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RapscalionJones

hey! got an advanced copy of the new Tori Amos album, Strange Little Girls. Thought I'd drop some science on it. I was a little upset over the fact that it's just a covers album. I haven't been too impressed with the last two Tori albums and, frankly, wish she'd ditch the back up band. Fortunately, the covers are of good enough songs, packed with that Tori spin she puts into each cover. Each song was also recorded for a reason which she gets into in the liner notes. Her cover of Slayer's Raining Blood is particularly colorful regarding the treatment of women in Afghanistan and a certain divine feminine revenge.

To review the album as a whole would be impossible. Though each song sounds like a Tori song, they're not Tori songs and has different facets that make up the whole. So here are some thoughts on the tunes.

New Age by the Velvet Underground - I always wanted to hear Tori's take on a Velvet's song. Lou Reed is one of the best song writers of the 20th century during his Velvet days. Tori's take on it is a mellow, tremolo'd electric piano approach. Nice sound. Eventually the band kicks in and the song sounds complete. Very nice start to the album.

97 Bonnie and Clyde - Yup... the Eminem tune. My personal opinion of Eminem is pretty low but Tori's attack on the song is one of the creepiest songs on the album. She sort of "raps" more or less over a cello loop. As the song builds to the climax the tension builds. Makes me nervous to listen to it.

Strange Little Girls by The Stranglers - more band accompanied play with an electric piano. Good enough song, good enough cover but it's not much of a stand out song. It's bound to be a single.

Enjoy The Silence by Depeche Mode - Never been a mode fan and from the sounds of it, neither has Tori. The song is a minimalist approach. Just her and a piano and is only a step above the uber minimalist Me and a Gun but with less terror and emotion.

Rattlesnakes by Lloyd Cole and the Commotions - the only song on the album I'm not familiar with. sort of has an ambient feel to it and eventually takes form with the entire band. Comes off sounding a little like a Fleetwood Mac song.

Time by Tom Waits - one of the few songs on the album to sound like it's original. Right off the bat you can tell it's Tom's song. Her pacing of the lyrics give it away. A beautiful song. Tori does Tom justice. Now if only we could bring them together. Imagine that kind of madness...

Heart of Gold by Neil Young - I'm not a fan of Neil Young at all and unless you look at the track list, you're not going to know this is Heart of Gold.

Happiness is a Warm Gun by the Beatles - electric piano played over a series of loops about the second amendment... then the lyrics. It's a little too long but a good rendition regardless.

Raining Blood by Slayer - You thought an eminem cover was weird? This song is completely unrecognizable. she sings very slowly, in a high register over slow piano. Creeeeeeepy stuff. Sort of frightening, actually.

 

Stephanie S.

Eh, 97 Bonnie & Clyde is a righteous song, I think. It's just the reality of how alot of people have felt before. I don't listen to that...and some other Tori CDs when my son is within earshot.
For me, the most difficult part of Strange Little Girls was choosing which cover I wanted.

Now, what about Tori's latest, Scarlet's Walk. The whole CD just kicks bootie. The whole thing is interactive with some ConnectCD thingy-ma-jig-a-boppie. You traverse this map, taking pics, listening to the 19th song..mmmm..i like it..i like it alot!

So, if you haven't picked up Scarlet's Walk...do so soon! Or not!


peace