Top 10 of 2011
7: Tori Amos - Night of Hunters (Sin Palabras)
Yes, yes, Tori Amos releases a new record, it pretty much always makes my list. Those in the know will note that this isn’t the actual ‘Night of Hunters’ LP, which features Tori and her daughter singing a classical song cycle about a woman finding power in her relationship. So…nothing new as far as Tori Amos thematic songwriting goes. Her voice is fine on the full version, her daughter can sing well enough, but the lyrics are not her best. In places they work very well, in other places I find that they could be actually harming her efforts. What does work very well is the music, so we are thankful for this ‘Sin Palabras’ (without words) version.
Each piece is musically based on a classical work which has been re-arranged by Amos (working with her long time arranger John Phillip Shenale) for piano and octet. The music is thrilling. Given her forays into the rock band sound and increasing use of synths and keyboards, it’s refreshing to be reminded that she is a very, very good piano player (which is why I fell in love with her back in 1994 - “Cornflake Girl” was doing things with the piano in a pop song that just blew my 12 year old mind). Of course now everyone is hoping (read: expecting) her work here to carry forward onto her next LP of completely original material, so…here’s hoping.
Top Tracks: Battle Of Trees, Fearlessness, Your Ghost
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