Monday, May 4, 1998

Tori Amos From the Choirgirl Hotel released

From the Choirgirl Hotel

Tori Amos

Released: May 4, 1998

Peak: 5 US, 6 UK, 10 CN, 8 AU

Sales (in millions): 1.0 US, 0.1 UK

Genre: alternative rock singer/songwriter

Tracks:

Song Title [time] (date of single release, chart peaks) Click for codes to charts.

Spark [4:13] (4/20/98, 49 BB, 32 A40, 13 AA, 13 MR, 16 UK, 25 CN, 50 AU, 28 DF)
Cruel [4:07] (8/24/98, 32 DF)
Black-Dove (January) [4:38]
Raspberry Swirl [3:58] (8/24/98, 20 CN, 57 AU)
Jackie’s Strength [4:26] (9/15/98, 54 BB, 12 CN, 32 DF)
i i e e e [4:07]
Liquid Diamonds [6:21]
She’s Your Cocaine [3:42] (32 DF)
Northern Lad [4:19]
Hotel [5:19]
Playboy Mommy [4:08]
Pandora’s Aquarium [4:45]

All songs written by Tori Amos.

Total Running Time: 54:11

Other Songs from the Era:

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (4/20/98, “Spark” UK EP1)
Purple People (4/20/98, “Spark” UK EP1)
Bachelorette (4/20/98, “Spark” UK EP1)
Cooling (4/20/98, “Spark UK EP2)
Do It Again (4/20/98, “Spark UK EP2)
Never Seen Blue (9/15/98, “Jackie’s Strength” EP)
Belulah Land (9/15/98, “Jackie’s Strength” EP)

Rating:

3.687 out of 5.00 (average of 13 ratings)

Awards:

(Click on award to learn more).

About the Album:

From the Choirgirl Hotel “doesn’t sound like ‘a typical’ Tori Amos album. She moved forward from the sound of Boys for Pele and returned to full group recordings for the first time since the aborted heavy metal type outfit. No heavy metal here though!” ^AD

“Spark opens things strongly” ^AD with “the piano integrated successfully within a full band recording. The song gains in momentum as it goes along before reaching a stupendous middle section that's simply thrilling.” ^AD

“Cruel is all drums, drum machines, weird noises, atmosphere. A great vocal though. And, that word. Atmosphere. The vocal makes it special. A beautiful vocal. That word again. Beautiful.” ^AD

Black Dove is “a song bordering on genius – the vocals, the music, everything comes together. The song explodes in the middle section but returns againtowards the end, leaving you breathless. This would have made a great first single…to point people toward the fact that here we have Tori moving away altogether from her early piano dominated sound.” ^AD

“Raspberry Swirl reintroduces the machines of ‘Cruel’ and nods in a dance direction. It’s a more fully integrated dance sound than the remix of ‘Professional Widow’ however. It’s integrated within a rock song! This is one of the most furious and exhilarating songs she’s ever done.” ^AD

“Jackie’s Strength provides comfort to those who love Tori's earlier work, being a beautiful piano led ballad with wonderful vocals. 'Iiiee' wraps up the first half of the record being an atmospheric percussion led track with a haunting little tune where the lyrics become unimportant, this is all about the sound of the human voice.” ^AD

“i i e e e, