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List Price: $11.98 | | Label: Maverick
Salesrank: 15547
Released: November 3, 1998 |
| Our Price: $2.24 |
| Used Price: $0.01 |
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| Media: Audio CD |
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Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie 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
Editorial 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
Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie Reviews:
A "Failure" at Eight Million Units 
2009-08-08 - The Alanis who returned from Southern Asia in 1997 after two grinding years on the road in '95 and '96 does not seem to have been the one who thrashed her way through JLP and the tour that followed. (How could anyone =this= conscious and committed to exploration of the human condition possibly remain stuck in =any= "ruts?")
Many who'd fallen for the combination of restless, flapdoodle four-year-old demand to know =why= and romantic withdrawal that suffused JLP were put off by the stream-of-(very-high-level)-consciousness, "psychology" and Brahmin illusions throughout SFIJ. "Where's our little playmate?" "Where's our ultra-wit kangaroo?" "Where's the validator of our man-hating rage?"
Expecting (however ridiculously) that SFIJ would be another JLP, the industry began to write her off as a five-hit wonder even though SFIJ is headed towards worldwide sales of eight million units as I write here in the summer of 2009. Even Madonna (her "boss" at the time) made comments interpreted by some that Al wasn't being quite "commercial" enough. Sheryl Crow, the other female with legs at the time, only once sold more than five million of her '90s albums; yet =she= was considered "successful" every time she came to bat.
Because we now have further evidence (in the form of five more studio albums; ten more years of fawning audiences in places like Brazil where native-Portugese speakers reliably sing along with her just like North Americans did in '96; and readily available videos of more extended interviews with her), we can see and hear for ourselves that the Alanis of 1994 and '95 is still very much alive and well. And that the Alanis of 2009 is what anyone mindful of their =own= experience of "developmental path" and "human potential" will likely see as "just what we would expect."
Alanis Morissette is a voracious stimulus seeker, but she is no fool. She indulges her inner three- and four-year-old's explorations of the environment and reports the results to those who are similarly inclined. That she is occasionally less concerned with form than function may well come from a realization that millions of her fans =are= like her (meaning they care more about what she has to =say= than the musical packaging), as well as an understandable motivation to communicate with people like herself as opposed to those to whom she does not so much relate.
There =are= commercial hits (or, at least songs with musical hooks) on SFIJ: "Thank U" ran up the charts like Patriot missile in '98. "One" and "That I Would Be Good" got a lot of air play at the time. "Are You Still Mad?" has surely stuck in a lot of people's minds (if audience request is an indication). And "Joining You" has become a pier piling Al can rarely afford to leave off the concert song list.
SFIJ may be more of the first indication of what Alanis Nadine Morissette would =become= in the next decade than JLP could have hoped to be. Al's music industry resentments were largely (though not completely) exhausted, and her grasp of her emotional contortions was far more evolved. The date-raped, and four-f'd college grrls who idolized her in '96 may not have been able to keep up with her as she explored feelings =other= than rage (like frailty, elective enmeshment, helplessness and her own -- as opposed to =his= -- codependence) in SFIJ.
I enjoy the benefit of witnessing a decade and a half of evolution by the most insightful and verbally efficacious observer of intra- and interpersonal events of our time from the point of view of one who's had to study human behavior to repair both himself =and= others. For me, at least, Alanis has been the very best of the continuing education courses I have encountered.
Not her best 
2009-01-19 - I am a pretty big fan of Alanis. I own four albums in addition to this one, and have to say that this is definitely my least favorite. I bought the CD because it has the song 'That I Would be Good' on it, and after listening to it, I feel that is the only good song on it.
I have never been mad 
2008-05-21 - The infatuation comes from the semi-melodies located here, and within this album. Nothing is supposed, perhaps a single junk, or junkie as Alanis would have it. This pill is not only jagged, it is bitter and has far more serious side effects. It is like the proverbial apple, tempting and alluring. Go ahead, bite it, when you awake in a deathly grave you're happier for it.
Almost ten years later, still a masterpiece
2008-04-20 - I bought this CD when it first came out in late 1998, and it was one of those discs that immediately made me shake my head in disbelief at how good it was. Nearly ten years later, it still blows me away every time I listen to it. There are no filler tracks here; I listen to it from start to finish every single time. Tracks like "Joining You" and "Can't Not" recall the sound of Jagged Little Pill, but there's also a level of maturity not present on that first disc. The songwriting and lyrics are excellent, and Morissette's vocals are heartfelt and sincere. Ask me to name the five CD's I'd take with me to a deserted island and this might be the first one I name.
