Such Pretty Forks in the Road | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | July 31, 2020 | |||
Recorded | 2017–2020 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 46:03 | |||
Label | Epiphany | |||
Producer | ||||
Alanis Morissette chronology | ||||
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Singles from Such Pretty Forks in the Road | ||||
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Such Pretty Forks in the Road is the ninth (and seventh international) studio album by Canadian-American singer-songwriter Alanis Morissette, released on July 31, 2020, through Epiphany Music and Thirty Tigers in North America, and by RCA and Sony Music in Europe. [7] It is Morissette's first studio album in eight years, following 2012's Havoc and Bright Lights . [8]
The album was preceded by the singles "Reasons I Drink" [9] and "Smiling", the latter being a new song written for the Jagged Little Pill stage musical. [10] The album debuted at number 16 on the US Billboard 200 and number one on the US Top Rock Albums charts, earning 23,000 album-equivalent units in its first week. [11] The album won Adult Contemporary Album of the Year Award at the 2021 Juno Awards. [12] [13]
The title of the album comes from the lyric line of the first track, "Smiling".
Morissette had been working on the album since at least mid-2017. In August 2017 on Anna Faris' podcast Unqualified , Morissette revealed the name of a new song called "Reckoning". She described this song as "patriarchy falling down", and said it was in reference to her day in court in regards to the trial in which others were accused of embezzling from her. [14] [15] In early October 2017, on her own podcast Conversation with Alanis Morissette, she detailed a new song called "Diagnosis", [16] in which she describes postpartum depression and how she felt better when she knew what was going on with herself. Later that month at the tribute concert Linkin Park and Friends: Celebrate Life in Honor of Chester Bennington, Morissette was invited as a guest to perform "Castle of Glass" and a new song of hers called "Rest". She said that she had been working with Mike Farrell and writing new demos.
In March 2018, Morissette previewed another new song from the album called "Ablaze", dedicated to her children. [17] In August 2018 on Laura Whitmore's Sunday Session on BBC Radio 5 Live, she stated that the new album would be a "piano record", and that "Rest" would make the final cut. [18] In October 2018, Morissette said that 23 songs would be on the new album when replying to fans. [19]
In August 2019, Morissette revealed that she was working with Alex Hope and Catherine Marks on her as-of-then untitled record. [20] She announced the album in December 2019, also debuting "Reasons I Drink" and the song "Smiling" during a performance at the Apollo Theater in New York City on 2 December, the latter of which was described as "sanguine" by Suzy Exposito of Rolling Stone . [21]
On April 16, 2020, Morissette announced that the album would be postponed to a later date from its initial release date of May 1, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and announced that "Diagnosis", a track about Morissette's experiences with post-partum depression, would be released as the third single on April 24, 2020. [22]
Morissette was scheduled to embark on a world tour for the 25th anniversary of her 1995 album Jagged Little Pill in June 2020, during which she would perform songs from her entire career, including songs from Such Pretty Forks in the Road. As of May 2020 the tour has been postponed to 2021 following concerns of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. [23]
Aggregate scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 71/100 [24] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
Consequence of Sound | B [25] |
Evening Standard | [26] |
The Independent | [27] |
The Line of Best Fit | 8/10 [28] |
musicOMH | [29] |
NME | [30] |
Pitchfork | 6.5/10 [31] |
PopMatters | [32] |
Rolling Stone | [33] |
The Sydney Morning Herald | [34] |
Such Pretty Forks in the Road received positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received a weighted average score of 71, based on 12 reviews, which indicates "generally favorable reviews". [24] In addition to the Juno Award Adult contemporary Album of the year, which she won, Morissette was also nominated as Songwriter of the Year. [12]
Such Pretty Forks in the Road debuted at number 16 on the US Billboard 200 chart, earning 23,000 album-equivalent units (of which 20,000 copies were pure album sales) in its first week. [11] The album also debuted at number one on the US Top Rock Albums chart, becoming her second number one album on that chart. [11] Additionally, Such Pretty Forks in the Road debuted at number two on the US Billboard's Independent Albums chart. [35]
The album reached number 8 on the UK Albums Chart, her highest entry there since So Called Chaos which reached the same position in 2004.
