Customer Reviews

God

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Amazon sent me an email asking me to review this CD. I have never written a review before. So: Six months ago I was sorting through old VHS cassettes (I'm in the movie business and get lots of 'em), and came upon a movie called "Hand of Fate." The movie was never released, and is good. The song over the end credits was by "Tori Amos." I had never heard of her (I'm 56 years old and listen mainly to Schoenberg, Henze, Boulez -- those folks), so I logged on to Amazon.com, found out that she has made lots of records, and ordered several based on buyer reviews (like the one you're reading now). One of the CDs I bought in this first group was Tori's single of "God." "God" (the song from her album "Under the Pink") is, needless to say, brilliant; its expressionism and atonality appeal to me especially as a Schoenberg fan. Tori's Cherokee version of "Home on the Range" is staggeringly, jaw-droppingly eloquent, and the two pieces of her "Piano Suite" make me long for her to compose more instrumental music. These are some of the loveliest piano minatures I know.
I have come to realize that what women have accomplished in "popular" music over the past 15 or 20 years is one of the most thrilling events in the history of artistic expression. And Tori Amos is certainly a prime example, if not THE prime example, of this, others being Gillian Welch, Patty Griffin, and Emily Bezar (whom, by the way, I discovered thanks to Amazon.com picking up on my interest in Tori. Amazon.com is the world's foremost music "educator," in my opinion. Yes, they often DO know what you would like, and what you should listen to.)
So: Three big thank yous are in order: First to whoever touched me with that "Hand of Fate" and led me to Tori; then to Amazon for making her work available to me; and last (but, as they used to say, not least) to Tori Amos. Tori, you move me every day. My jaw just keeps on dropping lower and lower with everything you do -- while my heart soars higher and higher. As the poet Haniel long wrote, "You, who make music of everything you touch, in the dark room of my life touch me. Touch hunger, make it Apollo, in the dark world."

God becomes a hip shaking mix set to a heavy drum beat [The Rainforest Resort Mix], you also have a beautiful piano suite [All the Girls hate Her] even without words this song "speaks" for itself its beautiful and Melodic. A perfect addition for any Tori fan, or for anyone looking for something truely different.

The song "God" is very special to me because it is the song that first introduced me to Tori Amos, arguably the most talented musician in the business. "Home on the Range" typifies Amos' talent for taking even the most traditional of songs, standing it on its head, and using it to communicate a fresh, new message from a completely different perspective. In this case, the lyrics reflect an American Indian view of the colonization of their "home on the range" by European colonists. "All the Girls Hate Her" and "Over it" are beautiful piano solos which do much to highlight the true musical genius of Amos. I personally don't like to listen to music without singing, and thus the two instrumental tracks do not appeal to me very much. Even instrumental enthusiasts may be slightly disappointed by the fact that both tracks are less than five minutes in combined length. Basically, I would recommend this item to Tori Amos completists only. It reveals a very soft side of the artist and showcases her musical talents, but I do not think this is music that will find its way into your CD player very often.

I love the song "God" from Under the Pink, but I don't usually buy singles. Tori Amos is my big exception, I'm trying to buy all her music. I bought this because I thought I'd enjoy "Home On the Range", "All the Girls Hate Her", and "Over It." I was unpleasantly surprised to find that the last two songs were just instrumental and there was no singing at all. Tori played very well and all, but I buy her music because I like her voice and lyrics. Home On the Range was nice, but it's just that--the song "Home on the Range." Nothing spectacular. So, this was not Tori's best display.

I picked up this single at a used bookstore and kept my mouth shut while paying $3.95 for it. Since I had never seen this single anywhere, I figured $3.95 was probably pretty cheap for something that seemed to be quite rare. I've checked around on Ebay to see if anyone else was selling this one (just to get a feel for how many copies are out there), and I have yet to find it there. Finally, I decided to check the Tori back catalogue on Amazon and here it is! Now I know that it is an import single, though I sorta figured that's what it was anyway.

This single features the original version of "God" plus three remixes. The remixes are of higher quality than some of the later remixes that came out (how many remixes of Jackie's Strength do we need?). They almost give a feeling of early Delerium work.

If you don't know Tori's work, I wouldn't start with this, but for you Toriphiles out there, this is a great single to have in your collection.

To say that I am a big Tori Amos admirer would be the biggest understatement of the decade. I only have been a fan of her music for the past five years. I liked what I heard back in the early '90s from her first solo album "Little Earthquakes" but I didn't get into her music towards the end of the '90s. I used to not like the song "God" from "Under the Pink" but over time, the song has really grown on me. It has become one of my personal favorite Tori Amos songs. It is such a contrast to her more sparse ballads. The crescendos in the song is so intense as are the lyrics. What I love about the singles that Tori has released over the years is the inclusion of previously unreleased singles. On "God", Tori does a unique interpretation of "Home on the Range". It is certainly quite different from what I'm used to hearing. I like it though. It is different but I like it. "All the Girls Hate Her" is amazing. That song really highlights the single for me. I can almost envision Tori performing the song in concert. "Over it" is just as good. I love it when Tori performs solo. Her music and lyrics becomes more intimate with the listener. I enjoyed this single. I didn't think it was anywhere as bad as some people made it out to be. Oh well, different strokes for different folks I suppose.

Do you miss pure Tori piano? Tracks 3 & 4 (All The Girls Hate Her & Over It) are delicious matching instrumental shorts. The delicate piano leaps forth, a musical conversation.

I have numerous Tori CD's, and these are my favorite piano pieces.

God is a really great song (WARNING if you're very christian you may be offended) and Home on the Range - Cherokee Edition is a reteling of the colonization of America from the point of view of those who already lived here.

But it is in the Piano Suite that Tori Amos reall shines. She is a gifted pianist! The two instrumentals are worth the price of the CD alone. Just piano. Ahhh.

The piano suite is sweet!

(Wow, a pun! By it despite the weak attempt at humot, folks)

Over It and All the Girls Hate her are stunning examples of her virtuosity. I wish she'd do more instrumentals! Over It gives me a striking image of this very wide bolt of silk unfolding and unrolling on a somewhat windy beach. Some chords and chord changes that make you go Wow and (as usual with her) very nice highs and lows and dynamics all around. Also, the octave bumps in All The Girls Hate Her are very effective and nice. This piano suite is definitely worth 5 bucks.

We all know the song "God"...well assumedly so if you are reading reviews for Tori's EPs. And Tori's take on "Home on the Range" is most intriguing. However, the two instrumental songs on this disc should remove any doubt in anyone's mind that Tori is one of the finest pianists ever. These two short songs are absolutely beautiful.