Midwinter Graces

Tori Amos | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Universal / Island
• ASIN: B002P6TA8K
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #150,210 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Midwinter Graces" Serves Some New Holiday Fare, November 8, 2009

By 

The Anti-Harpist (Maryland, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Midwinter Graces (Audio CD)

Tori Amos creates a refreshing take on the holiday season with her new album: "Midwinter Graces". Working with her usual team of Mark Chamberlain on drums, Jon Evans on bass, and Mac Aladdin on guitars, plus some nice orchestration, we see a lot of new Tori, and very little of the old/expected. The tracks especially worth noting are the ones that take the typical Christmas tunes and switch it up for something new and interesting, like the harpsichord filled "What Child, Nowell" or tabla'd "Star of Wonder". She is a master at taking our expectations of what SHOULD appear in a Christmas album and changing them.

The best track on the whole album, and my favorite, was "Pink and Glitter". While a slightly disarming title, the sudden entrance of the brass and the great big-band sound lend this piece a lot of "glitter". I highly suggest snuggling up to your lover with this, maybe on New Year's Eve, or maybe just by a fire....you get the idea. Tori's jazz vocals make a comeback, and are rarely drowned out by the brass, so the blend seems all right. This is one of the two highly publicized tracks, but this one is well deserved.

One of the other tracks getting advertising attention is "A Silent Night With You". Honestly, I felt this song was pretty mainstream sounding--maybe even a little too, although it did hark back to the sound of "Gold Dust" or many of the tracks in "Scarlet's Walk". Also, if anyone has heard any of her jazz covers, her vocals are reminiscent of it. The harmonies are pretty, but this whole track was just a little too repetitive and expected for me. Also the tubular bells to give the Christmas effect were overdone. But hey, how can you avoid that when you're trying to make a song sound like the holidays?!!! Of course, this is one of the ones the advertising is promoting, which annoys me just a little bit, because I don't think it's one of her best, nor one of her most creative.

However, then you have tracks like "Candle: Coventry Carol" that contain gorgeous medieval sounding singing and instrumentation, but sound like what you'd expect from a Christmas album. One track of note on the CD is one that actually sounds like the Tori we all know + some holiday cheer, er, holiday epic-ness: "Winter's Carol". Epic is the best word. The gorgeous piano intro, strings and vocals lend a lot to this. "Our New Year" is the only other track to stay within Tori Amos' usual musical language, but it's not a happy story! If you're looking for Christmas cheer, avoid this track. If you're just looking for good music, take a listen.

"Midwinter Graces" was definitely a refreshing look at the season, and didn't take spiritual sides one way or the other. Anyone (no matter what your prejudices/beliefs) can enjoy it because it's just good music!! I look forward to seeing what tracks end up on the Christmas stations this year.

If anyone wants a more in-depth review in terms of the individual tracks, head over to:[...] and check out the review there. I recommend buying this CD, and I hope other peope enjoy it as much as I did.

4.0 out of 5 stars buber1, July 6, 2010

By 

buber1 - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Midwinter Graces (Audio CD)

Great cd and I particularly like the "holly" song...I think number five. Definitely buy this cd if you like tori amos. She's a fantastic artist. My fav.

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply Gorgeous, November 17, 2009

By 

Jupiter Calling (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Midwinter Graces (Audio CD)

Being a long time fan of Tori's, I was not really looking forward to this. Actually, I was kind of disappointed she would even consider putting out a cliche xmas album. Boy did she prove me wrong! It is simply gorgeous. In fact, I think I like it even better than her last album! Many of these songs are either written by Tori herself or the are old classic Christmas songs and verses re-worked and/or mixed together. Highly creative and something I would never have imagined working out so well.

Winter's Carol is our first glimpse at the music from The Light Princess, another project I was wary of, but my god Tori will never cease to amaze me - fantastic!

From beginning to end, the best music I've heard in awhile (Christmas music or not!)

I would suggest the CD/DVD combo for the two bonus songs (amazing) even if you won't watch the 30 minute interview about the concept of the album (an interesting interview but may only really be enjoyed by Tori fans).

Highlights for me:

Pink and Glitter (Tori original - big band)

The Harpsichord (not a song, but the harpsichord is featured on a couple songs and fits in beautifully)

Harps Of Gold

Holly, Ivy and Rose (Her daughter does vocals making this song even more precious)

Star Of Wonder

The Band (once again, not a song - just awesome to have the drums and bass. Strings too, of course, but that's expected with Xmas albums.)

A Silent Night With You (Tori original with mix of traditional carols)