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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk
For Tori Amos, sex can be a weapon, a spiritual offering, or an act of protest. It's certainly been the singer/pianist's big subject since her 1989 debut Little Earthquakes. But while her earliest compositions tried to punch every emotional hot button at once and came off sounding turgid and overblown, her new album packs a greater punch by toning down mock-symphonic excess in favour of stark, haunting tracks that contain veiled mysteries. Love cuts both ways on Choirgirl. Songs such as "She's Your Cocaine" and "Cruel" view relationships as vicious power plays, while the protagonists in "Playboy Mommy" and "Northern Lad" desperately seek salvation via emotional connection. Hypnotic, affecting, and frequently gorgeous, From the Choirgirl Hotel is Amos's most accomplished album to date. --Marc Weingarten
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CD
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
By Phill
Format:Audio CD
Tori Amos is one my favourite singers of all time her thought provoking messages with beautiful lyrics and a sense of comfort she brings to her music which is what fans globally have fallen in love with over the years. ""From The Choirgirl Hotel" is her fourth album and her most beloved among fans, a very dark, painful album in which during the recording process Amos suffered several miscarriage 'Choirgirl' being the end result.
1.Spark - One of her best songs shes ever written, this one definately touches on the subject of her miscarriage and feeling really angry with herself and god, the beat is heavily driven by an electic guitar and fits the song perfectly theres also a line "6:58 are you sure where my spark its" the meaning of this is that this is the moment she knew she wasnt carrying life anymore and the 'spark' was gone if you really think about it this a truly painful song for Tori to sing this is probably why she doesn't play it live much anymore 10/10
2.Cruel - This song has a really sexy beat with it's harsh guitar loop and pounding drums and it's echo-like vocals this song she sings about people who are feeling sad and you got other people basically saying 'get over it' and if they've never experience they don't how you feel that's why you retaliate back in a 'cruel' manner i think this song is for anyone who has felt that people didn't really understand them they way they waned to be understood.This is a very understated song from Tori and definately a favourite of mine without question. 10/10
3.Black-Dove (January) - I never really understood this song it's a very dark song for Tori very much acoustically driven with a great bassline.... Read more ›
1.Spark - One of her best songs shes ever written, this one definately touches on the subject of her miscarriage and feeling really angry with herself and god, the beat is heavily driven by an electic guitar and fits the song perfectly theres also a line "6:58 are you sure where my spark its" the meaning of this is that this is the moment she knew she wasnt carrying life anymore and the 'spark' was gone if you really think about it this a truly painful song for Tori to sing this is probably why she doesn't play it live much anymore 10/10
2.Cruel - This song has a really sexy beat with it's harsh guitar loop and pounding drums and it's echo-like vocals this song she sings about people who are feeling sad and you got other people basically saying 'get over it' and if they've never experience they don't how you feel that's why you retaliate back in a 'cruel' manner i think this song is for anyone who has felt that people didn't really understand them they way they waned to be understood.This is a very understated song from Tori and definately a favourite of mine without question. 10/10
3.Black-Dove (January) - I never really understood this song it's a very dark song for Tori very much acoustically driven with a great bassline.... Read more ›
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By "stez_5"
Format:Audio CD
This was the second Tori Amos album I bought (the first was "Little Eathquakes") and is still my favourite now that I have "Boys for Pele", "Under the Pink" and To "Venus and Back".
I usually tend to listen to rock music so I think Tori Amos will appeal to anyone who ventures out of the pop bubble. Anyway "From the Choirgirl Hotel" is breath taking and sees Tori using a full band (drums, guitar and bass)to amazing affect.
I usually tend to listen to rock music so I think Tori Amos will appeal to anyone who ventures out of the pop bubble. Anyway "From the Choirgirl Hotel" is breath taking and sees Tori using a full band (drums, guitar and bass)to amazing affect.
Songs such as "Spark" show off beautiful melodies while others like "Iiiee" and "Hotel" seem experimental but still flow seamlessly with the rest of the album. "Northern Lad" is profoundly emotional and Tori's voice sounds beautiful. In fact this whole album gives a new meaning to that over-used word. Apart from the previously mentioned tracks, "Playboy Mommy" and "Shes Your Coccaine" also immediately strike you.
That said, in time you'll love every track.Enjoy...
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By Mattyjam
Format:Audio CD
I first bought this album back when I was 13 when it was released in 1998, and here we are, twelve years later, I'm now 25 and I still think it holds up as her greatest album.
You have to be in a certain place to really connect with the songs on this album, it's certainly not easy listening. But if you're looking for something heartfelt and honest and you have the patience to get to know these songs, then you will be rewarded time and time again. This is one of those albums which transports you to whole other worlds. Songs like "Black Dove" or "iieee" are so hauntingly elegant and beautiful and conjure up such so much imagery to the listener.
When you know what she's singing about on a lot of these songs, it gives the listener a whole new appreciation for this album. Inspired by a personal tragedy in her own life (the loss of her baby), From The Choirgirl Hotel seems to deal with many of Tori's demons, with emotions that range from anger ("if the divine masters plan is perfection, maybe next I'll give Judas a try"), to dismay and ultimately grief (in the touching penultimate track "Playboy Mommy").
