Customer Reviews

Cruel/Raspberry Swirl

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This CD single contains versions of three of my favorite Tori songs ever: Cruel, Raspberry Swirl, and Spark from the incredible From the Choirgirl Hotel album. It took me a few listens to truly appreciate Cruel as the wonderful song it is. The Shady Feline Mix of the song here actually sounds better than the original version, which I consider rather remarkable. I am just addicted to the song Raspberry Swirl. If any song could ever make my completely uncoordinated body get up and dance like there's no tomorrow, this is the song. The Lip Gloss Version sounds much like the original, with just enough of a change to keep things interesting. The Ambient Raspberry Swirl remix is quite different from the original song, but this is a departure from form that really appeals to me. I rarely like the repetitive nature of remixes, but this one incorporates so many new sounds and musical moods that I find it remarkably fresh and fascinating. It does not strike me as a dance remix by any means, though, because there are some significant, well-placed pauses that give the track a distinctively mysterious atmosphere. I also really enjoyed the Mainline Cherry (Ambient Spark) remix. Spark is Tori's most emotionally powerful song ever, and this remix manages to capture much of the depth, mystery, and quiet desperation of the original. It does sound as if many of the words are being sunk backwards, especially the chorus, but there are also snippets of the verses in varying completeness interspersed throughout the song.

Overall, this is a great CD single worth much more than it costs. The featured remix of Cruel appeals to me more than the album version, the Lip Gloss Version of Raspberry Swirl is the same as yet intriguingly different from the original, and the more experimental remixes of Raspberry Swirl and Spark manage to convey Tori's uncontainable magic in an entirely new way. The icing on the cake is the cover image of Tori, which I find compelling in and of itself.

When I fall in love with a song, after many pushes of the "Repeat" button on the CD player, I usually go out and try to see if there is a remix of the song. Sometimes the remix is good and others almost an insult to the original piece.

Well this mix is amazing, not good, amazing...

Tori hypnotized me with this erotic-electronic progression into her world of the "Rasberry Swirl".

The "Lip Gloss" version is close to the original with a little addition to the rhythm section raising the level of music euphoria within.

The "Scarlet Spectrum Feels" is the dream tale with a definite sensual nature to it.

I have a different mix with a third version called the "Sticky Extended Vocal Mix". What I consider to be the "dance" mix, but it is the Tori Amos version of a dance mix....

Out of all the single mixes from Tori's library, this is my favorite. This is what a remix should be... the love, study, respect and progression into a piece of work. All I can impart with you now is to urge you to listen to it yourself and realize what you have been missing.

This is a nice Tori Amos-single. Like the picture, 'cause they give us a new Tori-photo. First there is "Cruel ( Shady Feline Mix )". It's a bit shorter than the original version, and has some additional beats. Don't know which version I like best. Like the original, but also this one cause it speeds it up a little ( only a little bit - don't expect the same energy as a club mix ). Then there is "Raspberry Swirl ( Lip Gloss Version )". This is like some kind of edited radio version of "Raspberry Swirl". It's shorter and faster, but apart from that, I don't hear much of a difference. After that, "Raspberry Swirl ( Scarlet Spectrum Feels )". This is a very nice and special ambient track - really worth buying. It goes away from the speed and techno that rule the original song, and gives you really something new to listen to. This is not the case with the "Cruel"-remix. "Raspberry Swirl ( Scarlet Spectrum Feels )" adds some new dimension to the song. The same thing can be said about "Spark ( Mainline Cherry )". This is also an ambient track, with a lot of strange voice-mixes and stuff. Someone said it's a bit like Björk - in the way that it's really wicked and new. This is one of the best Tori-remixes I've ever heard. Really special. I won't give the single five stars, 'cause I had the "Raspberry Swirl"-mixes already, and they leave out two really good "Raspberry Swirl"-mixes, namely "Sticky Extended Vocal Mix" and "Sticky Extended Instrumental Mix". And I had also hoped to see some new remixes, instead of the "Raspberry Swirl"-mixes ( which are really nice ) again. But it's a good buy.

