Step into the intimate studio setting of the legendary PBS series "Soundstage" for a captivating performance by Alanis Morissette, recorded in Chicago in November 2003. Caught between the release of 'Under Rug Swept' and her upcoming album 'So-Called Chaos,' Morissette uses this stage to look both back and forward, pairing the anthems that defined a generation with fresh songs her audience was hearing for the first time.
Backed by a tight band featuring bassist Eric Avery and guitarists Jason Orme and David Levita, she opens with a blistering 'All I Really Want' and never lets the energy drop. 'Hands Clean' and '21 Things I Want in a Lover' showcase the sharp, confessional songwriting of her then-latest album, while the new material, 'Eight Easy Steps,' 'Excuses,' 'Knees of My Bees' and 'This Grudge,' reveals a more playful, experimental side of the artist. Far from the vastness of an arena, the studio setting lets every nuance of her distinctive voice come through.
The second half belongs to the classics. 'Head Over Feet' draws a warm singalong, 'You Oughta Know' erupts with all its famous fury, and a haunting 'Uninvited' builds to a thunderous climax before a heartfelt 'Thank U' brings the evening to a close. First broadcast in 2004, this performance captures Alanis Morissette at a fascinating crossroads: a mature, confident artist still burning with the fire that first captivated the world.