If you want to get into Tori, this album is her at the top of her game. Gut-wrenching, heartbreaking, beautiful and moving.
You have to be in a certain place to really connect with the songs on this album, it's certainly not easy listening. But if you're looking for something heartfelt and honest and you have the patience to get to know these songs, then you will be rewarded time and time again. This is one of those albums which transports you to whole other worlds. Songs like "Black Dove" or "iieee" are so hauntingly elegant and beautiful and conjure up such so much imagery to the listener.
When you know what she's singing about on a lot of these songs, it gives the listener a whole new appreciation for this album. Inspired by a personal tragedy in her own life (the loss of her baby), From The Choirgirl Hotel seems to deal with many of Tori's demons, with emotions that range from anger ("if the divine masters plan is perfection, maybe next I'll give Judas a try"), to dismay and ultimately grief (in the touching penultimate track "Playboy Mommy").
If you want to get into Tori, this album is her at the top of her game. Gut-wrenching, heartbreaking, beautiful and moving.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Audio CD
From Spark to Pandora's Aquarium this album is full of sparkling originality and communication. I strongly recommend it - sit down with the sleeve in hand and an open mind, and listen to it from start to finish. The range in style here is amazing - where some artists would have stuck strictly to one style Tori seems to meander in and out of a variety, making this an emotional and musical rollercoater of an album. From her piano ballads, like Northern Lad & Jackie's Strength, to the more hypnotic experimental pieces like i i e e e, Hotel and Cruel, Tori remains in her element throughout them all, and holds it together beautifully. Every listen to this reveals something new - a real grower. The most outstanding tracks here are, in my opinion, Spark, Playboy Mommy, Cruel and i i e e e. Pandora's Aquarium is a slightly dissappointing concluding track - although the vocal acrobatics are quite incredible.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By "foxkestrel"
Format:Audio CD
This is perhaps the best album by Tori Amos, there's something oddly beautiful about every song on it. Haunting lyrics and gorgeous melodies as always, but there are darker tracks which make the whole thing complete. There are not many songs more beautiful than 'Northern Lad' and 'Jackie's Strength', even the experimental 'Raspberry Swirl' doesn't let the album down. Altogether this makes for a masterpiece....I'm not sure Tori has topped it even yet. If you only buy one Tori Amos album, this must be it.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
An incredible body of work from a dark place
I first discovered Tori Amos after 'Professional Widow' was released. I quickly amassed her back catalogue and this was the first release after. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Smootipie
4.0 out of 5 stars
Best Tori Album
My fave Tori album.
There is an important line in Northern Lad "I guess you go to far when piano's try to be guitars". Read more
There is an important line in Northern Lad "I guess you go to far when piano's try to be guitars". Read more
Published 9 months ago by Mr. D. Thompson
5.0 out of 5 stars
A clear winner
If I had to choose a favourite Amos album this is it, hand down, with out a doubt, Superb!
every song as strong as the last, the strongest stylised performance and some of the... Read more
every song as strong as the last, the strongest stylised performance and some of the... Read more
Published 22 months ago by danny-boy
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the greatest albums ever and Tori's best
I don't want to exaggerate but this album is a miracle of balance and bravery: Tori revolutioned her own style without betraying herself; she became a rock goddess without... Read more
Published on 13 Feb 2010 by Riccardo Finozzi
5.0 out of 5 stars
another gap in my musical education....
...has just been filled.
To think that, until now, I'd never heard this woman sing.
Um.
Well, I'm speechless. Read more
To think that, until now, I'd never heard this woman sing.
Um.
Well, I'm speechless. Read more
Published on 29 Nov 2009 by SCUBBS
5.0 out of 5 stars
along with venus my fave tori album!
1. Spark 10/10
2. Cruel 10/10
3. Black-Dove (January) 10/10
4. Raspberry Swirl 10/10
5. Jackie's Strength 9/10
6. Iieee 7/10
7. Read more
2. Cruel 10/10
3. Black-Dove (January) 10/10
4. Raspberry Swirl 10/10
5. Jackie's Strength 9/10
6. Iieee 7/10
7. Read more
Published on 6 Oct 2009 by J.F
5.0 out of 5 stars
Tori's best album since 'Little Earthquakes'!
In her first three albums, Tori Amos perfected a dramatic- if inherently limited- sound based around her soaring vocals and piano. Read more
Published on 28 Aug 2007 by Nik
5.0 out of 5 stars
Dark, emotional music with depth . . . absolutely divine
While BOYS FOR PELE is a strange, difficult album to get into, FROM THE CHOIRGIRL HOTEL is perhaps one of her saddest releases. Read more
Published on 15 July 2007 by Brida
5.0 out of 5 stars
Arguably Tori's best album
Most of Tori's hardcore fans will agree this album represents her best work. How anyone could not enjoy this startling piece of music is beyond me. Read more
Published on 7 July 2007 by Emily
2.0 out of 5 stars
alright....
having listened to two albums previously, 'Tales' and 'Venus and back' i was to say slightly dissappointed with the tracks on this album. Read more
Published on 27 April 2007 by Ms. Bg Palumbo
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