Comments on: Tori Amos “A Piano: The Collection” (Atlantic/Wea 2006)

By: Nicole

Nicole — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 17:43:10 +0000

In case anyone is interested, here’s a link to a recent Tori interview about “A Piano.” She’s surprisingly direct in this one.

http://music.msn.com/music/remasters

By: Nicole

Nicole — Tue, 16 Jan 2007 03:56:38 +0000

Jonathan, my friend, if this collection was in stores, I’d absolutely buy it. I think a lot of other people would, too.

Also, Diagnosed Sounds is an excellent resource.

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Tue, 16 Jan 2007 02:38:57 +0000

I made my own box set - and it rocks way more than the frustrating “A Piano” (Should have been called “A Rip Off”). I
downloaded the songs I didn’t have from itunes, downloaded free high quality b sides etc… from the “Diagnosed Sounds” section
of Here in my Head.com and yessaid.com (Look especially for the PBS Soundstage live recordings).Then I got other stuff
on Amazon(Great Expectations, Higher Learning Sndtrks etc…) for a couple of bucks. So here’s my set list:

Disk 1 -

Flying Dutchman
Bachlorette
Daisy Dead Petals
Sister Janet
Peeping Tommi
Black Swan
Ode To the Banana King
Samurai
Frog on My Toe
Humpty Dumpty
All the Girls Hate Her
Over it
London Girls
Walk To Dublin
Song For Eric
Ode To My Clothes
Hungarian Wedding Song
This Old Man
That’s What I Like Mick
Toodles Mr. Jim
Graveyard
Home On The Range
Beulah Land

Disk 2:

Mary
Angels
Sweet Dreams
The Dolphin Song
Never Seen Blue
Snow Cherries From France
Operation Peter Pan
Ruby Through The Looking Glass
Seaside
Bug A Martini
Apollo’s Frock
TomBigBee
Indian Summer
Garlands

Disk 3

Take Me With You
Here In My Head
Siren
Carnival
Butterfly
Honey
Merman
The Pool
Sugar
Mountain
Take To the Sky
Mary (Original Version)
Upside Down
Cooling
Purple People (Studio Version)
Zero Point

Disk 4

If 6 Was 9
Do It Again
Angie
A Case of You
Murder He Says
You Belong To Me
Famous Blue Raincoat
Strange Fruit
After All
Only Women Bleed
Losing My Religion
Smells Like Teen Spirit
Thank You
Landslide
Over The Rainbow

Disk 5

Crucify (Remix)
Pancake (Added Verse)
Talula (Orginal Version)
Sleeps With Butterflies (Live Itunes Version)
The Power of Orange Knickers (Live Itunes Version)
Seaside (Live Itunes Version)
Crazy (Live Itunes Version)
Fire Eater’s Wife/Beauty Queen Demo
Hey Jupiter (The Dakota Version)
Rasberry Swirl (Scarlet Spectrum Feels Version)
Father Lucifer (Jackie’s Strength Version)
In The Springtime Of His Voo Doo (Remix)
Don’t Make Me Come To Vegas (Timo Mass Remix)
Blue Skies (W/ BT)

Disk 6

PBS Soundstage:

Bliss
Horses
Wednesday
TomBigBee
Black Dove
Funny Day
Taxi Ride
Desperado

Live in Germany

Spark
Blood Roses
Liquid Diamonds
Carbon

Etc… Etc… Etc…Anyway you get the idea - I think my box set is way superior.

By: Nicole

Nicole — Wed, 03 Jan 2007 14:29:03 +0000

Hey Ash. Personally, I didn’t think this review was that scathing. I just revealed my personal opinion, which is that I prefer Mrs. Amos’s earlier work to her later output and that I don’t think that this boxset is befitting of her entire career. I simply think that it could have been better. As previously stated, she’s a woman whose music has meant a lot to me over the years, and it’s a shame to me that this boxset couldn’t mean more than it does. But hey, to each his own, and you’re not forced to agree with me, you know? Nevertheless, thanks for the New Year’s blessing. Here’s one to you as well!

By: Ashley

Ashley — Sun, 31 Dec 2006 14:45:06 +0000

You ask, in your post, who the box set is aimed at? I would say her fans. You also seem to be implying that not aiming for mainstream success is a bad thing!? Has Tori ever been motivated by that? I think, judging by interviews she has given and her musical output, the answer would appear to be no! Well, everyone’s entitled to there own opinion, but I simply cannot agree with your overview and assesment of Tori Amos’ career,. nor can I agree with your critical appraisal of her more recent albums-in my opinion, Scarlet’s Walk and The Beekeeper have contained some of her most beautifully haunting and accomplished songs, during her career. I would should suggest that it’s you who are misguided in your somewhat vitriolic attack on Tori Amos’ music.
The one opinion we do slightly share, is a shade of dissapointment in the A Piano B/S, I too would have prefeered more rarities, maybe some of the soundtrack work she had done over the years and some of the Y Kant Tori Read material. But overall the set is a fitting tribute to a unique artist.
Finally and for the record, I don’t dress as a fairy or knit, I just appreciate good music.
Happy New Year, Ash.