The title above is what the "Spark" remix sounds like on the chorus. Although they can be annoying, the remxes on this disc are very good. Better than some of her previous ones. I like all the remixes on here, but you can't listen to them alot and I prefer the originals of all of them.
"Cruel[Shady Feline Mix]" sounds almost identical to the original version of the sonmg. A few extra beats is all it really adds. It also cuts and repeats different bits of the song. I prefer the original.
"Raspberry Swirl[Lip Gloss Version}" pretty much repeats my sentiments for the previous track. Very little is added. The sound is cahnged a little and the song sounds almost like it is being sung underwater.
"Ambient Raspberry Swirl/Scarlet Spectrum Feels" this is more worthy of being called a remix. It sounds nearly nothing like the original, but still keeps the roinal lyrics and doesn't get on your nerves nearly as fast as some of the Boys For Pele remixes. The lyrics are sung slowly and the song is very sensual.
"Mainline Cherry/Ambient Spark" is probably my favroite remix on here, it keeps to the original, but adds something new. PERFECT EXAMPLE OF WHAT A REMIX SHOULD BE!It keeps the beauty and intelligence of Spark while changing it. This ius really the reason to buy the single.
I recommend throwing this in your Amazon.com cart if you're already buying something else because it's cheap and doesn't amrk up your shipping.

I began listening to Tori Amos back in late summer of 1994 when I saw this heretofore unknown to me red haired chick straddle a piano like nobody's business and sing a track caled "Icicle" on Jay Leno. So I went and bought UNDER THE PINK the next day and haven't looked back since. FROM THE CHOIRGIRL HOTEL was sonically dissimilar to the three discs that preceded it, but lyrically was classic Tori, and being a techno/ambient fan myself, I really dug the sound. That being said, I ADORE this single. The single mixes of "Cruel" and "Raspberry Swirl" are fairly close the album versions, just punched up a bit, and both are really great. But the top reason to buy this are the ambient versions of "Rapsberry Swirl" and "Spark", which sound like This Mortal Coil meets Vangelis meets who knows what else! I LOVE this disc, but if you're a more piano-Tori fan this one may not be for you. Even then I would still recommend giving it a try. I doubt it will disappoint.

I wouldn't neccasarily give this 5 stars, but I'd give it more than four...
Cruel, itself, is a great song, and you get a terrific remix on this CD with stripped down vocals and a nice thick baseline that would be at home on any downbeat dancefloor.
But the real secret to this single is in the 3rd and 4th tracks: the 8 1/2 min "Ambient Rasberry Swirl (Scarlet Spectrum Feels)" which flows cleanly into "Mainline Cherry (Ambient Spark)".
These remixes are much more thought out than, say, some of the "God" remixes, and easily stand alone as actual pieces. Tori provides a nice 16 min trip, and some alternative translations of some subtly intense songs.

What is it really that Tori Amos uses to get her fans hooked? Could it be her indecipherable and overly mature lyrics? Or is it her interesting and weird tunes and breathing in her songs? Apparently, whatever the reason, she has won the hearts of fans for over 3 best sellers and a major collection of hit singles. Now, THIS single is a combination of the song "Cruel" and "Raspberry Swirl". I am guessing I am reviewing the same thing...or is there a second US version of Raspberry Swirl I don't know about? Anyways, if this is the same one...it's a remix single. The following is the tracklist: 1.Cruel (Shady Feline Mix) 2.Raspberry Swirl (Lip Gloss Version) 3.Raspberry Swirl (Scarlet Spectrum Feel) 4.Spark (Mainline Cherry-Ambient Spark) The single is very weird and Tori refrains from singing the whole songs on tracks 3 and 4. The first 2 songs are somewhat alike from the album "from the choirgirl hotel". Her breathing and whining is unbelievable, but still.....you'll have this single going. It is so different that anything you hear today. And once you are hooked, make sure to watch for Tori's "Raspberry Swirl" video!

I love Tori's music, this was my second Tori single. "Cruel" is a good song, but I think the real gem on here is "Raspberry Swirl"! This song is so cool, especially this Lip Gloss version which is better than the album version. I'm not really fond of the ambient Raspberry version, but the ambient Spark mix is cool (although weird ;)

Tori Amos can be cruel. So can cd prices at times. Not in this case, however.
This domestic cd single is well worth the three and a half bucks. You get awesome remixes (Spark is beautiful) and a stunning picture of Tori Amos to grace the cover packaging. Also, this cd is a picture disc...making it even more worth the price.

Here is how I would rank the tracks featured: 1:Raspberry Swirl(Lip Gloss Ver.) 2:Mainline Cherry-Ambient Spark 3:Cruel-Shady Feline Mix 4:Ambient Raspberry Swirl-Scarlet Spectrum The Lip Gloss Version is definitely the best of all versions, despite being shorter than the original version. The additonal beats make it more of a dance track; it is also the version featured in the music video. The "Spark" remix is definitely worth listening to. The version of "Cruel" featured on this single also has additonal beats, and shorter (but better) than the original. The Scarlet Spectrum Feels mix of Raspberry Swirl is somewhat slow. Does anybody know why the STICKY extended mix of Raspberry Swirl was not included on the U.S. single but on the import? (Is it because it would make this CD a maxi single?)