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Track Listings
| 1. What Child, Nowell |
| 2. Star of Wonder |
| 3. A Silent Night with You |
| 4. Candle: Coventry Carol |
| 5. Holly, Ivy, and Rose |
| 6. Harps of Gold |
| 7. Snow Angel |
| 8. Jeanette, Isabella |
| 9. Pink and Glitter |
| 10. Emmanuel |
| 11. Winter's Carol |
| 12. Our New Year |
Editorial Reviews
About the Artist
For Midwinter Graces, Amos has again teamed up with long time collaborators Matt Chamberlain on drums, Jon Evans on bass, and Mac Aladdin on guitars. Tori has enlisted the help of a Big Band and an Orchestra with stunning John Philip Shenale arrangements to create Tori's new seasonal classics.
Product Description
Deluxe CD/DVD edition includes bonus DVD. 2009 holiday release. After nearly two decades writing and recording some of her generation's most emotionally powerful music, Tori Amos releases her first seasonal album, Midwinter Graces. A follow up to Tori's critically acclaimed studio album, Abnormally Attracted To Sin, Midwinter Graces finds Tori reworking and expanding on classic carols as well as developing some of her very own seasonal tracks. For Midwinter Graces, Amos has again teamed up with long time collaborators Matt Chamberlain on drums, Jon Evans on bass, and Mac Aladdin on guitars. Tori has enlisted the help of a Big Band and an Orchestra with stunning John Philip Shenale arrangements to create Tori's new seasonal classics.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
43 of 45 people found the following review helpful
By W. M. Bell
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I was pretty skeptical at first. I don't usually even listen to seasonal music, its just not to my taste usually. Tori making a seasonal album? Really? Could easily have been a disaster. However, this album is quite the opposite. It is easily her best since Scarlet's Walk. All of the songs are gorgeous and most have these incredible layers that just wrap you in a wintery kind of audio sauna.
The reworked old carols really shine under Tori's care. She found a great balance between respecting the original while giving them a totally different feel, changing lyrics here and there making it very inclusive of people of all faiths and not rehashing Christian ideaologies over and over. She's celebrating something older than Christmas here guys...this is a real Midwinter Festival kind of record. No santa claus hats and puppy dogs. In the reworded hymns there is the Tori element but you can still imagine the ancestors from centuries past filling the streets to this stuff. (this is excluding Harps of Gold, which is the most modern of the reworkings...and probably as upbeat as it gets, you can barely recognize the "Gloria" elements to it, not that its a bad thing!)Her originals are even better. Pink and Glitter has an old hollywood vibe, amazing. Snow Angel is so haunting, and the strings on this one are just impeccable.Winter's Carol, the star of this production, takes my breath away. There is not a dull moment in that song. It is so very well put together and a rather dark and beautiful kind of way.
I could go on forever about this piece of holiday magic, seriously. Hear for yourself! You won't be sorry!
Buy this for yourself, your friends, and anyone who loves holiday or simply amazing music.
This one's got something for everyone.
The reworked old carols really shine under Tori's care. She found a great balance between respecting the original while giving them a totally different feel, changing lyrics here and there making it very inclusive of people of all faiths and not rehashing Christian ideaologies over and over. She's celebrating something older than Christmas here guys...this is a real Midwinter Festival kind of record. No santa claus hats and puppy dogs. In the reworded hymns there is the Tori element but you can still imagine the ancestors from centuries past filling the streets to this stuff. (this is excluding Harps of Gold, which is the most modern of the reworkings...and probably as upbeat as it gets, you can barely recognize the "Gloria" elements to it, not that its a bad thing!)Her originals are even better. Pink and Glitter has an old hollywood vibe, amazing. Snow Angel is so haunting, and the strings on this one are just impeccable.Winter's Carol, the star of this production, takes my breath away. There is not a dull moment in that song. It is so very well put together and a rather dark and beautiful kind of way.
I could go on forever about this piece of holiday magic, seriously. Hear for yourself! You won't be sorry!
