I'm listening to it for the first time. And I must say...it's great!

I know a lot of fans will bitch about the alterations, but I think it was a good idea. She tracked down the original tapes and tweaked them to her liking. She brought things out in the mix that were compromised the first time around. The changes are very subtle and respectful of the originals. I think it works for everyone. For the new fans who are just getting into her, it offers an up-to-date impression of her work and forces them to go back and compare with her back catelogue. For the longtime die-hards, it gives us something other than rehashed singles that we already have. Very ambitious and very well done. The packaging is amazing as well. If you're into her or thinking about getting into her, I highly recommend this set.

Yay for Tori!

So aren't you special to have it before Tuesday!!! Well, it will help you put your project together even sooner! I can't wait (for both issues!!!)

bratchildsfriend said:

Yes, I am very very special.

Argh, I haven't got it yet! I'm gonna have to wait until
monday afternoon before I can buy it and can't even listen
to it until mondaynight.



So what do the two new songs sound like?

Most importantly what is SNOWCHERRIES FROM FRANCE like?
Does it sound like the Choirgirl outtake it was or has
it been recorded with her current band/style and does
it sound more like something from Scarlet???

Prrrleaze let it sound like Choirgirl.

IstenSzek said:

I've only listened the once, so I don't know it that well yet. I'll report back later tonight.

tracklist?

so this is an outtakes/b-sides album?

mrdespues said:

No. It's a remastered Best Of collection.

Here's what's on it:

1. Precious Things
2. Angels (new song)
3. Silent All These Years
4. Cornflake Girl
5. Mary (new single)
6. God
7. Winter
8. Spark
9. Way Down
10. Professional Widow
11. Mr. Zebra
12. Crucify
13. Me And A Gun
14. Bliss
15. Playboy Mommy
16. Baker Baker
17. Tear In Your Hand
18. Sweet Dreams
19. Jackie's Strength
20. Snow Cherries From France (new song)

Bonus DVD:

1. Pretty Good Year
2. Honey
3. Northern Lad
4. Putting The Damage On

TRON said:

BLAST!

IstenSzek said:

You can download Snow Cherries and Angel right here...

http://www.hereinmyhead.c...index.html



BUT, I think it sounds more like Scarlet.

bratchildsfriend said:

Love your new avatar Nikki!

VinaBlue said:

guess what vina...uh huh...i don't even have to say it, do i?

VinaBlue said:

I think Angels sounds very much like an extension of Scarlet (which I don't understand why that's a bad thing).

Snow Cherries seems like a culmination of a lot of things. The melody and the arrangement are very much Choirgirl. The playing and feel of the song almost seem like Pele. The production is the only part that seems like Scarlet to me.

Some observations...

The mixes are changed in very minute ways, but you can tell on almost all of them that something is different. It isn't always apparent, but it starts to sink in with a few listens. Some are quite different though.

For example...

Playboy Mommy is really stripped down and very country now. It makes for a wonderful alternate version and adds something to the song. It captures the feel just as well as the original.

I'm not sure if I like Spark. It's also very stripped. The instruments almost seem isolated instead of integrated in the original mix. It makes for a unique statement with the subject matter of the song, but it loses the emotional impact in the process. I'll have to give this one some special attention.

Baker Baker adds a whole string section that really boosts the song. I love it!

Tear In Your Hand is sorta in the same category as Playboy Mommy. It's a lot 'twangier' than the original. This one's a keeper too.

Cornflake Girl and God are only slightly different. They bring out the background vocals a lot more though.

Sweet Dreams is funkier and fuller than the b-side version.

I like the extended ending on Way Down a lot. Too bad it didn't make it to Pele.

Professional Widow is a bit out of place here. I love the dance mix, but with the rest of these songs, it doesn't fit at all. Something close to the album version would be much better.

Putting The Damage On on the DVD seems to be re-sung. I wish it was on the actual CD since it's possibly my favorite Tori song.

Me and a Gun hasn't changed in any noticeable way.

Angels would make a great single and fits with her current peaceful, mature vibe. Mary is also single-worthy.

Precious Things is a great opener. This has never been one of my favorites, but it really work here.

I think in 6 months time, a 2nd volume of Librarian would be a welcome addition. She's had so many singles and so many fan favorites that a one disc 'Best Of' doesn't nearly cover it. Here's what I would include if there was a 20 track companion piece.

1. Pretty Good Year
2. Caught A Light Sneeze
3. Sugar (re-recorded)
4. Cruel - Shady Feline mix
5. Concertina - single mix
6. China
7. Taxi Ride - single mix
8. Past The Mission
9. Talula - Tornado mix
10. Strange Little Girl
11. Glory Of The 80's
12. Raspberry Swirl - Lip Gloss version
13. In The Springtime Of His Voodoo - Hasbrouck Heights edit
14. Upside Down (re-recorded)
15. Blue Skies - single edit
16. Hey Jupiter - Dakota version
17. A Sorta Fairytale - single mix
18. 1000 Oceans
19. Putting The Damage On - Twilight mix
20. Indian Summer (new song)

This is why I like the above tracklist.

1. They're mostly singles and all very good ones. Pele and Venus got majorly overlooked on Librarian and they get fuller attention here.

2. A lot of the alternate versions I included are very close to the originals. Concertina, Putting The Damage On, Talula, Cruel, Raspberry Swirl, A Sorta Fairytale, and Taxi Ride are just slightly tweaked. This would make it similar to the first disc.

3. I heard that in addition to Mary and Sweet Dreams being re-recorded that Sugar and Upside Down were also done. They're even better b-sides and it would be great to hear the updates.

4. Indian Summer is a wonderful b-side from Scarlet's Walk that hasn't been released in a studio version. This would be a welcome addition to her catelogue. Blue Skies would also be good to have on a Tori Amos release.

5. You can never have enough Tori!

VinaBlue said:

Me too.

imnotsayinthisjust2bnasty said:

Does it have anyting to do with ?

VinaBlue said:

Tori Amos rocks my pussy!

TRON said:

Not bad. I think IstenSzek is thinking like I'm thinking: I wish she'd go in a more Choirgirl direction! I miss that! She seems so tame and mild now. I do enjoy the new stuff, but I LOVE the Choirgirl era.

TRON said:

All together now!

VinaBlue said:

An artist can't force their evolution though. She's been through the ringer to give us great art.

Little Earthquakes is as confessional as it gets.

Boys For Pele couldn't be any deeper.

Choirgirl is gutwrenching and pained. I don't think she could force that kind of crisis again.

Venus was tripped as fuck.

I think she deserves a break. The new mellow Tori has only been for one album, so who knows what she'll do next. I hear all the time people complaining about how she's lost her edge and she's grown up, etc. But that's a natural progression in life. She's 40 now, married and had a kid. She's said herself that she's not an angry victim anymore. I'm happy for her. And if that means writing soothing, peace-filled music, more power to her.

TRON said:

yeah, and um, wasn't everyone bitching at the "new pop Tori" when Choirgirl came out?


i distinctly remember it, at least among the fans that she and Madonna share that i knew... odd as that sounds.

AaronUniversal said:

I don't know about "pop" per se, cuz she's never written a more pop album than her debut, and that's most people's favorite. But a lot of people had trouble with her expanding her sound to a live band and electronica. And yeah, that's pretty hypocritical for Madonna fans to hate something for doing something too "pop".

Welcome back Untouchable!

Untouchable said:

What exactly does that have to do with Tori or Moonbeam?

Untouchable said: