I don’t much remember 1994 all that well these days. Back then I was a precocious eight year old making mischief and going to school. It was one day that my mother brought home Under The Pink, and I heard Cornflake girl wafting through the house that I had forever fallen in love with Tori Amos and her crazy mind and powerful use of words in her music.

Tori Amos has been singing her songs and writing music for many years. She first appeared on the public radar in 1988 with her band Y Kant Tori Read, but after little success, Atlantic records revamped Amos as a purely solo act, and by 1992, she had found acclaim and released her solo debut, Little Earthquakes, which is considered a classic today. She followed up in 1994, with Under the Pink, which contained the hit singles, Cornflake girl and God and sold millions of copies. Amos’ other works include 1996's Boys For Pele, which is one of my favorites, though it has received criticism for its abstract arrangements and eccentric-at-times lyrical content. Amos also shows off her Harpsicord skills here. On her most recent effort, 2007’s American Doll Posse, she explores the theme of her “dolls”, which are five different characters who all perform on the album. A testament to Tori’s creativity and artistry.

I suppose that now I can be referred to as a “Toriphile”, one who has joined Amos’ cult like following and wants to have everything she’s ever put out in her career. It being 2008 now and the popular music scene of today being diverse, yet disjointed and erratic, with every who-what-when-where-and why making their mediocre music and filling the airwaves with listenable bowel movement….well let’s just say that I’ve been buying more singles from my favorite artists lately than any new offerings I’ve seen or heard lately. Not to say all music of today is bad, it’s just not quite what I am used to. I didn’t care for Madonna’s latest offering, I like Coldplay but not enough to warrant a purchase, and the teeny bopping girls like Rihanna and Danity Kane are wasted on me. The way I see it, anyone can walk around scantily clad and sashay and talk dirty to you. They are more commonly referred to as strippers.

Which bring us, I suppose, to Tori’s 1992 Winter EP. One day while being infinitely bored here at home I was making my rounds on Amazon, and decided to purchase some Tori singles. Among my purchases were the Winter single and the Crucify EP. I purchased this one in particular due to the fact that it contained four non album tracks from the Little Earthquakes era, as well as the single winter, taken from the latter album. At first glance, one might think “pretty” when they have this disc in hand, with Tori in metallic silver coat lying on the back of a white horse. Ill admit, the album artwork was also one of my considering factors in purchasing this.

The first track, Winter, is a beautiful piano ballad. Tori’s talented, soft playing draws the listener in and you are left haunted by her beautiful performance. Lyrically, the song deals with winter, used here more seemingly as a metaphor of a cold and barren state of mind rather than making the actual season the muse of the song. I love the song, and it’s not bad to listen to a few times. It fails to get repetitive and keeps the listener engaged, and stands out as an excellent track. I also enjoyed The Pool, though it took a listen or two for me to get a feel for the song. The song has a very dark feel to it, sung a Capella, with echoing voices used as the musical backdrop here. No piano to accompany dear Tori on this one. The diction in the song is drawn out, so it takes a few listens, but even still I had to refer to the lyrics, which themselves are short:

“One with her hands
Open
"Don't Be afraid" she said
"No one will know it -
Just you and me"
And when it's over
I'll go back”

Almost like an interlude of sorts, the song itself isn’t very long either (2:51), but it’s still a beautiful addition to this little EP.

I was, however, delighted to discover the third track, Take to the Sky. This song is very upbeat, Tori’s playing at its most vivid, her lyrics very well put together:

“…But my priest says
You ain't taking no souls
My father says
You ain't making any money
My doctor says
You just took it to the limit
And here I stand
With this sword in my hand
You can say it one more time
What you don't like
Let me hear it one more time then
Have a seat while I
Take to the sky”

This was easily my favorite track from the first time I heard it and is one of those gems that makes this worth having. Next we have Sweet Dreams, which is another upbeat melody. The lyrics are kind of fun when paired with the music we have here. Tori’s lively vocal performance one the first listen is bright and you sometimes forget you are listening to a song about a man seemingly living in denial about his children.

Lastly, but not least, there is Upside Down. Yet another in the collection of exceptional T.A. ballads. The melody she’s created with the piano here is very beautiful if not slightly dramatic. The lyrics are pretty typical for Tori, A girl whose life is-you guessed it-turned upside down when she has to get out on her own in the world. A very nice closing for this short, but sweet disc.

Last Thoughts? Winter was a very nice little surprise, and stands as one of the best singles I have ever purchased. I thought it was great that there were non-album tracks that were just as finely crafted as much of Tori’s work. Not to mention that there are four of them. Overall this disc comes across as very strong for an EP format, and stands out among her earlier work. Definitely a must have for all diehard Tori fans, even the most casual of Tori listeners will find something that their ears will like here. If you aren't into collecting singles but are interested in Amo's other works beyond her albums then I would reccommend A Piano: The Collection, a boxed set that contains other rare gems including the tracks listed in my review.