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Product Description
Review
Her place in pop history is fairly secure: slightly 'kooky', loved and used as intro music by Nirvana; comfortable in both confessional singer-songwriter mode or being sampled and taken down the rave up; her best of collection was one of those 'crikey, I know and enjoy more Tori tuneage than I thought' delights.
After something like 20 years in the business, long term fans know pretty much what to expect from Tori Amos, and for this her tenth album, she doesn't disappoint. More straightforward than the 23-track concept fest of her last album American Doll Posse, but still as beguiling, even a passing Amos observer would find much to enjoy. Abnormally Attracted To Sin is also accompanied with a DVD of 'visualettes', although that sentence will either bring joy or despair depending on where you stand on the Amos.
To be honest, Abnormally Attracted To Sin is a bit of a meal to get through, with random styles zigzagging about, a little editing may have helped it to be more memorable rather than just slightly exhausting, although, to be fair, it does represent good value for your buck even if you may have a couple of points in the 75-odd minutes where you've forgotten it's playing.
Opener Give slinks in Twin Peaks-ily, with the now traditional themes of religious imagery and, well, men creeping in on Strong Black Vine; Welcome To England is Amos-by-numbers; Flavor and Maybe California are archetypal Amos, while the seven-minute soft jazz stylings of Lady In Blue pass by reasonably painlessly.
Perhaps there's just a bit too much on this album, such dilemmas shouldn't really be much of a problem, but surely the point of making an album such as this, is for it to be heard as it is, and not to be hacked down into more tolerable digestable moments. A shame. --Ian Wade
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Tori Amos has been a force in the music industry now for over 17 years, and on her tenth studio album "Abnormally Attracted to Sin" offers a mix of tracks which can be inconsistent in quality at the best of times.
Amos' trademark piano sound, as has been the case mostly since the outstanding "From The Choirgirl Hotel", is largely pushed into the background, taking centre-stage on just a few tracks (such as "Ophelia" and "Maybe California"); however, Amos has incorporated a variety of styles in "Abnormally..." that make this album far more interesting than her previous two efforts.
In terms of tracks, there are some clear stand-outs - "Give" opens the album perhaps perfectly, oozing appeal that makes the album feel "sinful". "Strong Black Vine" builds on Amos' work from the inconsistent "American Doll Posse", seemingly tackling religious intolerance head-on. "Maybe California" is a heart-wrenching ballad, surrounded by a lush string arrangement which conveys the true sorrow of the lyrics - and will probably sound even better at live shows as a solo piano performance. "Lady in Blue" sees Amos incorporate an almost jazz-like sound, while up-tempo songs like "Fire To Your Plain" and "That Guy" are particularly arresting.
However, as with most of Amos' releases of the 2000s (not including thr fantastic "Scarlet's Walk"), there are several songs which could have been omitted. "Police Me" is perhaps the worst song Amos has ever released, while "Not Dying Today" and "Fast Horse" just don't seem necessary. While not bad, "Mary Jane" just doesn't do anything for me, at all.
The core problem is that Amos is either too generous or self-indulgent in her creation; "Abnormally..." runs for 76 minutes, however with some rather honest editing control, Tori could've had a minor classic here with 13 tracks. While that is a shame, is cannot be doubted that Tori has produced another mainly good listen.
Amos' trademark piano sound, as has been the case mostly since the outstanding "From The Choirgirl Hotel", is largely pushed into the background, taking centre-stage on just a few tracks (such as "Ophelia" and "Maybe California"); however, Amos has incorporated a variety of styles in "Abnormally..." that make this album far more interesting than her previous two efforts.
In terms of tracks, there are some clear stand-outs - "Give" opens the album perhaps perfectly, oozing appeal that makes the album feel "sinful". "Strong Black Vine" builds on Amos' work from the inconsistent "American Doll Posse", seemingly tackling religious intolerance head-on. "Maybe California" is a heart-wrenching ballad, surrounded by a lush string arrangement which conveys the true sorrow of the lyrics - and will probably sound even better at live shows as a solo piano performance. "Lady in Blue" sees Amos incorporate an almost jazz-like sound, while up-tempo songs like "Fire To Your Plain" and "That Guy" are particularly arresting.
However, as with most of Amos' releases of the 2000s (not including thr fantastic "Scarlet's Walk"), there are several songs which could have been omitted. "Police Me" is perhaps the worst song Amos has ever released, while "Not Dying Today" and "Fast Horse" just don't seem necessary. While not bad, "Mary Jane" just doesn't do anything for me, at all.
The core problem is that Amos is either too generous or self-indulgent in her creation; "Abnormally..." runs for 76 minutes, however with some rather honest editing control, Tori could've had a minor classic here with 13 tracks. While that is a shame, is cannot be doubted that Tori has produced another mainly good listen.
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Whenever a new Tori album comes out inevitable comparisons to Little Earthquakes and Under The Pink are made, as if Tori somehow hasn't the right to grow older, change her style and develop as an artist. Truth is, she's been moving away from piano led songs for a while now and those who have followed her through the years won't be as surprised by the guitars, drums and synthesisers as those who may have recently rediscovered her.