By: Nicole

Nicole — Mon, 13 Nov 2006 16:47:09 +0000

Val, nice going finding it so cheaply!

Lloyd, I understand where you’re coming from, but I still like the Hey Jupiter version of “Sugar” better. That EP is general is pretty fantastic, and songs from that EP definitely deserve to be included in the set. Given that, I still think that more rarities/unreleased material could have been included instead of material that was put out a short time ago. I’m not sure how one song defeats my argument.

By: Marc

Marc — Sun, 12 Nov 2006 19:16:22 +0000

Some Tori fans are as bad as Mormon apologists, apparently.

By: Lloyd

Lloyd — Sun, 12 Nov 2006 15:07:18 +0000

I agree with the majority of your review but I’m puzzled RE: your comments about “Sugar”, which seem to retroactively cancel out all of your other comments. You say you wish the set had more rarities or unreleased material - the version of “Sugar” included is the original B-side version from the 1992 “China” single, which is arguably one of the harder singles to obtain. Yet you apparently would prefer one of the other, more easy to obtain versions to have been included instead.

You can’t have your cake and also your pie, bud.

By: Val

Val — Sun, 12 Nov 2006 03:54:09 +0000

Hi Nicole, thx for your article. I liked the box set packaging and material…It was really
really cool to see LE in one of the original line ups…TTT Sky is my fav song ever and the other
two B-sides are glorious. I liked the remixes and demos…I thought hearing Playboy Mommy in
such a raw way made my view of it much different and I can appreciate the song structure more.
I liked the new material. I do not feel she should have included any more or any less songs then
were on there…the songs picked were picked for a reason and sonically the layout makes sense to
me. Of course there are tons of b-sides I would like to have all in a convienent little package
but she picked certain ones for a reason and I am fine with that. No biggie.

However, I do agree with the notion of too many “compliations” lately… TOA Librarian, Fade to Red,
etc. The b-sides were already available on Venus and most superfans have the UTP double disc.
It seems she could have been more patient and have waited to save up this stuff for the box set,
which would make it more fair and valuable to purchase. However, I see people saying they paid $70, etc.
when it first came out I went straight to the store and they had 25% off so I got the DVD box set
for just over $50. Just sayin.

Okay I am signing off from a serious lack of sleep but again appreciate your Tori reviews and awesome site!

By: Nicole

Nicole — Tue, 07 Nov 2006 20:48:20 +0000

Nicely said, Mary Katherine. Thanks for your comment!

By: Mary Katherine

Mary Katherine — Tue, 07 Nov 2006 20:11:46 +0000

I just want to add, that while I’m criticizing Tori here - she’s not alone! She’s got what I call “Paul Simon syndrome” - that man has released a ton of compilations and live recordings. the issue is that his fan base is large enough that people can pick and choose what to buy.

Simon’s true collectors are few compared to those who’ve followed his career (and the Simon and Garfunkel stuff) with interest and bought the most popular CDs.

Whereas with Tori, as noted above, she has a very small fan base; we collect everything, and when we start to feel cheesed about buying the same stuff over and over - there is a problem.

She’s gotten me through a lot and I respect her greatly, and I hope she’s right about moving in a new direction.

By: Mary Katherine

Mary Katherine — Tue, 07 Nov 2006 18:38:38 +0000

Hello,

I appreciate this review. I agree, I agree, I agree! To Christy and everyone else who has advanced similar arguments: what’s going on in Tori’s head is not what I pay $$$ for. I pay for results. And IMO, with the exception of Scarlet’s Walk and a few other songs, she has not delivered good results since TVAB. Taste in music is subjective and YMMV.

What is not subjective is that Tori is releasing and re-releasing and re-re-releasing the same material: in TOAL, in WTSF, in her videos (videotape and DVD), in her official bootlges and now in AP.

I was quite angry when I saw the track list of AP, then I calmed down. Can I criticize To’s output? Yes, I have the right. I have every legally-purchasable CD of hers, the DVDs, bought the original bootlegs, everything. I’ve bought multiple copies of many of her CDs to give some away to try to interest family, etc. with no luck.

But in my opinion, she has lowered the quality of her voice through overuse and she’s lowred the quality of her output through releasing too much material in too short a time.

I have actually continued to buy her stuff despite 3 CDs and a few other products I really disliked…..then this - I’m waiting to hear her next, but losing patience.