All tracks are written by Alanis Morissette and Michael Farrell
No. | Title | Producer(s) | Length |
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1. | "Smiling" | Alex Hope | 4:17 |
2. | "Ablaze" | Hope | 3:57 |
3. | "Reasons I Drink" | Hope | 3:36 |
4. | "Diagnosis" | Hope | 4:49 |
5. | "Missing the Miracle" | Catherine Marks | 3:33 |
6. | "Losing the Plot" | Hope | 3:57 |
7. | "Reckoning" | Marks | 3:30 |
8. | "Sandbox Love" | Marks | 4:12 |
9. | "Her" | Marks | 4:10 |
10. | "Nemesis" | Marks | 5:56 |
11. | "Pedestal" | Marks | 4:08 |
Total length: | 46:03 |
Such Pretty Forks in the Mix | ||||
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Remix album / extended play by | ||||
Released | December 11, 2020 | |||
Length | 38:45 | |||
Label |
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Producer | ||||
Alanis Morissette chronology | ||||
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Such Pretty Forks in the Mix is a remix extended play released on December 11, 2020, by Epiphany Music and He.She.They. Records with distribution from Thirty Tigers. The EP features remixes from songs from Morissette's ninth studio album, Such Pretty Forks in the Road, by trans-inclusive female artists, as well as two performances recorded in March 2020 and taken from her live album Live at London's O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire, 2020. A portion of the proceeds went to Safe Place International, an organization helping LGBT refugees in Turkey and Greece. [36]
All tracks are written by Alanis Morissette and Michael Farrell [37]
No. | Title | Producer(s) | Length |
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1. | "Smiling" (Lauren Faith Remix) | Alex Hope | 3:34 |
2. | "Ablaze" (MUNA Remix) | Hope | 4:19 |
3. | "Reasons I Drink" (Girlpool Remix) | Hope | 2:02 |
4. | "Diagnosis" (Muhsinah Remix) | Hope | 4:56 |
5. | "Reckoning" (Eris Drew's Standing at the Gate Remix) | Catherine Marks | 7:06 |
6. | "Sandbox Love" (MNDR Remix) | Marks | 8:30 |
7. | "Smiling" (Live at London's 02 Shepherd's Bush Empire) | 4:14 | |
8. | "Reasons I Drink" (Live at London's 02 Shepherd's Bush Empire) | 4:02 | |
Total length: | 38:45 |
Chart (2020) | Peak position |
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Australian Albums (ARIA) [38] | 10 |
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) [39] | 4 |
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [40] | 34 |
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia) [41] | 3 |
Canadian Albums (Billboard) [42] | 14 |
Croatian International Albums (HDU) [43] | 23 |
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [44] | 13 |
French Albums (SNEP) [45] | 45 |
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [46] | 4 |
Irish Albums (OCC) [47] | 15 |
Italian Albums (FIMI) [48] | 16 |
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) [49] | 40 |
Polish Albums (ZPAV) [50] | 27 |
Portuguese Albums (AFP) [51] | 7 |
Scottish Albums (OCC) [52] | 6 |
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE) [53] | 33 |
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [54] | 2 |
Swiss Albums (Romandie) [55] | 1 |
UK Albums (OCC) [56] | 8 |
US Billboard 200 [57] | 16 |
US Independent Albums (Billboard) [58] | 2 |
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard) [59] | 3 |
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard) [60] | 1 |
Chart (2020) | Position |
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US Top Current Album Sales [61] | 142 |
Region | Date | Format | Label | Ref. |
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Various | July 31, 2020 |
| [62] [63] [64] |
Alanis Nadine Morissette is a Canadian and American singer, songwriter, and musician. She began her music career in Canada in the early 1990s with two dance-pop albums. In 1995, she released the alternative rock album Jagged Little Pill, which sold more than 33 million copies globally and propelled her to become a cultural phenomenon. Morissette won the 1996 Grammy Award for Album of the Year among other accolades, and the album was adapted into a 2018 rock musical. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has Jagged Little Pill on their 200 Definitive Albums list, and it appeared on various editions of Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" guide. Its lead single, "You Oughta Know", was also included on Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Songs of All Time" list.
