klzabawa's Full Review: Talula [Maxi Single] by Tori Amos
I couldn't decide how to make my comeback into the writing world of epinions. I decided it had to be from the heart or I just wouldn't even be able to write a paragraph's worth of material. So this is as close to the heart as I can get while reviewing a product. Tori Amos.
To be specific, Tori Amos' Talula (Maxi Single). This little cd contains five songs, three of which were previously unreleased. The songs are:
1) Talula (Tornado Album Version) (3:43)
2) Samurai (3:03)
3) Frog on my Toe (3:40)
4) London Girls (3:20)
5) Talula (BT's Synethasia Mix) (11:27)
This is one of three Talula singles I own. I don't know how this happens. Apparently there are a plethora of offshoots of Atlantic records across the sea, or perhaps it is simply a plethora of bootlegged material imported and sold to the unknowing American consumer. I know that East/West records is a legitimate branch of Atlantic, and it so happens that the other two singles were released under their name. I do have Tori cds that have mysterious labels, though, and I can only hope that Tori made some money off of them.
If you are curious, some of the b-sides that are on the east/west cds are: Sister Named Desire, Alamo, and Amazing Grace/Til the Chicken. All interesting songs for the collector.
But we're talking about the Atlantic maxi single.
The cover of the cd is one of the pictures done for the Boys for Pele release. It is Tori in some kind of old carriage, with one leg up on the dash and the other on the ground--with this far-off, possibly sad, possibly desperate, possibly sexual look on her face. The back of the cd features a close up of her expression. In the close up you can see a little smudged mascara--like maybe she's been crying. There is another picture on the inside cover as well. Smiley Tori looking up at something unseen with a butterfly fluttering next to her. There is no information in the sleeve. Just the picture.
I think that any Tori fan will agree--whether they be male, female, lesbian, child, what-have-you--part of the appeal of this woman is her as much as it is her music. What I mean is that I just love her. She is my sister, my confidante, my mentor, my partner in crime, she is a woman who understands what it means to be a woman. And so I love to look at her. Most artists I could care less. But this girl--I want to know what she's wearing, what expression is on her face, etc. etc. It's an obsession thing, I guess. I suppose it's more socially acceptable to feel this way about a boy band.
I guess after seeing her in concert a few times it became more important for me to be able to see her. She is so expressive when she sings that you really almost miss the under layer to her songs without it--those things left unsaid.
The Songs 1) The first song is the Talula that you hear on Boys for Pele, or the soundtrack to the movie Twister. It's a pretty typical energetic Tori song. There are all these great layers to her music--her frantic harpsichord, a deep, slow bass beat that gives way mid-song to more complex beats. And over all of it there is Tori's voice providing background vocals in that airy, almost psychedelic fashion, while the main verses lead you through the story of Talula.
Like all Tori's songs, the lyrics are almost written in code. She swings back and forth between using words as symbolism ("wrapped in your papoose, your little fig newton") and flat-out telling it like it is.
Some of my favorite lyrics in this song are:
"ran into the Henchman who severed
Anne Boleyn
he did it right quickly a merciful man
she said 1 + 1 is 2
but Henry said that it was 3
so it was
here I am"
And of course, some of my absolute favorite lyrics from any Tori song are included here as well.
"I got my rape hat on
but I always could accessorise
and I never cared too much for the
money
but I know right now, honey,
that it's in God's hands
but I don't know who the Father is"
She's so brilliant. This song is more in the God vein of Tori songs, I guess you could say. Justifiably sticking it to the man all around.
2) Song two is called Samurai. This track is done with old-school bassist George Porter Jr. Tori has done a few other songs with George, and they are all enjoyable. I don't really know what Tori is talking about here, but her voice is all over her range and the standard piano is great as always. George Porter Jr. isn't too heavily featured on this song, mostly just providing an easy two-note blues beat. The best part of the song is the end when you hear George laughing and Tori saying something to him about reading the lyrics out of the Samurai book. Whatever that means. It's always fun to hear your favorite singers talk, though.
3) The third song on this cd is my favorite. It's a melodic little song about Tori's "Papa". Although I've never gotten the scoop from anyone, I'm assuming this song is written in memory of her dead grandfather. It sounds like she's reminiscing about advice and conversations she had with him when he was alive. This song makes me cry. I recently lost my step-father who sounds to me like he could have been much like this Papa of hers.
It's a simple song, with slow piano and a little playfulness to her voice, since it sounds like she is remembering quite happy memories of her relationship with this man. Here's some of Papa's lyrical advice:
"Slap them boys if they're naughty
Make them crawl, make you haughty
Make you strong, little girl
You paint them toes a reddish colour
And you know one day you're gonna be
Bigger than a flea
You're gonna be bigger than that old
Poison Ivy tree...
...One day girl you're gonna learn to make them crawl
Make them grow tall
But have the grace
To be a lady with disgrace
And you fry them potatoes
And you make them with ladies hands
I know you're my pappy's baby."
4) The next song is called London Girls written by two fellas named Hodges/Peacock who I know nothing about. It's a fun, upbeat song about all the advantages of getting yourself a girl from London-town as opposed to those California girls, or anywhere else in the world. I always love it when female artists cover songs that are normally from a male's perspective. There's just something hilarious and empowering about it. I really like this song as well. It seems to flow perfectly on this cd, and is another great "collectable" if you're a Toriphile like I am.
5) The final song on this disc takes a totally different turn. Suddenly we find ourselves at a rave, with some phat dj named BT throwing some crazy 11:27 minute version of Talula into the mix. BT is Brian Transeau, who has remixed a ton of Tori stuff. He's also got his own cd out as well, though I've never heard it. If you like dance music, this is a great remix. If you're more into the lyric and piano Tori, you might be a little thrown off by this. I enjoy it on certain occasions, but I don't know if it flows very well with the more upbeat, fun, easygoing music the rest of this EP is filled with. But it's Tori--she's an eclectic gal, what do you expect.
Overall I think this is one of the better investments in my ridiculous Tori collection. I don't know about all three of them, but hey, those are my issues, not yours. This is more like Tori's first three full length cds--Little Earthquakes, Under the Pink, and Boys For Pele--than her more recent work. It's not quite as abstract or experimental as some of her newest songs. This cd can be purchased for under $10, but you may have to have it ordered if your local music store doesn't have it in stock. Sometimes these maxi singles are hard to find. Circuit City actually has a surprising amount of them, but I guess I don't even know if that store is everywhere or just in the Midwest. If you have one, try there.
Thanks for listening to my first review since forever. I'm planning on making this into my first series on Epinions. Look forward to more info on Tori rarities and b-sides. (As much money as I've spent, I've got to do SOMETHING useful with this collection!) Thanks again!
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