Rock & Pop > 1990 to 1999 Rock & Pop > Singer/Songwriter

Dylan's Return To Form

Advantages: Some of Dylan's best songwriting, interesting production
Disadvantages: A little dark perhaps for some

Time Out Of Mind sees an emphatic return to form from Dylan after years spent in the wilderness and many mediocre albums behind him throughout the 80's. Released in 1997 this is a true testimonial of a grumpy old man who has reached the twighlight of his years and is confused about where he is and what he has become. Lyrically, I think this is one of Dylan's strongest albums, not just of his latter day career, but of all time. He has become much ...
...the more cryptic writing of his earlier material. I know some regard it as a sin to ay, but I quite like understanding what he's writing about. Don't get me wrong, the Dylanisms and the poetic vision is still here but has been channelled. This is an album of resignation and bitterness and some may struggle with this. The production is dark and very moody. Dylan previously worked with producer Daniel Lanois on Oh Mercy but I think this is altogether ...

Nixu1980 10.11.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of Time Out Of Mind - Bob Dylan

A timeless, raw, emotional masterpiece...

Advantages: timeless, haunting, beautiful, feminine, original
Disadvantages: quite short, could trigger, could offend

This is a cd that is well worth parting with a few pounds for. The album is raw, emotional and haunting, right from the opening track to the closing song. It documents Tori's personal emotional struggles and confronts her sexual demons throughout every last pounding note from her trusted piano. The album opens with 'Crucify', with lyrics that any angsty female can relate to. The lyrics and confrontational undertones mske this song one of the greatest ...
...All These Years' is a classic Tori favourite, drawing cheers from the crowd during any live performance. It's deep, it's personal and it's hugely profound. 'Precious Things' with it's infamous lyric 'so you can make me cum, doesn't make you Jesus' reflects the open and unashamed attitude that shapes Tori's career, making her hugely popular with liberal feminists, victims of sexual violence and pretty much any woman who has ever encountered an sexually ...

flowerfly 15.08.2009 · Read full review
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Review of Little Earthquakes - Tori Amos

"you don't need one of these to let me inside you"

Advantages: Varying musical styles means there is something most people will like on here.
Disadvantages: Very deep subject matter and cryptic lyrics make this a slow burner to understand.

...here, the album benefits enormously from the inclusion of a full band. She deals mostly with the subject of her miscarriages on the album, but every subject from religion and sex (via Jackie Kennedy and cross-dressing) is explored on this album which is her most experimental since her debut. For anyone looking to start getting into Tori Amos, this album is a good one to begin with due to it's varying styles throughout. As I have said, it's a favourite ...

andrewjfallon 26.04.2007 · Read full review
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Review of From The Choirgirl Hotel - Tori Amos

Once Tori delves into the ranges of human emotion

Advantages: Tori Comes through on her second album!!!
Disadvantages: none

In Tori's second album, Under The Pink, Tori once again gets under out skin with her though-provoking, no holds bar lyrics. I talk about most of the songs below: The first song, "Pretty Good Year," is very happy and whispy, until the middle where she belts out "What's it gonna take til my baby's alright" with her voice and the piano. Then it goes back to being light and wispy. Again she combines happiness and sadness. It's been a pretty good year, ...
...me by shock when I first heard it.. The refrain "God sometimes you just don't pull through, do you need a woman to look after you, cause God sometimes you just don't pull through." I was like, "wow," maybe I shouldn't listen to Tori as a christian. But then it occurred to me that I often question and doubt God and go "What the Hell are you doing up there sometimes?" I didn't like the guitar at first, but it grew on me and now I think it is one of ...

Krislynn 26.01.2006 · Read full review
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Review of Under The Pink - Tori Amos

An absolute classic of guitar rock!

Advantages: Very even throughout - no one song stands out of place. Sheryl Crow wrote and produced much of it herself.
Disadvantages: Probably this was the peak of her career, and rather too soon

...at the same moment. For Sheryl Crow this self-titled is her ultimate classic that she may never better. Her first one, 'Tuesday Night Music Club', was also good but this album is really great. With her mixture of country and rock Sheryl Crow really has something great going on here. I don't think any of the songs were that strong as singles - they are all pretty even. Perhaps that's a sign of a good album that there isn't that outstanding song that ...
...first single!). Under the track listing are the words, "Produced by Sheryl Crow". Well, she is not well-known for her skills in the studio but what a great job she did! Every track contains a guitar classic. This combined with excellent lyrics makes this a really great hour of listening. ...

wildplus 28.03.2005 · Read full review
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Review of Sheryl Crow - Sheryl Crow