musicmitigator's Full Review: To Venus and Back by Tori Amos
The first part of a three part series entitled, "The Perfect Tori Record"
What the hell are you doing?
I'm playing God. Because let's face it. Tori has some problems with song vomit. (She releases just about every song she writes.) She's wildly talented, she's my favorite artist... she's like the mother I wish I had, (There, I said it. Stop staring.) but she has released some unnecessary fluff in her last three studio albums (of original material... I think Strange Little Girls is genius, but her songwriting skills are a major focus, and an album of covers would not be of much help) What I am doing is weeding these albums of the songs I don't like: "To Venus and Back (Venus.Orbiting)," "Scarlet's Walk," and "The BeeKeeper." Raise your hand if you think this is a good idea! .... ok. Well, this is my fantasy where the three records would be reduced to one, double album, that would be much better, faster moving and stimulating to listen to. Don't worry, each song will be considered... I am a just and friendly God.... after all, I am the MUSICMITIGATOR! Whew. silliness, taken over...
Venus, Orbiting
The best Tori Amos songs suck you into her universe without warning. You know the universe I'm talking about. The land of the faeries, where Tori may be a red-headed siren, or a brown-haired little girl depending on which song you're experiencing. There are no rules to her best girls. Often having two bridges, ever-evolving choruses, and noise-making not unlike a banshee, there's usually a twist. That's what keeps me listening.
Appropriately enough, that is the case with Bliss, the opening track of the Venus.Orbiting disc on "To Venus and Back. A cold breeze starts the track. And a classic, weird "Tori" line, "Father, Killed my monkey." Ahhhh, she's back, in all of her elfish beauty. A creepy, wonderful track that mixes her piano with electronic skips and sounds, with an amazing, percussion-heavy chorus that has you singing along (though you probably can't really discern the exact words). This one's a keeper.
With Juarez, it's hard to know what to think. It has a great beat, and base line. It has Tori's voice floating above it all, and grooving low-voiced, alternately. My problem with it is that it doesn't really add up to that much. Hmmmmm, I will think about this one.
I feel like I'm falling. Anybody would, listening to the opening of Concertina, the third track on this disc. This song definitely puts you in Tori's universe, but then gets all happy on you in the chorus. Hmmm, that's alright. This one will probably make it. Glory of the 80's gets several points with me. 1, it's about the 80's, which I loved, 2, it sounds like it comes from the 80's, with synth notes galore, 3, it tells a story or two! A great idea for a song. It would be a welcome inclusion to "To Venus, Walking Bees"(it's a working title.)
Lust... what to say about this mediocre track.... the piano part is really simple by Miss Amos's standards, and the tempo is depressingly slow. Song vomit, Tori, song vomit. Suede is sort of the evil, cooler little sister to Lust. I love it. It's dark, it's amazing. I wonder what she's conjuring by the dark of the moon? Great melody, sucks you in, indeed.
Now is the time for the underwhelming Josephine. Ehhhh, we have enough "pretty, slow" songs for now Josephine, sorry. Lot's of fans love this song, unfortunately, it ain't that great. Look for another Tori ballad later that does definitely make my album. The mediocre ballad is followed up by the mediocre rock song, Riot Proof As much synthesizer as a Duran Duran song, it's nothing special. For that matter the next track, Datura, which is filled with Tori making noises, really is a throwaway as well. If they made dance mixes out of these songs, that would be amazing. But that would be their only use.
If Spring Haze stayed the gorgeous piano ballad throughout, the way that it starts, I would have loved Tori. Unfortunately she always has to mess with her formula, and the tempo picks up and the drums come in. Still, it's worth keeping. It has some great melodies, and the piano really is beautiful in it.
Then we have a perfect Tori moment, frozen in time. 1,000 Oceans is perfect. It has terrific lyrics, and the best melody of the entire record. It's worthy of a good cry, truly.
The electronic thing worked pretty well for her here. The songs weren't fully hashed out musically or lyrically in a lot of cases though, electronic gymnastics taking the forefront in those songs. Overall, this is an excellent Tori record. The instrumental style of it compliments her voice very well. For the first time though, unfortunately, we see the old girl, a musical genius, but whose ideas are running just a little more sparse these days. Of course Tori Amos could probably just do variations on "1,000 Oceans" for the rest of her life and satisfy me.
For The Record
These are the songs that made the cut. MWAHAHAHAHA!
1. Bliss
2. Concertina
3. Glory of the 80's
4. Suede
5. Spring Haze
6. 1,000 Oceans
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