New Vibrations: Tori Amos
Midwinter Grace
In an unfortunately small amount of days, October will end and the monotonous drones of "Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer" will start blasting from the radio.
But don't worry - those of you dreading the blatant holiday commercialism that will surely follow Halloween need not fear.
Tori Amos's latest album, Midwinter Graces, is a refreshingly original Christmas soundtrack that will please even the most cynical holiday listener.
Amos, who coincidentally was expelled from Peabody Preparatory for her more progressive musical techniques, has enjoyed a nearly 20-year solo career since the 1992 release of Little Earthquakes.
As her first Christmas album, Midwinter Graces is a nice shift from Amos's widely acclaimed last album, Abnormally Attracted to Sin.
The album is distinctively Amos's own: half of the tracks are original works and the other half are modernized takes on traditional hymns.
Despite her use of Christian hymns, the album itself is not excessively religious. The first single, "What Child, Nowell," is a graceful mixture of "What Child is This?" and "The First Noel," uniquely blended with Amos's signature melancholy instrumentation.
Yet an edgier Amos is unveiled in the second track, "Star of Wonder," with its choppy, alternative, almost Bjork-like introduction and Near-Eastern instrumental sound.
The third track, "A Silent Night with You," is Amos's first entirely original album single in Midwinter Graces.
This song is perfectly catchy and enjoyable, although, as a Christmas love song with a fairly typical refrain, it is undoubtedly the most universally appealing of her original songs, and therefore the most likely to be picked up and over-played by a satanic radio station.
In "Holly, Ivy, and Rose" and "Jeanette, Isabella," Amos seamlessly integrates often forgotten classics into the 21st century. Amos's pure, exposed voice perfectly portrays the haunting melody of "Lo, How a Rose 'Ere Blooming," which is then joined by a mystical, upbeat version of "The Holly and the Ivy" in the fifth track.
Amos similarly resurrects the often-overlooked but undeniably beautiful French hymn, "Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella," in the eighth track.
Amos's "Jeanette, Isabella" is simple and elegant, with light string and percussion accompaniment allowing her voice to exquisitely shine through.
Notable among Amos's new songs are "Pink and Glitter" and "Winter's Carol." "Pink and Glitter," has a fun 40s quality, and with big brass accompaniment and a swing-like sound, it is unlike any other song on the album.
"Winter's Carol" is, on the other hand, her most powerfully emotional single in Midwinter Graces, and is reminiscent of her earliest work, specifically, her 1992 single "Winter."
The expressive ballad is a patchwork of different musical moods, and is indeed the most intricate and unusual song from the album, yet not exactly what you'd call a Christmas song. By the album's final track, "Our New Year," you will have forgotten that you'd been listening to a Christmas album at all, as this final song is about a broken relationship and has little to do with the Christmas season. That's not to say that it isn't good.
Emotionally riveting and musically intriguing, it is actually one of her most successful new singles. No, the album doesn't conclude with a sweet rendition of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," but then again, Amos was not setting out to conform to a holiday cliché.
Ultimately, Midwinter Graces triumphs as an innovative new holiday album.
Amos defines holiday music for a new generation while delightfully satisfying the desire for traditional songs of the Christmas season, so you can feel confident that this album will please your entire family come December.
But don't worry - those of you dreading the blatant holiday commercialism that will surely follow Halloween need not fear.
Tori Amos's latest album, Midwinter Graces, is a refreshingly original Christmas soundtrack that will please even the most cynical holiday listener.
Amos, who coincidentally was expelled from Peabody Preparatory for her more progressive musical techniques, has enjoyed a nearly 20-year solo career since the 1992 release of Little Earthquakes.
As her first Christmas album, Midwinter Graces is a nice shift from Amos's widely acclaimed last album, Abnormally Attracted to Sin.
The album is distinctively Amos's own: half of the tracks are original works and the other half are modernized takes on traditional hymns.
Despite her use of Christian hymns, the album itself is not excessively religious. The first single, "What Child, Nowell," is a graceful mixture of "What Child is This?" and "The First Noel," uniquely blended with Amos's signature melancholy instrumentation.
Yet an edgier Amos is unveiled in the second track, "Star of Wonder," with its choppy, alternative, almost Bjork-like introduction and Near-Eastern instrumental sound.
The third track, "A Silent Night with You," is Amos's first entirely original album single in Midwinter Graces.
This song is perfectly catchy and enjoyable, although, as a Christmas love song with a fairly typical refrain, it is undoubtedly the most universally appealing of her original songs, and therefore the most likely to be picked up and over-played by a satanic radio station.
In "Holly, Ivy, and Rose" and "Jeanette, Isabella," Amos seamlessly integrates often forgotten classics into the 21st century. Amos's pure, exposed voice perfectly portrays the haunting melody of "Lo, How a Rose 'Ere Blooming," which is then joined by a mystical, upbeat version of "The Holly and the Ivy" in the fifth track.
Amos similarly resurrects the often-overlooked but undeniably beautiful French hymn, "Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella," in the eighth track.
Amos's "Jeanette, Isabella" is simple and elegant, with light string and percussion accompaniment allowing her voice to exquisitely shine through.
Notable among Amos's new songs are "Pink and Glitter" and "Winter's Carol." "Pink and Glitter," has a fun 40s quality, and with big brass accompaniment and a swing-like sound, it is unlike any other song on the album.
"Winter's Carol" is, on the other hand, her most powerfully emotional single in Midwinter Graces, and is reminiscent of her earliest work, specifically, her 1992 single "Winter."
The expressive ballad is a patchwork of different musical moods, and is indeed the most intricate and unusual song from the album, yet not exactly what you'd call a Christmas song. By the album's final track, "Our New Year," you will have forgotten that you'd been listening to a Christmas album at all, as this final song is about a broken relationship and has little to do with the Christmas season. That's not to say that it isn't good.
Emotionally riveting and musically intriguing, it is actually one of her most successful new singles. No, the album doesn't conclude with a sweet rendition of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," but then again, Amos was not setting out to conform to a holiday cliché.
Ultimately, Midwinter Graces triumphs as an innovative new holiday album.
Amos defines holiday music for a new generation while delightfully satisfying the desire for traditional songs of the Christmas season, so you can feel confident that this album will please your entire family come December.
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