Buy this for yourself, your friends, and anyone who loves holiday or simply amazing music.
This one's got something for everyone.
20 of 21 people found the following review helpful
By Daniel Ting
Format:Audio CD
Like Tori mentioned before the album was released, the real shocker in this album is that there is no real shocker. Overall it is a very pleasant listen with Tori doing songs across a wide range of sounds. There is big band (Pink and Glitter), medieval (Candle: Coventry Carol), Persian-tinged folk-rock (Star of Wonder) and music from the Dark Ages (Emmanuel). There is also a song, Winter's Carol, that is from the musical Tori is working on (The Light Princess). Tori also wrote a song in memory of her brother Michael, Our New Year, which is a very beautiful, true-to-Tori-form song with some nice strings.
One highlight of the album is that the piano is now back to the center, an element that has been missing in the last few Tori albums. I must say I enjoyed watching the interview, it shows a side of Tori that is not usually brought out in past interviews - and you see that she really does know quite a fair bit about church history. Even though this album is very much your unconventional Tori, I really think Tori could have done a little better with this album. For one, songs like Harps of Gold and Candle: Coventry Carol were not very suited to Tori's voice. And the album cover (I know this should not be a point of contention, but it is not something easily ignored) looks very obviously photoshopped - as a Tori fan put it: "she looks more and more like an android with each album cover." I don't mean to speak this way about Tori but there is something to the raw Tori we all find magical.
My favorites on this album are:
Star of Wonder - reminds me of Strong Black Vine.
Pink and Glitter - a wonderful nod to the big band era, reminiscent of the songs Tori sang on Mona Lisa Smile.
Jeanette, Isabella
Comfort and Joy (Bonus Track on Deluxe Edition)
One highlight of the album is that the piano is now back to the center, an element that has been missing in the last few Tori albums. I must say I enjoyed watching the interview, it shows a side of Tori that is not usually brought out in past interviews - and you see that she really does know quite a fair bit about church history. Even though this album is very much your unconventional Tori, I really think Tori could have done a little better with this album. For one, songs like Harps of Gold and Candle: Coventry Carol were not very suited to Tori's voice. And the album cover (I know this should not be a point of contention, but it is not something easily ignored) looks very obviously photoshopped - as a Tori fan put it: "she looks more and more like an android with each album cover." I don't mean to speak this way about Tori but there is something to the raw Tori we all find magical.
My favorites on this album are:
Star of Wonder - reminds me of Strong Black Vine.
Pink and Glitter - a wonderful nod to the big band era, reminiscent of the songs Tori sang on Mona Lisa Smile.
Jeanette, Isabella
Comfort and Joy (Bonus Track on Deluxe Edition)
20 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I was pleasantly surprised by how mellow and smooth this album is. Once you start listening to it, you'll get into such a relaxed mood that all you'll want to do is sit in a comfy chair and sip coffee or tea. I'm listening to Midwinter Graces as I type this review and I have a cup of coffee right next to me :)
I can honestly say that even my parents would appreciate hearing these songs over the Christmas holidays. Now don't get the idea that this album is totally mainstream or lame, because it's not, remember this is Tori Amos were talking about. But it's so well done that non-Tori fans will be asking "Who IS this? And where can I get the CD?".
It's the perfect holiday album to listen to with loved ones but it can also help you introduce Tori's brilliant music to new listeners. Don't be surprised if months from now, your mother discovers 'Little Earthquakes' and shouts to the world that 'Cornflake Girl' is her new favorite song, lol. Trust me, by listening to this album with your family it's ridiculously possible. Of course you'll have to explain to your mom what 'Cornflake Girl' is about and that's it's not just a catchy tune, but a song with a deep message.
Now back to Midwinter Graces...
