Tori Amos - Tales of a Librarian: A Tori Amos Collection (Bonus DVD)
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Free Music Notes for Tales of a Librarian: A Tori Amos Collection (Bonus DVD)
Free Music Review: A Tori Amos Collection = genius
Hit: 5 Stars
This amazing collection of Tori Amos songs is just pure genius. The song choice is brilliant. This is a must for any Tori fan and is actually a great CD for any first time listeners. It gives you a pretty good idea of what Tori is about. For the exception of the horrible remix of the amazing song Professional Widow, this CD is worth every penny. Here is my detailed song review:1. Precious Things : it's a TINY bit different than the original, still great after all these years. Beautiful piano at the beginning and meaningful lyrics.
2. Angels : I like the chorus 'trapping angels' is pretty catchy, but I don't believe this is Amos' best work.
3. Silent All These Years : this song shouldn't be silent at all, amazing song with great lyrics.
4. Cornflake Girl : everyone knows Cornflake Girl, a nice, unique song.
5. Mary : Amos' vocals don't seem up to pitch but still a nice song.
6. God : I love this song and its message, I love when Tori expresses herself in a way such as this.
7. Winter : This is a beautiful, slow song that has a clear message. I think everyone who listens to it will fall in love with Tori.
8. Spark : The music sounds somewhat harsh, I love it.
9. Way Down : About a minute more than Way Down on Boys For Pele, I really love this version. I love the choir and everything, makes it sound really dreary and dead like.
10. Professional Widow : Why is this on here? If it were the plain Professional Widow or at least a different mix but all this remix is, is saying 'honey bring it close to my lips' over and over again. Irritating.
11. Mr. Zebra : I think this is a fun song, perfect for any day.
12. Crucify : From Little Earthquakes, this IS Tori Amos.
13. Me And A Gun : this is a sad very harsh and REAL song. Do not listen to this song when you're in a good mood because it will drain every happy thought out of you. It's such a perfect song but it's so heartbreaking.
14. Bliss : some people say the echo is annoying, I happen to LOVE IT. The first 4 lines are the best part of the whole song.
15. Playboy Mommy : another tear jerker, beautifully written song. I love it so much and it has so much meaning.
16. Baker Baker : another one of my favourites, it's really a nice song.
17. Tear In Your Hand : good lyrics and a nice tune, very Tori-ish.
18. Sweet Dreams : I like this song, at first listen I didn't really care for it but once listening to it 3-4 times, I realized its potential. Don't give up on this one just yet.
19. Jackie's Strength : everyone who loves Tori, loves this song. It's a masterpiece.
20. Snow Cherries From France : some people say this song is 'corny' I BEG to differ. This song rocks.
In all, this is a MUST for any Tori fan.
Free Music Review: A Fantastic Compilation!
Hit: 5 Stars
The new cd Tales of a Librarian by Tori Amos is a wonderful addition to both new Tori fans and fans who have been with her since the beginning of her career. Rather than just slapping a few songs on an album and selling it, Tori has personally picked the songs whcih represent her life as a person and a musician over the past 10 years. Realizing the importance of preserving the emotion in a song that she conveyed at that particular point in her life she decided to take the original recordings of the songs, "the master tapes", and re-work the songs a bit in order to restore them to what she originally intended them to be on the original records.I thought this re-working thing might be a bad idea, but I am glad to report hat the re-working works beautifully. The changes to the songs are very subtle and could really only be recognized by people who have been fans of her for awhile, or at least are familiar with the different sounds in her music. The additional strings here and there and background vocals add a completely new dimension to her music. It allows sounds that were previously overlooked to fianlly be heard.
I was a bit hestitant to find out that the remixed dance version of Professional Widow was put on the album, but I can understand why that version was put on the album because that was a huge #1 hit for her. Besides that I think the the album is fantastic! I know some have been upset at the fact that a certain favorite song of their was left off, but from what I gather some of the original recording of songs that Tori wanted on the album could not in fact be put on the new album because some of the master tapes were damaged and could not be salvaged. I guess you can't please everyone with the track list, and it is probably safe to say that new Tori fans might appreciate the track list to this album more than the hardcore fans.
The two new songs on the album "Angels" and "Snow Cherries From France" are absolutely gorgeous! And the dvd that is included with the album is so beautifully put together. The live footage from her last concert date in Florida is just beautiful to watch. Tori live is something that needs to be experienced! Also the songs that are on the dvd are set to a fantastic montage of photos from Tori over the years. The dvd is a really nice additional piece.
Overall, I would recommend this cd to both new and old Tori fans alike! The cd is different enough for the hardcore fans to appreciate, and the new fans can get an accurate representation of the kind of music Tori makes and what she stands for. The cd sounds so rich musically and there are some excellent songs on their that fully represent Tori's career!
Free Music Review: Amos a driving force in music
Hit: 5 Stars
Unique is a word that is always used when Tori Amos is the subject. Her music is unlike any other. It has some musical structure from Kate Bush's aura but also stems into a distinctive brand of popular music. She came out in 1992 with her debut album and managed to grow the loyalist of fans. As the Lilith Fair bonanza took affect in the mid and late 90's, her appeal was much more alluring. However, charts and radio were never really her friends but she managed to conjure up enough exceptional ditties to keep the best critics at her side and the most serious of devotees following her every release. Her poetic songs and way with the oblivion allowed her career to flourish and now she is celebrating her impressive catalogue with an anthology of some of her great songs without making it a bland greatest hits album. "Tales Of A Librarian: A Tori Amos Collection" visits many of her victories.
