July 2012 she returned to Montreux with her Guardian Angel tour in support of her, at the time, soon to be released Havoc And Bright Lights album.

With a supporting band of Julian Coryell and Jason Orme on guitars, Cedric LeMoyne on bass, Michael Farrell on keyboards and Victor Indrizzo on drums, the set featuring a selection of new and old material was captured on this separately available CD and companion DVD.

The DVD is the full 98 minute, 20 track set, while it’s been pared down to 15 tracks to fit onto a single CD. Inevitably, Jagged Little Pill contributes significantly with more than one third of the material.

But that’s not altogether a bad thing – for one, it will keep fans happy, and it’s encouraged me to go digging around my back catalogue. And in the excellent Neil Young-ish ‘Flinch’ (a 2002 single taken from the album Under Rug Swept) it’s made me want to investigate a little wider.

The set benefits significantly from the DVD visual experience, so if you’re thinking of indulging, that’s the one to go for – the band are tight, the light show’s reasonable, and Alanis is hot. She may be a little heavier as she approaches middle age, but for a with waist length hair, vest and tight jeans she’s looking in mighty fine health and like she’s having a blast.

Put the Jagged Little Pill highlights to one side for a moment and it’s still a damn fine rock cross over performance. It makes you wonder why her star seems to have faded so badly. But I suppose, when you reach the top, the only way is down. That said, it’s made me want to dust down my copy of Jagged Little Pill and give it a spin. A classic then, and still a classic now. ***1/2

Review by Pete Whalley

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Next session: Sunday 1 December

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 3 November 2024.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 29 October 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com

Power Plays w/c 11 November 2024

ARCANE MOON Hello Sun (indie)
S8NT ELEKTRIC XTC (Long Branch Records)
ARCANA KINGS Here We Go (Curtain Call Records)
KLOGR face The Unknown (Zeta Factory)
BEYOND UNBROKEN Dance With The Dead (FiXT)
REVENGIN Decadent Feeling (Wormholedeath)

Featured Albums w/c 11 November 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)