Recent albums have seen Tori write music from the perspective of various fictional personas - one in Scarlet's Walk, five in American Doll Posse. This album marks a return to the more personal type of songs of The Beekeeper, which at times are intimate to herself and at other times allow her to re-emit the absorbed stories of personal circumstance told to her by others. Tori has long ago exorcised the demons in her personal life that gave life to such heart wrenching songs such as Me and a Gun, Playboy Mommy and The Beekeeper, and now stripped of the personas she created to channel experiences she'd not normally write about, many of the songs on Abnormally Attracted To Sin are incredibly relaxed and comfortable within their own skin. Motherhood may not have mellowed Tori, as shown by her heartfelt tirade about religious hypocrisy on Strong Black Vine, but it's clear that the inner turmoil that fuelled a lot of her earlier albums has gone. That doesn't diminish this album though, and makes it her most relaxing album to date.
Most people don't get Tori lyrics because she writes in prose and allegory, her songs constructed to convey feelings to the listener and inspire emotions that let the stories tell themselves. On this album, intricate and beautiful melodies are the flowerbed to lyrics that convey a far greater subtlety of metaphor than before, and it works on an almost subconscious level so that what you initially think is just an interesting song will start triggering images and emotions on the second listen in a way that no conventional pop album could. As long as listeners aren't expecting up-tempo piano ballads, they'll find that listening to this album all the way through is both a relaxing and an uplifting experience. It's a different side yet again to Tori's genius and it's a genuine wonder how she manages to keep doing that.
Recent albums have seen Tori write music from the perspective of various fictional personas - one in Scarlet's Walk, five in American Doll Posse. This album marks a return to the more personal type of songs of The Beekeeper, which at times are intimate to herself and at other times allow her to re-emit the absorbed stories of personal circumstance told to her by others. Tori has long ago exorcised the demons in her personal life that gave life to such heart wrenching songs such as Me and a Gun, Playboy Mommy and The Beekeeper, and now stripped of the personas she created to channel experiences she'd not normally write about, many of the songs on Abnormally Attracted To Sin are incredibly relaxed and comfortable within their own skin. Motherhood may not have mellowed Tori, as shown by her heartfelt tirade about religious hypocrisy on Strong Black Vine, but it's clear that the inner turmoil that fuelled a lot of her earlier albums has gone. That doesn't diminish this album though, and makes it her most relaxing album to date.
Most people don't get Tori lyrics because she writes in prose and allegory, her songs constructed to convey feelings to the listener and inspire emotions that let the stories tell themselves. On this album, intricate and beautiful melodies are the flowerbed to lyrics that convey a far greater subtlety of metaphor than before, and it works on an almost subconscious level so that what you initially think is just an interesting song will start triggering images and emotions on the second listen in a way that no conventional pop album could. As long as listeners aren't expecting up-tempo piano ballads, they'll find that listening to this album all the way through is both a relaxing and an uplifting experience. It's a different side yet again to Tori's genius and it's a genuine wonder how she manages to keep doing that.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Although other reviewers have harped back to earlier albums, my personal option is that this is Tori best album. All the tracks are strong and apart from a small 30 second blip when she vocally goes though a list of chemicals, it's a winner. It is relatively mellow compared to some of her other ablums, but I see that as a positive rather then anything else. The Kate Bush label came and went, but I think it might of come back in that the album reminds me of the lionheart/never for ever lps in the way the songs develop and the way Tori handles the vocals.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
A welcome addition to a killer back catalgue
Having grown up during the 90's , it's weird to experience a music reality where Tori Amos is not under the spotlight anymore . Read more
Published 9 months ago by giovanni
Tori's best album since "Strange Little Girls"
"Abnormally Attracted To Sin" is Tori Amos' tenth studio album, marking a spectacular 17 years in the music industry. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Amillionmiles
Nueva, Diferente, Viva
Un disco con nuevas canciones, diferentes en su interpretación y arregladas con cientos de ideas y detalles de calidad. Read more
Published on 5 Sep 2009 by maSinobas
Too long and obtuse to be enjoyable
I am not a Tori Amos fan. She annoys me too much with slow start stop piano music, overly wordy lyrics and a good voice tortured with strange pronunciations. Read more
Published on 28 July 2009 by BS on parade
More Than A Marvel
Ms Amos is a true force of nature.
Wild, weirdly wonderful, uncompromising.
For the best part of twenty years she has filled
the lives of those who chose to listen... Read more
Wild, weirdly wonderful, uncompromising.
For the best part of twenty years she has filled
the lives of those who chose to listen... Read more
Published on 14 July 2009 by The Wolf
Abnormally Attracted To Mediocrity
Such is the extent of my love of Tori Amos' music over the years that I actually find it hard to compose a negative review of her work. Read more
Published on 20 May 2009 by MPWB
Good.... but no LE
I think this is OK. But it's no Little Earthquakes. All the songs have an almost identical tempo/feel.
If this was by a new artist I'd give it 4 stars....but it's not... Read more
If this was by a new artist I'd give it 4 stars....but it's not... Read more
Published on 20 May 2009 by Mark Orchard
No Little Earthquakes!
I would like to begin this review by saying that I once considered myself one of the biggest Tori Amos fans on the planet. Read more
Published on 18 May 2009 by Blue Tree
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