Amos never sounds monotone nor does she stick to a song template. Her songs are very gawkily structured yet at the same time beautiful to the ear. An Example would be "Way Down," and song that starts out as a delightfully heartrending song and ends up with a gospel feel.
The leisurely chanteuse opens the album with what is arguably her best track "Precious Things" This song dates back to her first album and is packed with hostile lyrics and a carefully crafted melody.
Her lyrics are never compromising and always twist and turn to amuse, whether she is curiously vague on "Mr. Zebra" or tackling the horrific incident of her rape on "Me And A Gun."
Nevertheless, dance-oriented people will not be disappointed with the inclusion of Amos's surprise hit remix of "Professional Widow."
But other than that this collection settles for the slower number like the insightful "Silent All These Years" and the warm "Winter."
The biopic of "Jackie's Strength," which is an ode to Jackie Onasis's life is a superior track much like "God."
This release chronicle's this icon's masterpieces and will take you on a trip through memory lane if you are a fan. Moreover, this CD is a treat for people who haven't gotten the chance to be introduced to Amos and many are in for a scrumptious surprise. Pick it up and enjoy this master's lyrical prowess and beyond-belief melodies.
Free Music Review: Her Biography, Set to Music
Hit: 5 Stars
TALES OF A LIBRARIAN isn't a mere compilation of greatest hits...in fact, it is lacking some. It is what Tori calls her musical "biography". She also has gone on to add that the twenty songs here consciously chose to be part of this collection, and that they chose their order as well. From anyone but her, this explanation would not suffice.The fact that this is a biography and not a hits collection explains the lack of notable singles such as "Raspberry Swirl" and "Caught a Lite Sneeze". It also explains the inclusions of four songs not available on her studio albums--"Angels" and "Snow Cherries From France," 2 new compositions, and "Mary" and "Sweet Dreams" two B-sides from 1992 which were rerecorded specifically for this package.
The remaining 16 tracks have been touched up for their inclusion here. Most of the reworkings are subtle, while others are not. Some recordings don't sound as good, such as "Precious Things," which loses the power punch of its climax where the artist pounds away at her piano and belts "(those demigods) with their nine inch nails/and fascist panties tucked inside the heart/of every nice girl." Also, the added echo on "Bliss" is not a good touch.
However, other songs, such as "Cornflake Girl" and "God" sound even sharper with their updates.
"Playboy Mommy" now sounds even more heart-wrenching, as does "Tear In Your Hand," despite little noticable change. The added orchestration on the indescribably beautiful "Jackie's Strength" also works wonders for the track.
Some may be dissapointed with the version of "Professional Widow" included. It is actually a newly edited version of Armand Van Helden's "Star Trunk Funkin' Mix" of the track. The inclusion of a dance remix near the middle of the collection was in retrospect a wise move, since it gives a nod to an important apsect of the artist's career and picks up the pace of the disc.
Dissapointly, performances included on the bonus DVD were done during the soundcheck of the concert now available on the DVD release of "Welcome to Sunny Florida," and are dull and lifeless. Still, a nice photo gallery makes up for this deficiency.
"Tales of a Librarian" does deserve a place in the hands of every Tori Amos fan, as well as those who are not familiar with her and would like a place to start. If there is one CD of hers one ought to own, this is it.
Free Music Review: a must own for Ears With Feet
Hit: 5 Stars
"Tales of a Librarian" is the new cd from Tori Amos. While at first glance it may seem like a Greatest Hits album, it is not. All 20 songs were selected by Tori, so rather than this being a collection of her singles, this is a collection of Tori's favorite tracks. There are 16 songs from her first five albums (nothing from Strange Little Girls or Scarlet's Walk), 2 former B-Sides (Mary, Sweet Dreams), and 2 new songs (Angels, Snow Cherries from France). These songs have been remixed and remastered, and in some cases, rerecorded. For most of the songs, there is little noticeable difference. I have read that the vocals have been brought up on "Winter", but I couldn't tell any difference from the version on "Little Earthquakes". There are songs that you are different. Both "Cornflake Girl" and "Tear in Your Hand" have some extra lines sung on top of existing verses. "Professional Widow" is a dance mix, and while I would have much preferred the slower, mournful "Merry Widow" version, this is a new look at the song. The album also features some of my favorites like "Playboy Mommy", "Silent All These Years", and "Precious Things", among many others.
I am the happiest about the inclusion of "Mary", which has long been one of my favorite b-sides. The other b-side, "Sweet Dreams" has a much different sound than you will find on the single for "Winter". I wasn't too impressed with "Angels", but "Snow Cherries from France" is a much better song (despite the silly title).
There is also a bonus DVD included in this set. There are 5 songs on this DVD. Three of them are videos made from a sound check before one of Tori's shows. The three videos are "Honey", "Northern Lad", and "Pretty Good Year". There are also two audio tracks: "Mr Zebra", and "Putting the Damage On". While it was nice to have three videos, this was not a very impressive DVD.
I'm a huge fan of Tori Amos, so I naturally love the album. It's great to have this many great songs on one album rather than being spread across 5 albums. The DVD did not really add anything to this collection, but as a fan of Tori Amos, there is nothing to complain about here. This is a must own set for Ears With Feet (Tori's term for her fans).