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 Collection, not Greatest Hits
Hit: 5 Stars
There is a difference, a collection is a selective choice of songs that perhaps best suit the story of our Librarian. A Greatest Hits would be just that, an album of singles placed in a compilation. I to was very compelled to judge this as a flawed attempt to put out something to unite her Atlantic works, but it has an intent of reimagining the songs from their album counterparts. I can hear things that I never heard and the remasters probably helped to reveal hidden sounds and tones. I do feel that the album does touch too much on Little Earthquakes, but that is fine by me. Having been a fan of Tori from the beginning, there has been a transformation that has fueled her creativity. I must be the odd man out since I do like the remix of Professional Widow, but aside from that sudden change of pace, the album flows beautifully. The new songs bring us to the present although she stated that Snow Cherries from France took her years to finish. Her sound has changed tremendously. She is now married with child, but she still has more to say. No Strange Little Girls material on here and most likely since she didn't write any of the material nor Scarlet's Walk, but that is Sony material. So here we have it, songs placed together to rediscover and enjoy once again in a new light and life together as a catolog selected to by our Librarian. I must comment on the packaging which I feel was wonderfully conceived. She looks amazing in the new pictures and the lay out in the Dewey Decimal system was genius. The DVD was an added bonus which I do enjoy, but it is the album that makes it all worth it.Free Music Review: Unveiling and Retrospective
Hit: 5 Stars
What is most interesting about Tori Amos is how she never fears honesty and almost goes beyond revelation into the territory of inviting you into her inner heart where a stunning intimacy mingles with musical exploration. Her disarming lyrics are often veiled in almost innocent musical style, making her deliciously enticing.
I must admit, she looks very much like her real name: Myra Ellen on this album cover, which I love.
Tori Amos' sophisticated writing style is highly appealing although she seems to maintain a child-like beauty with her sweet silky voice. She seems to turn her life experiences into art painted in soft dreamy lyrics (Winter) and then honest and soul-baring questions (God).
Her voice can be whispery and sexy (Way Down/Baker Baker) and then almost scandalously rough (Professional Widow). Tori Amos is difficult to categorize and I think she likes it that way. Playful and child-like in Mr. "zee-ber-a" she pronounces words any way she wants.
"Baker Baker baking a cake
Make me a day
Make me whole again
And I wonder what's in a day
What's in your cake this time
I guess you heard he's gone to L.A.
He says that behind my eyes I'm hiding
And he tells me I pushed him away
That my heart's been hard to find"
~Baker Baker
As far as I can tell from this album, Tori Amos' heart is on display in this musical book of her thoughts. Snow Cherries from France is a sweet ending to an album that takes a journey through an artist's mind.
~The Rebecca Review
Free Music Review: A truly unique artist...
Hit: 5 Stars
The first time I heard Tori Amos, I didn't like her. She was too weird and her lyrics were at times incomprehensible. However, for a variety of reasons, I turned back to her music. I am so glad that I did. She is now one of my favorite artists. I have most of her albums, but I had to buy "Tales of Librarian". It was a wonderful decision on my part. This is a lovely and well-sculpted collection of Tori Amos songs. Instead of focusing on the songs that I wish were in the collection (Bells for Her and Pandora's Aquarium among them) I will focus on the songs that actually did make the cut. My favorites include Precious Things, Cornflake Girl, Mary (for the Hendrix reference!), God, Winter, Spark, Way Down, Mr. Zebra, Playboy Mommy, Baker Baker and Jackie's Strength. As you can see, there are a lot of songs I love. The only song I don't like is the remixed version of "Professional Widow". It is out of place. The highlight of this album, and possibly Tori's career, is Me and a Gun (in my opinion). I cry every time I hear that song. I love how it is a capella and how the lyrics so perfectly convey the pain of a rape.
The DVD is also worth a watch. Tori sounds brilliant in the live performances. Overall, this collection has fabulous packaging. The dewey decimal system cataloging of the songs is great and it gives you a better idea of what the songs are actually about.
Even if you are not familiar with Tori Amos' other albums, this is a great place to start. It will give you a peek into her career and some of her best songs. You won't be disappointed.
Free Music Review: Thank you, Tori
Hit: 5 Stars
I wasn't sure what to expect when I bought this CD. After listening to it several times this weekend, all I can say is thank you, Tori. Whether or not you agree with the choices that were made in remastering these songs, the end result is that this CD makes you think about Tori's music: about all the things you love about it, the things you don't love about it, where you first heard a particular song, the way it made you feel, the way it hits you now. If you're like me, having been with Tori since Little Earthquakes, this album is full of nostalgia and revelation; I have listened to the originals of every song on this album dozens of times and yet reexperienced them all listening to this CD. It was quite a moving experience for what could have been a standard retrospective. The DVD is tremendous. It is remarkable to be able to watch Tori play in such a strangely intimate setting, an empty stadium, hours before the rows of seats will be filled with her screaming fans. Her love for the music and the piano comes through powerfully on these three tracks and are a joy to watch. This CD was put out by Atlantic Records, Tori's former label. A lot of people there must love her as much as many of her fans, because the care that went into this CD is fully apparent. Take a look at the photo galleries on the DVD -- you'll get to listen to instrumental versions of Putting the Damage On and Mr. Zebra -- and I think you'll agree: for Atlantic Records, this is album the last song of a beautiful love affair. For Tori's fans, it is hopefully only a beginning.Free Music Review: An excellent tale!
Hit: 5 Stars
For anyone who knows of Tori Amos, you will already know that she is one of the most innovative, mature and creative female artists of our time, and this collection is the proof. Along with two new songs, Angels and Snow Cherries From France, there are some of Tori's most loved tracks from her Atlantic recording period. The real highlights are the dark and theatrical Spark...perhaps one of Tori's most beautiful and emotionally charged songs to date, Bliss...showing a beautiful affair with electronica, Cornflake Girl...a classic upbeat track and Tear in Your Hand...beautiful and emotive. Tori has also revisited B-sides Mary and Sweet Dreams, and they sound the better for it, which is no easy task. The new tracks are more reminicent of her newer works, which is no bad thing by a long way, as they capture yet another side to this incredibly talented artists work, both of them are as beautiful and sensitive as one would expect from Tori, Angels being a particular favourite of mine, and Snow Cherries being instantly catchy.
Tori has so many important and poignant songs, that it is virtually impossible to narrow them down to a twenty track collection. Initially I was slightly dissappointed to see that some tracks were missing, particularly off the 'Boys for Pele' and 'To Venus and Back' albums, but the album seems suprisingly complete and the tracks really seem to set eachother off beautifully.
An excellent collection, that should be a must for any serious record collector.