Jagged Little Pill is the third studio album by Canadian-American singer Alanis Morissette, released on June 13, 1995, by Maverick and her first album to be released worldwide. It marked a significant stylistic departure from dance-pop sound of Morissette's first two albums, Alanis (1991) and Now Is the Time (1992). Morissette began work on the album after moving from her hometown Ottawa to Los Angeles, where she met producer Glen Ballard. Morissette and Ballard had an instant connection and began co-writing and experimenting with sounds. The experimentation resulted in an alternative rock album that takes influence from post-grunge and pop rock, and features guitars, keyboards, drum machines, and harmonica. The lyrics touch upon themes of aggression and unsuccessful relationships, while Ballard introduced a pop sensibility to Morissette's angst. The title of the album is taken from a line in the first verse of the song "You Learn".
So-Called Chaos is the sixth studio album by Canadian singer-songwriter Alanis Morissette, released on May 18, 2004, through Maverick Records. It was preceded by the single "Everything" on April 13, which went on to become Morissette's lowest peaking song on the US Billboard Hot 100 at number 76. The album was met with mixed reviews from critics upon release, with some calling it her most accessible record since Jagged Little Pill (1995) while others criticized the project's confusing messages and felt the singer had lost what made her a cultural icon of the '90s.
"Ironic" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter Alanis Morissette, released in February 1996 by Maverick and Warner Bros. as the third single from her third studio album, Jagged Little Pill (1995). It was written by Morissette and Glen Ballard, and was produced by him. The lyrics present several unfortunate situations that are described as "ironic"; this has led to debate as to whether any of these match the accepted meaning of irony.
Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie is the fourth studio album and second internationally released album by singer-songwriter Alanis Morissette, released by Maverick Records in the United States on November 3, 1998.
Under Rug Swept is the fifth studio album and third internationally released album by Canadian singer-songwriter Alanis Morissette. Released by Maverick Records in the United States on February 26, 2002, and in the United Kingdom a day earlier, it was the first album Morissette had written and produced all on her own. It debuted at number one on charts in 12 countries, including the United States and Canada, and produced the singles "Hands Clean" and "Precious Illusions". Sales, however, did not match those of Morissette's previous two studio albums.
"You Oughta Know" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter Alanis Morissette, released as the lead single from her third studio album, Jagged Little Pill (1995), on July 6, 1995. After releasing two studio albums, Morissette left MCA Records Canada and was introduced to manager Scott Welch. Morissette began working on new music after moving from her hometown of Ottawa to Toronto, but made little progress. In Los Angeles, she met producer Glen Ballard, with whom she wrote songs including "You Oughta Know".
MTV Unplugged is the first live album by Canadian singer-songwriter Alanis Morissette, released by Maverick Records in the United States on November 9, 1999. It comprises songs performed by Morissette on the television program MTV Unplugged. Twelve tracks were included on the album, but Morissette also performed "Baba", "Thank U" and "Your House" during the live taping. These were later released as B-sides on the "King of Pain" single release. The first single, "That I Would Be Good", was moderately successful, and two other tracks, "King of Pain" and "You Learn" were released as singles outside North America. As of March 2012, the album has sold 673,000 copies in the U.S.
"Head over Feet" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter Alanis Morissette, taken from her third studio album Jagged Little Pill (1995). Written by Alanis and Glen Ballard, and produced by Ballard, it was released as the album's fifth single in July 1996 and presented a softer sound than the previous singles from the album. "Head over Feet" talks about being best friends and lovers with someone at the same time, with Alanis thanking them for their manners, love and devotion.
