This weekend, I had the pleasure of getting the new Tori Amos CD a couple of days early. If you are a Tori fan, this one's a must-have. The album truly works as a cohesive concept (unlike last year's "Strange Little Girls", which was quite hit-or-miss).

The album explores America in the wake of September 11th, viewing its history from that vantage point. This disc is Tori's most straightfoward since "Little Earthquakes", but it has a completely different focus. Whereas LE read like a diary, this plays more like a commentary as someone traverses the country. Tori's alter-ego, Scarlet, narrates this journey for us.

Musically, this disc is truly Tori at her finest. From the opening track, "Amber Waves", she weaves an intricate album that flows beautifully. The songs are quite diverse in their styles, yet they never seem out of place next to each other. The first single, "A Sorta Fairytale" is a slow, mellow number that segues perfectly into the Queen-esque "Wednesday". Every track seems like another very different view of the same country. Truly, this is the way concept albums should be done.

Tori is scrumptious! I wanna take her back to my Lagoon!

Heard it as well, beautiful... look out for the brilliant special-edition package! It features a dvd and really great extra stuff.. beautiful booklet and a poster/map of america.. even a little pendant! It's limited, so hurry

did she chill on the pretentious melodramatic vocal executions?

i used to love her..but she just became way to extreme...

I gotta wait to get this tomorow.

I can't wait! It sounds so great!

Tori is beautiful. I luuuv her!!!


And I will get that special edition. No doubt.

I'll be picking this one up soon,

is she still sounding like Kate Bush?

Cloudbuster said:

i must admit..im liking the new song...so me thinks i shall pick it up too...

I almost got this tonight but decided to hold out til tomorrow. I love her. This seems like it's going to be her return to form. Venus was wonderful but I think fans have been waiting for this kind of sound and writing from her for a long time. The new video's great too.

TRON said:

Indeed... great single, and stunning video

that new video of hers is weirdest video i ever seen...shes kinda kooky huh?

Christopher said:

In a good way

Diva said:

are her and bjork sisters?

They are friends. Check this out Chris:

http://www.flexdax.org/m-...0594.shtml

I'm waiting on my order to aarive, I ordered the limited edition with the DVD

Cloudbuster said:

I used to think the same thing, since I was a big Kate fan (still am). They have similar voices, but the direction Tori has taken with her music is very different from Ms. Bush. Tori is more in a dark, ethereal place than Kate. Kate's music follows closer to a Peter Gabriel type of asthetic. They're both esoteric, but in very different ways. Kate is an obvious influence on Tori, but she's hardly the only one (much like James Brown is an obvious influence on Prince, but that hardly means there music is exactly alike).

BTW, my SW CD is the special edition, but it did not have any sort of pendant in it. I'm curious to hear if any of the rest of you had this problem.

Oddly enough, mine did have a little plastic snake in it! Kinda reminded me of the little snake that used to come with the Yoda figure I had as a kid!

Got it today,
it's pleasant enough if a little samey, the single remains the highlight for me so here's hoping it grows on me. I was more instantly impressed with Venus probably b'cos a lot of it was just damn fcuking weird. This is definately more a return to Little Earthquakes.

I've watched Tori Amos with interest ever since she came out. Perhaps I should pick this CD up. To date I haven't been all that sure that she would stick around for the long haul...hmmm...

JediMaster said:

OMG Jedi! I got a snake too! Maybe they should have said talisman instead of charm. I guess they couldn't really say that though, right? (hehehehe)

http://www.thedent.com/dvd02.html

Check out this link and scroll down to see what some of the charms look like. I was hoping for a moon/sun one or the shoe. But I probobly wouldn't wear it anyway... who knows. Anyway, I like the snake, I think it's cute and it's a symbol for transformation, which is very appropriate for me right now.

TRON said:

Hey thanks Tron! I've always wanted to read this article! Cant help but post the cover pic...

I was disappointed with this album. The whole thing consists of soft piano with soft drum beats. There's no real kick anywhere on this record. It gets better towards the end, but shit, it's kinda weak. I hope Tori doesn't go downhill like Prince did.

JediMaster said:

But wouldn't u say that the second half of Hounds of Love and the Sensual World album were rather dark and ethereal?

And as Kate has only made one album since (The Red Soes - easily her poppiest effort) it's quite possible she'll be heading back in that direction. Both The Kick Inside and The Dreaming also are very ethereal, far more than Tori!

Thanks Vina. I spent over an hour looking for that pic and couldn't find it. So I gave up. Glad someone posted it. I love all 3 of these women. They're all among my favorites. I've been listening to the new Tori and it is indeed a return to her original writing style. Piane to the fore and more direct singing and vocals. I like it a lot so far. Very impressive. Especially after 'Strange Little Girls'. That's where she lost me.

Just noticed a Prince reference on Tori's new album.
On 'Wednesday' there's a line right near the end...

Pluck up the courage
and snap it's gone again
I start humming 'When Doves Cry'

EvilWhiteMale said:[quote]There's no real kick anywhere on this record.
But i'd be glad to oblige you with a good kick in the ass boy.

Tell your girl to quit changing her lipstick, I'm starting to get rainbows around my dick.

EvilWhiteMale said:[quote]Tell your girl to quit changing her lipstick, I'm starting to get rainbows around my dick.[/quote}
There you go confusing things again. ,Your mama been suckin your lil pee wee again?Damn.An i warned her about that.incest is not everything it's said to be.
[This message was edited Fri Nov 1 12:35:15 PST 2002 by silentflute]

you know, it could just be because it is a new cd but i think this may be my favorite Tori cd...replacing Boys for Pele as my choice. it's cool to hear her talking about politics rather than personal issues...i have it on constant repeat!! And i'm thrilled with my Riverside Church concert tickets!!!

I actually don't like Pele, and that's probably why I'm not crazy about this one. Too much soft piano and soft drums. The other albums had more depth.

EvilWhiteMale said:

I know what you mean. Even though my second favorite album by her is Pele (because I love the harpsichord), Choirgirl is my favorite album by Tori. I was a little disapointed when I heard Scarlet's Web for the first time. I'd say there were about 5 songs that grabbed me.

Then I listened again and I must say it's growing on me. I thought it was kinda bland at first, like she was just singing words and there were no melodies sometimes. Then I realized it's more of a free form style on some tracks and the more I listen the more I dig it.