Tori Amos
 

I wanted to say something about American Doll Posse, but couldn't see a Tori Amos thread. So here.

I'm not familiar with much of her work frankly, and from what I understand American Doll Posse is very different. It's not musically all that remarkable, but I'm pretty impressed by the amount of work that went into the theme and the story, particularly how Tori writes and performs so differently for each character. Album is an earful at 78 minutes to say the least.

Fans? Album I should move to next?

Imo, her best album is her debut, Little Earthquakes, with Under The Pink coming a close second. She peaked musically with these albums, with their memorable piano arrangements and lyrics...after that, I honestly feel like she's been deteriorating as an artist with every subsequent release. She has never trumped her debut, and while those albums I mentioned are quite good, they fall short of reaching masterwork level.

She's got such a massive discog that I'd hate to jump in blindly and get bored before I get to the worthwhile material.

See, I never cared for Under the Pink that much as a whole album. It's got some great songs, but it just doesn't gel well for me. If I had to rank her work, I'd say something like:

1. Little Earthquakes
2. Boys for Pele
3. Scarlet's Walk
4. Under the Pink
5. American Doll Posse
6. To Venus and Back
7. Strange Little Girls
8. The Beekeeper
9. Abnormally Attracted to Sin

I have such a love/hate relationship with Tori, though. I suppose I'll give most things she puts out at least a chance, but I agree she's never trumped the first album (well... technically second, I suppose... Y Kant Tori Read and all that, but that doesn't count)

Boys For Pele and Scarlet's Walk are pretty great too, shoulda mentioned 'em. Word to all of this...I have a weird love/hate relationship with her too. Sometimes I just want to shake her and tell her to shut the fuck up, stop your whining! It's different with someone like, say, Kate Bush, whom I feel nothing but awe for. With Tori my feelings fluctuate.

I really like Scarlet's Walk. Great album.

Best to Worst:
1. Boys for Pele
2. Under the Pink
3. From the Choirgirl Hotel
4. Little Earthquakes
5. Scarlet's Walk
6. To Venus and Back (Disc1&2)
7. American Doll Posse
8. Abnormally Attracted to Sin
9. Strange Little Girls
10. The Beekeeper

Chronological:
Little Earthquakes - It typically stands out as 'the best' from any list her fans create. It's very confessional and lyrically heavy. Although sonically, I feel it lacks. It sounds.. "over-produced." Nonetheless, it's a great album.
Under the Pink - Closely related to Little Earthquakes, it shifts from her singing about herself to an approach of 'storytelling' more or less. Instruments are pristine in this album.
Boys for Pele - Her first self-produced album. My personal favorite. However, usually when I introduce her to others with this album, they often turn away. It's too "weird" they say. It's truly unique and sticks to her nature. This is also when she held her best concerts, this era of 1996-1998.
From the Choirgirl Hotel - She fuddles with musical technology. Rather than her and her piano with the company of percussion and strings, this album takes a turn to include synth.
To Venus and Back - Still including synth, the album lacks sonically and is 'blehh' with lyrics. Although Disc 2, which includes live performances of previous songs, makes up for which Disc 1 couldn't provide.
Strange Little Girls - I don't own this CD anymore. I didn't really like the idea of having all the songs consisting of cover tracks. It's her own spin on things, yes, but, no.
Scarlet's Walk - She relies on her piano again. It's fun and light at some points, dark and serious with others. Good balance, good album.
The Beekeeper - Ugh. It's not her. She took a turn for the worst.
American Doll Posse - She claims this album is the start of her 'new revolution', a rock revolution she claims. She's five different women perceived in the tracks and through these characters she's made up, she sings through them. Good concept.. too much for one album. It's a good listen every now and then, and the songs are truly more fun live...
Abnormally Attracted to Sin - I sort of gave up with this album. I didn't truly try to listen to this one intently, although I can pick a few songs that can be worth listening to...
Don't get me ****ing started on her Christmas album.

That's really the basics of each album to her extensive discography. I do believe if you want to be satisfied with her, start with the first four albums. That truly was at her best. Her redeeming factor was Scarlet's Walk, but that's gone. Like others, a relationship with her is love/hate. Haha. Also, I stressed her being good 'live' at some points is that the fact that I hope you can delve into her concerts and such. The songs do develop a different meaning. I prefer her music live.

Christmas albums in general are violations.

Thanks for the rundown! That was legitimately helpful.

Agreed.

& you're welcome. That's the albums in a 'general' summary. They have more impact when you listen to them--to which I encourage. If you need anything else, just ask. She truly is unique, although her new albums are bollocks.

Love Tori and always will :)

Winter



Spark



Bliss



P.S. And I must say I hate those cynical reviews above. Don't judge, just listen.

I can't claim to be a Tori Amos fan at all. In fact, I don't really like a majority of what I've heard from her... but I have to admit, her Slayer cover is absolutely amazing. Seriously, this rocks.

Some more:

Past the Mission



God



Hope you like her singing.

That is how a cover version should be. De-construct it and put it back together again. I didn't like it all but I definitely appreciated it.

Tori Amos fans may like the album This Fire by Paula Cole. Similar sort of vibe and another very talented musician.

Thanks for that! I'm loving it. Some kind of Kate Bush / Tori Amos cross.

I like some of her earlier stuff. Little Earthquakes and Under the Pink are fine albums. I'll have to admit I'm not such a fan of her covers, but I agree with Lee that it's a cool way to cover someone - by deconstructing their song and putting your own spin on it rather than just producing a copy.

It's sad that she's become another victim of too much plastic surgery because she was quite the cutie back then. Her somewhat large ears and slightly big front teeth only made her cuter, realer and a little unique.

Early 90s :

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1053/...af21a05bd2.jpg


More recent :

http://cdn2.mamapop.com/wp-content/u...ic-surgery.jpg

It's just sad that someone as beautiful as she was ever felt the need to fix herself up to start with when there was absolutely nothing wrong.

Yeah, that looks like bad plastic surgery :( I'd wondered why she seemed to have hardly aged.

I like a few of Tori Amos songs from early in her career. Since then, the only one I enjoy much is "A Sorta Fairytale."

She never got enough credit outside the Lilleth Fair crowd. This track (Horses specifically) is amazing.

Not a big fan but agree she was really attractive in the early 90s. Not to mention Little Earthquakes had a few very strong songs. Cornflake Girl is brilliant.

Some of the lyrics though...


This is breathtakingly cringe

I don't think its supposed to be poetry. Doesn't strike me as that bad.

Tori. One of my fellow lightworkers. Love and praise.



cornflake girl