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...

Lazy Weekend

This is just a wee post to say that I did absolutely nothing over the weekend.

Except watching DVD's and knitting that is. And a bit of eating every once in a while.

The DVD's were 'Pirates Of The Caribbean 2: Dead Man's Chest', and the 3rd series of 'Robin Of Sherwood' (with Jason Connery as Robin. Michael Praed left after the first two series, because he got a role on 'Dynasty'.)

'Robin Of Sherwood' is just the best adaptation of the Robin Hood legend, like, EVER, in my humble opinion. I remember watching this on German telly (ZDF, if I recall correctly), when I was little, and I love it as much now as I did then. Like 'Pirates' it's got all the ingredients for a fantastic tale - action, romance, comedy, beautiful landscapes, and mystery. Also like 'Pirates', it's got great actors in it (the majority of whom are very easy on the eye - that is always a good thing). Hehe.

Apart from that, it's also responsible for turning me onto Irish music, seeing as the Irish group Clannad wrote and performed the entire score for all 3 series. The result was the album 'Legend' released in 1983. For the third series they wrote some additional pieces, and changed others a bit (like the theme tune for example), but these pieces were never formally released. Anyway, 'Legend' is a pretty cool album and it fits the show itself like a glove, evoking the majesty of Sherwood and Herne the Hunter, the magic of Albion (one of the Seven Swords of Wayland) and the poignancy of the tale of Will Scarlet, and of Robin & Marion.

As for 'Pirates' it just rules - simple as that. Can't wait for the third instalment, so roll on 24 May when it releases in Irish cinemas. I hope they will do something similar to what was done with the 'Lord Of The Rings' movies, when 'Return Of The King' was released, and play all of the movies in sequence in the cinema. Stay tuned.....

Sweeney Todd - The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street

This is the musical/play we went to see on Monday - birthday pressie from BethAnne (thank you! :) ) I had no clue about it whatsoever, I only knew it was a musical, but it was very very very good! The story itself was an oft-told tale of love and betrayal, but the way they told it was poignant and riveting, and I loved the choreography and the way they used the stage.

Most of the first row seats were all but obliterated by the stage itself - we were in third row, outside of spitting distance - but it gave an immediacy to the performances and it drew you in, when people were basically hanging over the edge of the stage, nearly falling into the audience.

I've only been to the theater once in the last 5 years or so, but it was really nice to be able to break the mold for once, and do Something Else.

It is currently playing at the Gate Theater in Dublin - don't know how long the run is, but if you can, go see it!

Family Weekend 2007

I'm back in ol' Dublin after a lovely weekend in Denmark with lots of beer and chocolate. Someone had had the fantastic idea of getting a 3 kilo thingy of little chocolates (pictured) for our family weekend (paternal side including aunts, uncles, cousins, cousins' kids, but not dogs).


We did not manage to finish it, but I think everyone got a few to take home? I know I did :) I'm sure people in the office will be very very grateful when I bring them in tomorrow (I can already hear some of you screaming, 'aargh, no more chocolate! We've had enough!' To that I just say 'MUAAHAAAAHAHAHAHAAAAA! I am not eating it all by myself!')

Anyways, the weather was beautiful (at least on Saturday), so the Viking Games (there were two copies) came out, and while some people were thrashing other people at Kubb (another name for the Viking Game), some other people went to the beach to play with a wee wellspring that was there. It was very curious - a freshwater wellspring about 2 feet from the edge of the sea. I don't have pictures of that, but it was very cute.

P.S. More info on Kubb here

Update on the hockey match

So, it ended 11 - 0 to Ireland - not surprising!

Looking at the penalty stats, it is also not surprising to see the top scorers are all from either Ireland or Mongolia..... Tsk tsk tsk.. :)