Posts Tagged ‘Such Pretty Forks in the Road’

ALANIS MORISSETTE – ” I MISS THE BAND “

Posted: April 20, 2021 in CLASSIC ALBUMS, MUSIC
Tags: ,
0
May be an image of 6 people and text

“Life in this industry can be incredibly isolating and difficult,” Alanis writes. “Backline provides a safe, private, and immediate place to go for help. Available for free to artists, managers, agents, crew, producers, labels, and their families, Backline programs offer case management, support groups, and wellness programs to meet the needs of this unique community.” Her new ballad “I Miss The Band” benefits the organization, which provides mental health and wellness resources for the music industry. 

Alanis Morissette is aching to play live music again. But, of course, she can’t do anything about it for now given the hellish pandemic. For the meantime, the Grammy-winning artist released a new single titled “I Miss The Band.” There’s a wistful quality to the piano-decked new song from the “Ironic” singer.

In it, Alanis romanticizes being on the road and travelling around the world with a band and playing music. She croons, “We’re on a plane, we’re in Japan / in baggage claim I ask, what city we just landed in / the paper slips under the hotel door / I’m shaking all hands as the hum-of-the-road keeps me happy.”

Yes, the song is about her yearning to play live again.

I am deeply yearning to play live music again….the sweat, the rapture, the movement, the love…i miss seeing your faces & being with my bandmates soon…we’ll be back together.

A sample of the song’s lyrics goes: ‘Inside joke, well understood / the nudge nudge wink wink and finishing each other’s harmonies / the late night drive through Italian roads / trains pulling out and we’re all in on the secret.”

Alanis’ lyrics are straightforward, singing “I miss the band,” and later admits “I am imploding without you / and there’s not a day that goes by / where I don’t hear our music in my head / where I don’t miss traveling in your company.”

Alanis was supposed to play in Manila back in April 2020 for the 20th anniversary of “Jagged Little Pill.” But as Covid-19 loomed and became a full-blown world pandemic and lockdowns became the norm, her concert at the Mall of Asia, which supposed to have been her first time back in Manila after her album “Jagged Little Pill” became a worldwide phenomenon back in the late 90’s, was cancelled along with every other show and concert around the planet.

“I Miss The Band” and ‘Such Pretty Forks in the Road,’ out now

ALANIS MORISSETTE – ” Such Pretty Forks in the Road “

Posted: December 31, 2020 in CLASSIC ALBUMS, MUSIC
Tags: , ,
0

Alanis Morissette / Such Pretty Forks in the Road

Last year, when Alanis Morissette released “Reasons I Drink,” the first single from her forthcoming ninth album, she couldn’t have known where 2020 would take us. “Such Pretty Forks in the Road”, her follow-up to 2012’s Havoc and Bright Lights, finds the singer-songwriter confronting vices and anxiety over proper ’90s alt-rock guitars. This year also marks the 25th anniversary of the classic  “Jagged Little Pill”, her iconic, not-at-all-ironic breakthrough album that was recently revived as a Broadway musical. The album was delayed from its original May release; hopefully it’ll appear soon.

Alanis Morissette has shared another new single from her forthcoming album ‘Such Pretty Forks In The Road’. The track, ‘Reckoning’, follows on the songs  ‘Reasons I Drink, Smiling’ and‘Diagnosis’. The latter tackled the challenges and stigma surrounding depression and other forms of mental illness. The new song tackles “predators” and features a string section.

Morrissette was due to hit the road for the 25th anniversary of her ‘Jagged Little Pill’ album this year but was forced to postpone due to the coronavirus pandemic. A digital deluxe edition of ‘Jagged Little Pill’ arrived on June 26th, which featured a new acoustic live recording of Morissette’s performance of ‘Ironic’ at Shepherd’s Bush in March 2020.

Eight years since her last record, Alanis Morissette returned with a wonderful and deeply moving album. No celebrity collaborations, no marketing declarations along the lines of ‘this might be my last’  , just a highly focussed record full of great songs with heartfelt lyrics.

‘Diagnosis’ is as honest and raw as Plastic Ono Band Lennon as it addresses postpartum depression, set to simple piano and strings. It’s all about self pity either, as Alanis recognises how such a situation affects friends and family [“All of you are so frustrated / And everyone around me is trying to help as much as they can”]. In ‘Losing the Plot’ Morissette decrees that she is “grieving the end of superwoman-ing” and the brilliant ‘Reasons I Drink’ adds some big hooks to proceedings.

An album that spends much of its time concerned with mental health issues such as self-loathing, despair, depression and bitterness might sound a bit bleak, but it’s not. These are remain accessible pop songs elevated by lyrics of truth and meaning, not weighed down by them. The melodies and arrangements are all of the highest order and the reliance on piano accompaniment gives Such Pretty Forks in the Road a classic,

The UK dates, celebrating 25 years of the seminal album, will now take place in the autumn of 2021. Supported by Liz Phair, she will stop off at UK venues including London’s O2 Arena, Birmingham’s Utilita Arena, Manchester Arena and the 3Arena in Dublin.

Morrissette’s new album is set to arrive on July 31st, after it was pushed back from its original release date in May this year.

ALANIS MORISSETTE – ” Smiling “

Posted: February 24, 2020 in CLASSIC ALBUMS, MUSIC
Tags: ,
0

Image may contain: one or more people, people standing, shoes and text

Alanis Morissette has released a new song called “Smiling,” It’s the second single from her upcoming album Such Pretty Forks in the Road, out May 1st.

On the morose yet ultimately uplifting track, Morissette reflects on her existence as a “bottom dweller,” dealing with the ups and downs of life as they come and mulling over personal failings. “This is my first wave of the white flag/This is the sound of me hitting bottom,” she sings. “This my surrender, if that’s what I call it/In the anatomy of my crash.” Rather than giving up, though, Morissette finds herself at peace with her imperfection.

Morissette originally co-wrote “Smiling” with Michael Farrell (Morrissey, Macy Gray) for the Broadway production Jagged Little Pill the Musical, inspired by Morissette’s classic 1995 album of the same name. She’s had some fun promoting the musical, disguising herself and busking on the subway with Jimmy Fallon in a recent Tonight Show segment.

To commemorate Jagged Little Pill‘s 25th anniversary — and in support of her new album — Morissette will be heading out on tour this summer, backed by fellow Nineties stalwarts Liz Phair and Garbage. On Friday, she announced a European leg of the tour, kicking off September 23rd in Copenhagen.