dominicano1197's Full Review: Under the Pink by Tori Amos
I don't know if you are informed of this, but Tori has one more occupation than being an extremely talented pianist/musician...she's also...a CULT LEADER!!! Yes, and as a member of this cult, I know a very important thing-just like any cult; we have a name for ourselves. Well, actually, we have many different aliases to identify ourselves as...Toriphiles, Ears With Feet, basically anything THE GREAT ALMIGHTY crowns us as. Seriously though, ANYTHING; she could call us "pathetic little bastards" and we'd eat that s*it up! Anyway, each cult member has the privilege of choosing one album that they love the most out of the entire Tori collection...and this member's favorite is the one I'm reviewing right now. Many casual and dedicated Tori fans consider this to be a bland moment in her career and only a "rebound" between her two "greatest works", and I tell those people to stick an Icicle up any crevice they choose! In my opinion, this is her perfect moment-a gorgeous hybrid of the confessional singer-songwriterness of Little Earthquakes and the eccentricities and disturbing quirkiness of Boys For Pele, creating an album that is both intense and calm, reclusive and upfront, and above all things, a certain type of eeriness that never lets go. One warning, though: if you have the attention span of a rodent, don't waste your time. This one takes time to appreciate, and many may dismiss it as "boring" or "weak", but that's the strength of this masterpiece. It's as delicate as a flower, but it has the power of ten Jewish mothers if you look closer.
The album's opener is called Pretty Good Year, a story of wasted lives and the huge obstacles of one's own life. If you are just beginning to listen to Tori and are looking for a song of hers to love, this should definitely one of the choices you nominate. It's quintessential Tori (her and her piano) for most of the song, until the heart-stopping and 15-second climax comes and Tori wails with a blaring orchestra in the back. Not one of her Top 10 general moments, perhaps, but definitely one of her most beautiful. Next up is God...I think you can tell what this one is about-the OTHER Great Almighty himself! This isn't one of the shining moments of the album, mostly because of the strength it is missing but is nonetheless one of Amos' best lyrical moments, with darkly comedic lines that she is so known for, such as: God, sometimes, you just don't come through/Do you need a woman to look after you? The rhythm itself is fancily distorted in a terrific way, each piano loop and screeching guitar perfectly in place.
Bells For Her is next and has got to be one of Tori's greatest moments-EVER. Although it only contains 5 minutes of bells and Tori's angelic voice, it has the deepest effect out of any song on here and will practically play tug-of-war with your heartstrings. The lyrics are also top-notch, with the story of two lifelong friends inevitably splitting apart for good. Every word that comes out of Amos' mouth is beaming with sincerity and heartbreak...and as each second goes by, you'll love this song even more. It’s an absolute classic from start to finish. From the sheer intensity of the previous track we go to the more lighthearted and reggae-tinged Past The Mission. The highlight of this track is its upbeat rhythm and catchiness, and it's probably the most commercial thing on this album, despite the absolutely incoherent lyrics that Tori sings.
Baker Baker is another "Just Tori and her piano" song, and it's another slam dunk. The subject of the song (loneliness after a break-up) may be a bit cliché, but Tori still lures you in with the sincere sadness in her voice and the gorgeous orchestra that comes in the back after a short time in the song. The Wrong Band is usually hailed as the worst song of the album by some, but there's something unique about it and it definitely fits in with the entire effort. The rhythm has a bit of a cabaret feel to it, which I've personally always loved in a song.
Waitress is probably the hardest rocking song in here. This here is what I meant by “sheer intensity”. It starts off in that wonderfully eerie fashion I so adore about this album, yet all of a sudden busts into chaotic mode for a few seconds (two times more in the song), with Tori singing/screaming "BUT I BELIEVE IN PEACE/I BELIEVE IN PEACE, BI*CH". Each second is wickedly delightful and the song is definitely one of the biggest highlights. Next to my personal favorite, Bells For Her, Cornflake Girl is the shining moment on this entire outing. The rhythm is catchy and irresistible (mandolins and all), and there are so many Tori catchphrases on here that so many will remember once they hear the song. An explanation of how great this track is would take up two pages, so I won’t even waste my time. This is one song you can’t help but love.
Tori continues her perfect streak with the most haunting and one the most amazing songs on the album, Icicle. There are many theories on what the song is about, but there is no doubt the song has something to do with the scary side of one’s sexuality. The biggest pro of this entire is the impeccable piano playing Tori portrays here. The instrumental version, if there is one, could easily be the score to an Oscar-winning film (I SWEAR that’s a compliment!), making this song another shining moment on a shining album. Cloud On My Tongue continues the haunting piano playing of the previous song, except this time it’s not exactly as comprehendible or intriguing as Icicle, which leaves one scratching his/her head after hearing it.
Space Dog still remains a fan favorite at live shows, and there’s no questioning why. It sounds like a mix between a night at Studio 54 and a Broadway show, making another Tori classic. And with biting lines like Is she still p*ssing in the river now/Heard she’s gone/Moved into a trailer park”, how can you go wrong? The album closer, Yes Anastasia, runs at a whopping 9 minutes long. The amazing thing about Tori is that she can keep a listener stuck to her for that long because the song is THAT GOOD… if you have at least a BIT of patience (remember, attention spans!).
All in all, this is a collection that you will not regret buying. Who knows, it can make you-PART OF THE CLAN…
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