Jagged Little Pill Acoustic is a re-recorded studio album by Alanis Morissette. It is a largely acoustic retrospective version of her highly successful third album, Jagged Little Pill (1995); the songs are stripped-down versions of the originals, though producer Glen Ballard has augmented them with studio production effects to create an alternative pop album. The album was released by Maverick Records in the United States on June 13, 2005, available only at North American Starbucks outlets until July 26, 2005, when it was made available in other retail stores. This limited availability led to a dispute between Maverick Records and HMV Canada, who retaliated by removing from sale Morissette's other albums for the duration of Starbucks' exclusive month-long sale. The album's single in the U.S. was "Hand in My Pocket". The cover artwork is a sepia-toned tribute to the cover of the original Jagged Little Pill.
"You Learn" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter Alanis Morissette from her third studio album, Jagged Little Pill (1995). It was written by Morissette and Glen Ballard, the album's producer. Maverick and Warner Bros. Records released the song as the album's fourth single. The lyrics state that valuable lessons are learned from poor decisions. The album title is taken from this song's line: "Swallow it down ".
"Thank U" is a song by Canadian-American recording artist and songwriter Alanis Morissette from her fourth studio album, Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie (1998). The song was written by Alanis Morissette and Glen Ballard, who produced her previous album, Jagged Little Pill (1995). Morissette wrote the song after she came back from a trip to India. Maverick and Reprise Records released the song as a single on October 12, 1998.
"Hands Clean" is a song recorded by Canadian singer-songwriter Alanis Morissette, for her fifth studio album, Under Rug Swept (2002). It was written, composed, and produced by Morissette and released as the album's lead single in January 2002. It features a shuffling, largely acoustic-rock framework. Lyrically, "Hands Clean" caused controversy, since it is reportedly the singer's recollection of a forbidden sexual relationship she shared with a much older man when she was approximately 14 years of age.
"Hand in My Pocket" is a song by Canadian recording artist and songwriter Alanis Morissette from her third studio album, Jagged Little Pill (1995). The song was written by Morissette and Glen Ballard and was released as the second single from the album on October 16, 1995 by Maverick and Reprise, five months after the album release. The song received generally favorable reviews from music critics, who applauded Morissette's songwriting.
The discography of Canadian-American singer-songwriter Alanis Morissette comprises 10 studio albums, three live albums, six compilation albums, two extended plays, 46 singles, 12 promotional singles, six video albums, and 41 music videos. She has sold more than 85 million albums worldwide.
Flavors of Entanglement is the seventh studio album, fifth international release and last Maverick Records release by Canadian singer-songwriter Alanis Morissette. The album, which was originally set for an April release, came out on May 30, 2008, in Germany, Benelux, and Ireland, internationally on June 2, and in the United States on June 10. It was produced by Guy Sigsworth. Flavors won Pop Album of the Year prize at the 2009 Juno Awards. The album gets its name from a lyric in the track "Moratorium".
Havoc and Bright Lights is the eighth studio album by Canadian-American singer-songwriter Alanis Morissette, first released in Japan on August 22, 2012. The album is her first release on Collective Sounds, and in the US by RED Distribution and marks her first release away from Maverick Records, her label since 1995. It was produced by Guy Sigsworth and Joe Chiccarelli, the former having produced her previous album, Flavors of Entanglement (2008).
Jagged Little Pill is a jukebox musical with music by Alanis Morissette and Glen Ballard, lyrics by Morissette, and book by Diablo Cody, with additional music by Michael Farrell and Guy Sigsworth. The musical is inspired by the 1995 album of the same name by Morissette and deals with pain, healing, and empowerment. It premiered at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on May 5, 2018, directed by Diane Paulus.
"Smiling" is a song by Canadian-American singer Alanis Morissette co-written by Morissette and Michael Farrell. It was one of two new songs written for the Broadway adaptation of Morissette's 1995 album, Jagged Little Pill, and later released as the second single from her ninth studio album, Such Pretty Forks in the Road, on February 21, 2020. The album's title is taken from a lyric in this song. Morissette subsequently released a duet version of the song featuring Jagged Little Pill actress Elizabeth Stanley with the rest of the cast on backing vocals.