Strange Little Girls - Tori Amos

Advantages: Some interesting and intriguing choices of covers, A few excellent tracks, 'Real Men', 'Strange Little Girl'
Disadvantages: Too much concept not enough content, Some pretty tedious songs, 'I'm Not in Love', 'Raining Blood'

In anticipation of Tori's forthcoming new (and original) studio album I thought I'd take a look at this her last release. Now I’ll make no excuses before I begin this review, Tori Amos is one of my favourite artists and when I first heard news that a new studio album was on the way I’ll admit to feeling the odd palpitation of excitement. However, when further details of the release became forthcoming, a slight feeling of disappointment reared its ...
...an ordinary studio album, instead Amos has chosen to bring out a collection of covers rather then a set of original material. Aside from the fact that it is Amos’ own songs that primarily form the basis of my love for her work, the words ‘covers album’ is usually enough to send a chill down the spine of any self respecting music fan. Infact since Bowie partially successful ‘Pin Up’s’ in the early seventies it is hard to think of an artist who has ... Read review

Advantages: A vibrant re-expression of old songs
Disadvantages: A drastic re-hash of old songs?

Tori's musical evolution has been an interesting one. Early albums were somewhat idiosyncratic affairs, growing more and more deliciously wayward with each one. Following the success of the crashing, experimental and offbeat "To Venus and Back" in 1999, she seemed in the mood once more to push the boat out. It's a musical style that suits her. So, in 2001, she served up an eclectic score of cover versions, all originally performed and written by ...
...cover, hinting that this will be a varied musical outing indeed. In each of the covers, she stamps the unique Amos identity. Some of the songs here are merely tinkered with; others undergo a complete transformation! Amos is certainly no stranger to cover versions - and has always had a particular penchant for rock numbers. She starts in fine form with a growling rendition of Lou Reed's "New Age", with crashing drums, distorted vocals and a wandering ... Read review

Advantages: some interesting new perspectives on old songs
Disadvantages: not her own stuff!

...had her first baby ! The songs on Strange Little Girls are written by men but for women to sing - '97 Bonnie and Clyde being the only exception to this I think. I personally had not heard any of them before, but I know people (older and wiser ... Read review

Advantages: Tori Amos Come back Album
Disadvantages: Mostly covers!

This is an album of cover songs, but not without purpose. This album is about men — how men see women and themselves…an obvious theme for this is violence ("Happiness is a Warm Gun," "Raining Blood," "97’ Bonnie & Clyde"). Tori found a somewhat schizophrenic way of getting this across…each song is sung by a different woman that Tori has created. This album is fantastic, with the exception of the really creepy version of Eminem’s ...
...with two tracks of Tori’s intoxicating voice layered with just a piano to an alt-rock interpretation of Neil Young’s "Heart of Gold." "Happiness is a Warm Gun," opens with a British broadcaster announcing the John Lennon was shot, followed by the words of the second amendment, backed by jazzy drums and psychedelic guitar…then Tori comes in and you almost forget that this is a cover. ... Read review

Advantages: She creates several different characters
Disadvantages: none

When you here these songs you get a different meaning out of them, most pronounced in "Bonnie and Clyde 97," eminem's cover. I have read that her goal with this CD was to fulfill her contract with Atlantic without giving them any new material. Her songs are precious to her, and she wasn't going to give to share them with someone she not longer wanted anything to do with. People who complain about the songs not being original-duhhhhhh! She let her ...
...that. The whole idea was to take these songs and give them a female voice. "Strange little girl" is the first song on the CD. This is the daughter in "'97 Bonnie and Clyde " in a later cover. Her father has killed her mother and now is trying to find her way in this world. Living with the pain of the past has not been easy for her and she doesn't know where to go. "'97 Bonnie and Clyde" is told from the perspective of the dead woman-what she hears ... Read review

Advantages: good selection of tracks
Disadvantages: not very imaginative in its choices

...with Buffalo Springfield and CSN & Y right up to 1976. But the criticism of this album only extends the track selection - you cannot argue with the music here - the most famous songs are included: the stunning Like A Hurricane, the haunting and pretty Heart Of Gold (for an excellent cover of this buy Tori Amos - Strange Little Girls), the tragic Needle and the Damage Done. This also contains the song that inspired Kurt Cobains suicide note pay off - "its better to burn out than to fade away", Hey Hey My My (Into the Black). It is good that they have included the earlier folky, C&W style songs but considering that Young is one of the most versatile and prolific songwriters of all time it would be a more rounded appraisal of his work if they had taken songs from the rockier albums like Zuma and Rust Never Sleeps or electronica like Trans... Read review

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Advantages: flawless quality,brilliant lyrics just perfect music
Disadvantages: none except only 10 songs unless yo buy reissue

...the song sound atmospheric.As the chorus is approached you realise there is a great bass line working beneath the song.I have never fully understood what the song was about but I think it is about pretentiousness and trying to fit in.Either way it is a great song with a wonderful chorus.'It was just not my style to find surf in my eye.Itwas much more my style to get sand kicked inmy eye'. 'Rattlesnakes' is the title trackand was covered by Tori Amos on her 'Strange Little Girls' album.Again it bounces along with the now trademark jangly guitar with a lush string arrangement embedded in the song to drive it along.Lyrically it is wordy 'a girl needs a gun these day on account of all the rattlesnakes' and 'its so hard to love when love was sure a great disappointment'.An excellent track and Lloyd at his best. 'Down On Mission Street... Read review

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Advantages: Funny. Creative. Entertaining.
Disadvantages: The skits are annoying as f--- after a few plays.

...a million dollars / I'd buy a brewery and turn the planet into alcoholics / If I had a magic wand / I'd make the world suck my dxxk without a condom on, while I'm on the john..." My Fault: Hip-hop more than rap, with a strong sense of irony. And lots of heavy-hitting instruments that accentuate the lyrics - especially in the chorus. Eminem goes to a rave and gives a girl shrooms - with disastrous results. "I never meant to give you mushrooms girl / I never meant to bring you to my world / But now you're sitting in the corner crying / And now it's my fault, my fault." '97 Bonnie & Clyde: Tori Amos covered this ultra-weird song and made it VERY disturbing. Pick up a copy of "Strange Little Girls" if you want to hear it. Em's (original) version on the other hand, is just plain funny. On this one, he raps about killing Kim and enlisting... Read review

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