Album Review: Alanis Morissette – Such Pretty Forks In The Road

Canadian singer-songwriter and seven-time GRAMMY Award-winner Alanis Morissette is releasing her highly anticipated upcoming album, ‘Such Pretty Forks In The Road’ on 31st July! 

As far as iconic female musicians go, Alanis Morissette is pretty up there! Building on the iconic, empowering era that was ‘Jagged Little Pill’, Morissette brings a whole new dimension to her sound. It is one that is filled with maturity, power, and a confidence that goes above and beyond her previous work. This album not only builds on what she is known for but creates a whole new sound and journey for Morissette. 

After eight years since her last studio album was released, opener ‘Smiling’ is the perfect reawakening for Alanis Morissette. The silky, breath-taking vocals paired with the woeful musicality edge you in gently to the album while preparing you for the deeply expressive road ahead. 

In a beautiful homage to her children, ‘Ablaze’ explores the incredible bond between a mother and their children. Laced with personal and biblical references, this delicate song is dripping with pure emotion and represents how Morissette’s music has grown alongside her. 

‘Reasons I Drink’ is a song about addiction and the reasons why it can occur, the heartfelt lyrics hit hard and offer a new perspective to addiction as a whole. This is the kind of hit you can imagine being belted out on a theatre stage!

Bringing the tone down a notch is ‘Diagnosis’. This is a poignant track with a melancholic sound that makes it even more heart-wrenching. The lyrics describe putting a name to a feeling, which in this case is postpartum depression. It is an honest, raw depiction of how this makes you feel and because of this, it is an inevitably moving song.

The whole album follows in a similar suit brushing Alanis’ incredible vocals over tracks driven by raw, unfiltered emotion and meaning. 

Similarly, creeping through the speakers, ‘Nemisis’ plays on the natural power of Morissette’s vocals and her impressively deep vocal range. The track is splayed out in haunting colour, filling the tale of love and drugs with a dark, growling intensity.

Continuing the darker tone is the soul-baring vocal delicacies of ‘Reckoning’ which ebbs and flows in waves of emotion in the haunting homage to the ‘Me Too’ movement. 

Morissette’s silky tones radiate with sentiment especially in the final track of the album ‘Pedestal’. Over the quiet accompaniment the cinematic track pools into a mellow tumble of emotion, gradually building in power to produce the beautiful ballad. 

All 11 tracks tell their own beautifully entwined tales of suffering and joy in true Alanis Morissette style, using her voice to create and ignite shockwaves of emotion that will resonate with you long after. ‘Such Pretty Forks In The Road’ is a must hear, so make sure you are prepared to give in to the honey sweet sounds of Alanis Morissette!