A Worthy Follow-Up to "Jagged Little Pill"
2008-04-18 - When i first heard Alanis Morissette, it was in 1995 when "You Oughta Know" played on the radio. My first reaction to Morissette and "You Oughta Know" was not positive. Most of the "bubble gum" and synth-pop of the 1980s was beginning to fade, yet Morissette's anger just seemed too raw for me to absorb at the time. However as the subsequent singles from Morissette's "Jagged Little Pill" album were released, I soon began to see more than an angry young woman. When I listened to "Jagged Little Pill" in its entirety, I realized that this album lived up to all of the hype. When there is a monster album, expectations are usually through the roof for a follow-up album. Thus there was a great deal of attention for Morissette's follow-up, "Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie" to continue the formula that worked so well on "Jagged Little Pill". Instead of following the formula, Morissette would change the rules and go in a whole direction for "Junkie". The result is that "Junkie" would not sell as well as "Jagged Little Pill". However this is not a reflection of quality as Morissette once again hits the ball out of the park.
There are two big influences on this album. First is the influence of Indian music. Prior to the making of "Junkie", Morissette made a pilgrimage to India. This trip to India might be the most significant one in music history since George Harrison's pilgrimage. While some songs demonstrate an major Indian influence (such as "Baba"), I think the Indian influence is felt in one form or another on almost every track. The other influence is that, Morrisette "turns things down" a notch. While "Junkie" has a darker feel to it than "Jagged Little Pill", we find Morissette less angry and more conciliatory at times.
Glen Ballard, the co-mastermind with Morissette on "Jagged Little Pill" once again returns as producer and collaborator (songwriting and instruments) on this album. Ballard once again does a very effective job as a producer and gets the most out of Morissette on each of these tracks.
Here is a track by track synopsis:
"Front Row": Great track and an underrated one in the Morissette portfolio. The Indian influence is felt in the mantra-like feel to the whole song. Listen to how beautifully the electric guitars blend in.
"Baba": The title of this song immediately shows an Indian influence. (I believe Baba means 'father'). Musically the song does have a Rock edge with some great electric guitars. The lyrics here probably have more of the Indian influence than the musical sound - but subtly it still has a Indian rhythm.
"Thank U": Great track that was a hit single from this collection. Here we see a more concilitory Morissette as she issues many "Thank U"s. Not only does Morissette thank India, but the mantra-like beat to this song showcases the Indian sound.
"Are You Still Mad?": On this song, we get to hear Morissette move away from her trademark raspy vocals with a more softer feel. While Morissette isn't as angry, on this track she challenges her lover with "Are you still mad" while at the same time saying basically what amounts to "I told you so". Great orchestration sounds close the track.
"Sympathetic Character": Another great track. Here's another track with a mantra-like sound that shows some of the Indian music. An innovative electric guitar solo highlights things at the end.
"That I Would Be Good": Showcases the softer Morissette again and gives Morissette to real demonstrate good vocal ranges. While not angry Morissette finishes the song "I Would Be Good - whether with or without you"
"The Couch": The most interesting thing about this track is how there isn't a true chorus - despite the hooks in the melody. The percussions definitely show some of the Indian influence.
"Can't Not": This song has an edgy alternative Rock feel showcasing some of Morissette's trademark raspy vocals. This song has a bit of the mantra-feel, but listen to how the song "switches gears" with some nice bridge midway into the song.
"UR": This track is a bit of a throwback to "Jagged Little Pill" with the use of the harmonica. This track takes a bit, but it does grow on you.
"I Was Hoping": Morissette sings this song in the form of a story. Not a strong Indian influence, but the beat does have a mantra-feel to it.
"One": Great song and another overlooked track. It has a mantra-like feel and I think there is more Indian sound in this track than one might think. Morissette also shows the conciliatory tone by singing "I have abused my power forgive me".
"Would Not Come" Almost a cross of alternative rock with some Indian influences (mantra-like near chanting like lyrics and some percussions). Some more great electric guitar work on this song.
"Unsent": A simple acoustic song, but lyrically genius. No chorus on this one. On this track, Alanis writes letters to her former lovers. It's softer stuff, so no anger here. Great stuff.
"So Pure": Again a mantra-like feel to it and while it does have some Indian influence, it almost transforms itself into a near Irish folk sound toward the end. Another great track.
"Joining You": This is another great track. I didn't hear as much as an Indian influence, but on this track Morissette gets the opportunity to showcase some great vocals, but this time against a harder guitar sound.
"Heart of the House": A softer sound with Indian and Orchestral sounds. This is a good track, but not a great one.
"Your Congratulations": While not the most exciting track, it's another opportunity for Morissette to show some great vocal ranges that aren't in her raspy voice. Good string arrangements on this one.
The liner notes include all of the lyrics. This album is definitely a worthy follow-up to "Jagged Little Pill". If you overlooked this album, it's definitely worth checking out. Highly recommended.
