Album Review — Alanis Morissette

Alanis Morissette — Such Pretty Forks In The Road

It’s hard to believe it’s been 25 years since “Jagged Little Pill” took the world by storm. But it has been 25 years and things are different now. Alanis is no longer that angsty 21 year old. She’s now a mother in her late 40s releasing her first record in eight years. So before you check out “Such Pretty Forks In The Road”, you need to be ready for something different.

The first thing you’ll notice is this record is significantly more mellow than anything we’ve heard from Alanis. There’s plenty of emotion and even frustration, but it’s packaged and delivered differently.

The opening track, “Smiling”, is quite introspective, dealing with the struggle inside while smiling on the outside. Alanis still sounds terrific, seamlessly moving in and out of falsetto. Unlike many artists her age, her change in musical approach is not due to her decreasing skills. Alanis can still sing.

“Ablaze” is simply fantastic. It’s a beautiful song to her children with the promise to “keep the light in them ablaze”. As a parent, this one really hits home. As someone who has always been able to convey emotion through her lyrics, I love seeing Alanis use her significant gift to convey the love of a mother. A simple song that conveys so much emotion.

“Diagnosis” is a piano driven ballad. This song is as cutting as some of her early tracks but delivered in a different way. The melancholy piano almost gives the song more bite. Morissette’s ability to use melody and the perfect phrases to deliver a punch is fantastic.

“Sandbox Love” is about as upbeat as the record gets. It almost has a Coldplay type guitar intro and stays mid-tempo and mostly upbeat. It’s a little different and a little more poppy than what I’ve heard from Alanis but a good track.

Another piano driven track, “Her”, is simply beautiful. I’m so curious to know who this song is about. We get some strings in the buildups, but it’s mostly Alanis singing over a piano and it’s stunning. She doesn’t get enough credit for her voice, but I’m so impressed with this vocal in particular. So much emotion and range. Usually it’s one or the other, but she is able to display both.

“Pedestal” wraps up the record on another piano driven note. There’s a little more rasp in her voice which just adds to the emotion.

I understand that this record isn’t for everyone. It’s definitely not what I was expecting. But if you are willing to bring an open mind and take the time to really listen and take it in, there is much to be appreciated about this record.

Music can offer us many things. An escape. Something to lift us up. To make us think. To bring us joy. In this case, Alanis Morissette offers us beauty.

90 out of 100

Track Listing

Smiling *
Ablaze *
Reasons I Drink
Diagnosis *
Missing The Miracle
Losing The Plot
Reckoning
Sandbox Love *
Her *
Nemesis
Pedestal *

*Best Tracks