American Doll Posse

Tori Amos has released her 9th studio album on May 1, called 'American Doll Posse'. There are five girls in the Posse, all with their own personae, hairstyles, wardrobes, characters - Tori, Clyde, Pip, Santa & Isabel. They are all singing different songs on the album. Sound weird? A bit, but only if you don't already know a bit about Tori. The Posse together make one whole woman.

On Tori's website (in the Bio section), the Posse are listed together with the Greek archetype that they draw from, because in ancient Greece all aspects of the feminine were considered divine and had incarnations within the Greek pantheon. For example, Clyde draws from Persephone.

If you want to know more about what Tori is doing and what this all means, check out her website.

So far, after just one listen, the songs that I instantly love turn out to all be Clyde's songs. Some of the other songs will require a few more listens, but that's okay.

Really can't wait to see this album played live! Can't wait to see Tori at any rate! I hope she does a Piano Bar thing again!

For those of you who don't know what the Piano Bar is, it's something she has done on previous tours. You can send in requests for cover versions that you would like her to play, and every night she picks a couple. It may or may not be the same concert you end up going to, but it's still a very cool idea I think. I already have a song in mind....it's a U2 song of course....am not going to say which one it is though.....hehehehe. In fact, she has already played a U2 cover once - a brilliant version of 'Running To Stand Still'.

I think she is a very strong singer, both with regards to voice and material. I'm not saying that I understand what her songs are about, not by a long shot, but they are just so darn catchy. They tend to stay in my head even if I have no idea what they mean (at least not on a conscious level). Like, right now, I have 'Playboy Mommy' on constant repeat in my head. Last week it was 'Spark'.

Some of them are straightforward enough ('Yo George' springs to mind). Most of them are not. I like that though - you have to work a little bit to get it, do a bit of homework. Also, it means her albums make for interesting listening for years to come - I know most of the album 'Scarlet's Walk' off by heart by now, but I'm still no closer to the heart of some of the songs. That was my first Tori album (thanks Elisa, for introducing me to Tori by playing the gorgeous 'A Sorta Fairytale' from this album. I've just ordered 'To Venus & Back' which will complete the album collection).

What I also like about her, is that she really has something to say if you care to listen. It's not just some bubblegum-pop-3 minute sweetness, it actually has a weight and a substance. She is rooted somewhere, she takes the time to grow the songs, to research her subjects, tap into the spirit and channel it, whatever it is, and I love that.

So, you can listen to Tori purely for her gorgeous voice and infectious grooves, or you can dig into the world in and behind the music. Either way, it's definitely worth it...