My favorite songs on this album include:
1. Star of Wonder (my #1 favorite)
2. Holly, Ivy, and Rose (a believe she sings this song with her young daughter)
3. Snow Angel
4. Jeanette, Isabella
5. Emmanuel (a beautiful version of the holiday classic)
6. What A Child, Nowell
7. Winter's Carol
At times it doesn't even feel like I'm listening to a holiday album at all, just a mellow Tori album. I highly recommend getting/downloading it and listening to Midwinter Graces all year round. It's really that good.
I can honestly say that even my parents would appreciate hearing these songs over the Christmas holidays. Now don't get the idea that this album is totally mainstream or lame, because it's not, remember this is Tori Amos were talking about. But it's so well done that non-Tori fans will be asking "Who IS this? And where can I get the CD?".
It's the perfect holiday album to listen to with loved ones but it can also help you introduce Tori's brilliant music to new listeners. Don't be surprised if months from now, your mother discovers 'Little Earthquakes' and shouts to the world that 'Cornflake Girl' is her new favorite song, lol. Trust me, by listening to this album with your family it's ridiculously possible. Of course you'll have to explain to your mom what 'Cornflake Girl' is about and that's it's not just a catchy tune, but a song with a deep message.
Now back to Midwinter Graces...
My favorite songs on this album include:
1. Star of Wonder (my #1 favorite)
2. Holly, Ivy, and Rose (a believe she sings this song with her young daughter)
3. Snow Angel
4. Jeanette, Isabella
5. Emmanuel (a beautiful version of the holiday classic)
6. What A Child, Nowell
7. Winter's Carol
At times it doesn't even feel like I'm listening to a holiday album at all, just a mellow Tori album. I highly recommend getting/downloading it and listening to Midwinter Graces all year round. It's really that good.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars
ONLY ONE DISC PLAYS
ONLY THE FIRST CD PLAYS. WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THIS SET WITH BOTH CDS WORKING. I REALLY LIKE THE FIRST CD.
Published 3 months ago by kreider49
5.0 out of 5 stars
LOVE THIS ALBUM, TORI IS THE BEST
I know this is a holiday album, but honestly....Tori Amos does no wrong in my book. She could sing the alphabet & still make it interesting....LOVE HER!
Published 4 months ago by andrea
3.0 out of 5 stars
Tori goes Christmas
While this should appeal to Tori Amos's rabid following, It may suprise some who thought it was just another version of already familier Christmas classics, you know Tori would... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Jerome Dembski
2.0 out of 5 stars
Blah.
Tori seems less and less relevant with each album of hers that I buy. I put this album in my Christmas playlist and whenever one of her songs comes on the good vibes come to a... Read more
Published 5 months ago by eldridge love
4.0 out of 5 stars
Different colors, but still within in the lines.
This is another one that I like more as I listen to it more. As a collection and as individual songs there are many little nuggets of sound and thought to discover the next time... Read more
Published 5 months ago by P. Shelling
5.0 out of 5 stars
TORI AMOS AT HER BEST
A wonderful interpretation of some great Christmas songs by Tori Amos.
I particularly liked the Winter Carol, the Coventry Carol and Comfort and Joy. Read more
I particularly liked the Winter Carol, the Coventry Carol and Comfort and Joy. Read more
Published 6 months ago by SUZIE
5.0 out of 5 stars
MY favorite holiday album of all time!
Tori Amos gives us an amazing collection of holiday songs! If you like her past work, you will love this album! Read more
Published 8 months ago by IntoTheMatrix
1.0 out of 5 stars
Soul-sucking Christmas album...
Well, i bye a christmas album every year, and this was my pick for 2009. Boy, was it ever a mistake. Read more
Published 19 months ago by A. M. Williams
4.0 out of 5 stars
interesting twist on old songs
i enjoy this cd. when the holidays get closer i will be listening to this more, i find it hauntingly beautiful.
Published 19 months ago by redmontana
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not what I had hoped for
This is a Tori Christmas album. I love Tori, but only mildly like Christmas tunes. It was just a weird combo, would give it away gladly. Would not recommend.
Published 21 months ago by Miranda Everett
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