I respect those who will buy everything she does, however.

note: there may be spelling problems in what I submit because I have a format error where I can’t see some of the words I’m typing.

By: Mark

Mark — Mon, 06 Nov 2006 20:59:29 +0000

Great review Nicole! As a straight male who’s been fan of Tori Amos since Little Earthquake,
I must agree with you on your review of “A Piano”. I have all her studio releases, and a couple
of live concert cd’s, granted, it’s not as an elaborate collection as yours or any die-hard Tori
Amos fan for that matter, I’m still quite surprised at myself that after all these years, I’ve
remain a Tori fan; the only other artist I can think of that I’m as devoted to has gotta be Aimee
Mann and Fiona Apple. Okay, so, this box set, you’ve hit the nail on the head, it’s an obvious attempt by Epic to
get more money out of us (why Tori? Why didn’t you stop them!?!?!?!). If anyone already have all
her albums, there is no need to get this box set; granted, she probably lost a few fans after
Boys for Pele (which I love!! I thought although it was quite experienmental, it was still an
amazing album, and I can’t count how many times I’ve listen to that album over and over and over),
and also that her writing has changed, if not, suffered after Under The Pink. I, too, have purchased
Scarlet’s Walk and The Beekeeper, albeit they are still pretty cool, it’s no comparison to her
earlier work.
If you’ve purchased Tales Of A Liberian, there is simply no need to waste $70.00 for this box set;
save your $, Tori is already working on the follow-up to The Beekeeper in Europe….let’s keep
our fingers crossed that she will revert back to her old ways, intimate lyrics, experienmental
arrangements, and emotion-filled performances.

By: Simon

Simon — Mon, 06 Nov 2006 05:24:42 +0000

Hey Christie,

I’m glad you are happy to publish your opinion and stand in the line of fire that will come. I have to say that I think what she was trying to say in the liner notes was that the ‘alternate mixes’ weren’t necessarily included to give a different perspective or to add things to the songs that weren’t already there (I think ‘God’ excluded here) but were songs that she wanted included in the set and for which the masters had held up better than the well-used ones that ended up making the original discs. I’m sure finding the differences is a great little game for fans but I think that the ‘alternate mixes’ are about sound quality control during the re-mastering rather than selling new material.

Thanks again for your article.

By: Nicole

Nicole — Mon, 06 Nov 2006 03:26:12 +0000

Hey Christy, while I appreciate your opinion, I do have to say this: it’s okay not to love every single thing a person release. I do have to say though, that it’s not so much the music that I have the problem with, it’s the design and assembly of the box set. Two completely different things, if you read this correctly.

Kristie, thanks for your comment as well. I liked a lot of the SLG songs as well, but I figured they didn’t make it in because they were covers. Also, from what I’ve gathered, she is working on a new album now, and it’s supposed to sound more like Boys for Pele-era songs - more “warrior woman.”

By: Chris

Chris — Sun, 05 Nov 2006 22:48:59 +0000

Jesus Christ, Christy. You sound like some ultra-religious people I know. Except they’re talking about God when they denounce anything critical of their firmly-held beliefs. You’re talking about someone that wrote “Toast.”

By: Kristie

Kristie — Sun, 05 Nov 2006 22:41:07 +0000

While the box set did not make me angry because it is a time line of her career, I agree that more unreleased songs and rarities would have been better. She could have had a sixth CD with only rarities; there is room in the box set for a sixth CD. I could not tell the difference in most of her alternative mixes either. Like you, I really liked Disc A. The rest did not make much sense put together but they do highlight her career well. I wish Talula had been on Disc B or C. That is an awesome song! Songs from the SLG era would have been nice-Strange Little Girl, Enjoy the Silence, and ‘97 Bonnie n Clyde would have been good ones in my opinion. If you are not a serious fan of Tori, you may not be aware the SLG CD exists. I think you have some good points and I hope Tori sees that her die-hard fans (are there any other kind of Tori fans ou t there?) want some new material.

By: Marc

Marc — Sun, 05 Nov 2006 21:06:10 +0000

Wow, Christy. Good thing it doesn’t take differing opinions to make the world go ’round, huh?

By: Christy

Christy — Sun, 05 Nov 2006 16:34:01 +0000

I have read your review and you suck. The woman you say you adore and love should also have your respect. You don’t know what she was thinking when she was doing this box set. Yes some things are the same as other discs but maybe she wanted to include them anyway. She has a plan for everything she does. Did you not read her book?? That right there should explain the why’s and what’s of her doing. And apparently you don’t have much of an ear to notice the differences in the alternate mixes and remixes. People like you that do nothing but critique instead of appreciate are nothing short of pathetic with no life of your own so you need to make others feel miserable with you. Give up your day job.