“Concertina” sums up this album with its elegance and grace. Every word that Tori Amos sings is meaningful, as important as those that precede and follow them. This album unbelievably follows up last year’s From The Choirgirl Hotel. On top of the first disc of all new material comes a plugged in live album.
The album was initially to be a combination of live tracks and leftover b-sides to give fans their fix until a new album was released. Surprise. To Venus And Back is autobiographical, the ying to the live album’s yang. The oddity is the use of studio effects. The piano is often still prevalent, but the addition of synthetic sound gives the often-organic Amos an industrial polish. “Riot Poof” is a perfect example of this new suit, and it seems to fit just fine. Nothing is better than hearing a premier artist take some chances. The chances here aren’t exactly to like those of, for example, Madonna, but the live disc runs like a greatest hits album, with standards and songs that haven’t surfaced before. Notable tracks include “Waitress”, “Precious Things”, “Cooling”, and “Cornflake Girl”.
+cc morris
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