Scarlet's Walk (Limited Edition w/ Bonus DVD) [ENHANCED] [LIMITED EDITION] [SPECIAL EDITION]

Tori Amos

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 29, 2002)
• Original Release Date: 2002
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Enhanced, Limited Edition, Special Edition
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B00006LEA6
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (123 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #61,057 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
From the confusion and chaos that marked one of the most harrowing episodes in American history comes Tori Amos's masterwork. Scarlet's Walk, the follow-up to her critically acclaimed covers LP, Strange Little Girls, was written on a cross-country road trip shortly after the terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C. Over the course of 3,000 miles and 18 tracks, the crimson-haired singer encounters rogue lovers ("A Sorta Fairytale"), reformed porn stars ("Amber Waves"), and an entire cast of characters who embody the spirit of a country suddenly searching for an identity. The album serves as both an ambitious travelogue and as a graceful rejoinder to the bitterness and frustration that inspired it, with Amos wading through swells of sadness ("I Can't See New York"), anger ("Don't Make Me Come to Vegas"), and insecurity ("Your Cloud") with velvety grace. --Aidin Vaziri

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

54 of 58 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stunning and unique, October 29, 2002

By	Kristin Tomic (Portland, OR) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is Tori's eighth solo effort, and she has definately matured from Little Earthquakes. LE was a perfect album for adolescent angst. Under the Pink explored the complex and often sinister relationships formed between women. Boys for Pele was a dark wilderness of anger and pain. From the Choirgirl Hotels was a cityscape of dark, manic songs. To Venus and Back had heavy electronica, but maintained a sparse, desert-like sound. Strange Little Girls had Tori playing the role of thirteen women with tales to tell. Now, she's made the perfect drivng CD.

Every track here is individually stunning, but is best heard all together. Stylistically, this album is a cross between Pink and Choirgirl. Her lyrics here are not nearly as obscure as they were on Pele or Venus, but remain as poignant and Tori-like as the most discerning fan could wish for. Each track made me want to follow Scarlet' footsteps...

"Amber Waves" is one of my favorite tracks here. The chorus is enchanting, and the end of the song is sweet.

The album version of "A Sorta Fairytale" is a little shocking--the most controversial verse was taken out for radio play, and the song comes to a definate end, rather than trailing off.

"Wednesday" is a weird song. I don't really like it, but that's pending further listening.

"Strange" is the "Baker, Baker" of this album. Slow, mellow, and heartbreaking, but not the sort of thing I generally listen to.

"Carbon"--the track that I most wanted to hear--was phenomenal. The guitar melodies and drum loops cascade (punctuating names of famous ski trails).

For me, the song "Crazy" hit really close to home. It sounds a lot like "Strange." The chorus "let's just unzip your religion down" is one of the great Tori-isms of all time.

"Wampum Prayer" is the second a capella track that Tori's done, and it breaks your heart to hear her half-chant, half-sob the words.

"Don't Make Me Come To Vegas" isn't angry so much as weary and sarcastic. And the chorus "What will be will be over my dead body"...priceless.

"Sweet Sangria"...well, I don't think that there's one political leader on the planet who wouldn't benefit from hearing this song.

"Your Cloud" is, in my opinion, the sweetest song on the album...it's theme is about the same as U2's "One." It's about not pushing away a loved one, but recognizing the necessity or individuality in a relationship.

"Pancake" (takes place in Delaware) is another one that RELIGIOUS leaders need to hear. What is it about would-be Messiahs and martyrs?

"I Can't See New York" was, in it's way, creepier than "'97 Bonnie & Clyde. I heard it as a woman trapped on a hijacked plane, trying desperately to think of good things and not dwell on hr own death...and failng.

"Mrs. Jesus" is another song that really needs to be listened to a few times. At the moment, it gets on my nerves a little.

"Taxi Ride" is a GREAT road song...it's fun to sing along to, and it's so true...I've knon way too many people like this.

I was astounded at how much I liked "Another Girl's Paradise." The chorus and bridges make it one of the most fun songs to sing along with.

In "Scarlet's Walk" and "Virginia" I couldn't get Neil Gaiman's American Gods out of my head. "Out with the old and in with the new" is definately a big thing for we Americans.

I first heard "Gold Dust" on a promo sampler, and I wasn't impressed. Now...oh, boy. It's one of the most powerful tracks on the album.

So...I highly recommend the Limited Edition, for the wonderful DVD, the cute charm, THE REALLY NEAT STICKERS, and the handy poster/road map. The Polaroids are great; they feel like real photos. Remember...the audio disc itself unlocks bonus stuff on Tori's official website.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not a return to form but something much, much better, October 29, 2002

By	K. Anderson "Mathilde" (Portland, OR United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

You can hear the piano again! Thank you, Tori. This album is a return to the emotion and beauty (and instruments) of Tori's older music, but she isn't simply revisiting old subjects and melodies. There is nostalgia here, but never a sense of moving backwards - this is an album about travelling and maturing - precisely what Tori does musically and lyrically with these songs. It is clearly a theme album; the limited edition includes a map so that you can trace what songs came from which portions of her massive roadtrip across America. The songs are often earthy ("wampum prayer") and sometimes ethereal and soaring("I can't see New York") in sound, but the emotions are direct and accessible. "I can't see New York" is probably the most touching and genuine song that was inspired by 9/11. "Carbon" will leave you speechless and "gold dust" is at once dark, epic, and beautiful. The rhythm and melody in "Wednesday" lets us know that Tori hasn't forgotten her love of play, and "a sorta fairytale" is a perfect first single and more engaging every time you listen to it. Even the weaker songs don't feel like filler. For those who have become disillusioned with Tori Amos after her extreme departure from her early form ("Didn't she used to play piano?"), this album will draw you back in and make you fall in love again. Buy the limited edition - mine came with a tiny green rubber snake, tons of Polaroids, the map, a sheet of stickers, and a DVD that contains a gallery of Polaroids, videos for "a sorta fairytale" and "gold dust" and an optional audio commentary that gives some insight into the creation of the album (in typically odd tori-speak.) If you loved Little Earthquakes, Under the Pink and Boys For Pele, you will love this album.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Be Transported, August 24, 2003

By	Rudy Palma "The Writing Fiend" (NJ) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

I recently saw Ms. Amos in concert after being really curious about her work for quite some time and truly enjoying her single "A Sorta Fairytale" from the radio and its music video. I'd never seen anyone better live, and I was in complete shock of how wonderful she was. So I picked this album up the next day.

This album is quite a masterpiece. All the songs flow into each other perfectly and it flows on by in what feels like an instant. You feel almost like you're on a bus with Tori and her piano, travelling across the US. From ear candy like "A Sorta Fairytale", "Taxi Ride", "Wednesday" and "Carbon" to very intriguing pieces like "Your Cloud", "I Can't See New York", "Gold Dust" and "Amber Waves", Tori seems to take you back in time, around the country and back again.

Interestingly enough, "Don't Make Me Come to Vegas" recently became a Billboard Top 20 Club Play hit with its Timo Maas remix. This album truly does it all. You can either sit back and relax to it or listen intently to it, contemplating what it all means, and doing that you will find things missed on previous listens. If this album doesn't become the 2003 album of year at next year's Grammy Awards, it should. And if it isn't nominated, that will be unforgivable.

The limited edtion version comes with a cute array of stickers, an interesting SCARLET'S WALK themed map of America, and a very pleasant companion DVD featuring pictures of Tori and two toned-down videos for "Gold Dust" and "A Sorta Fairytale" that seem like indie-productions. Very interesting and certainly worth those few extra dollars.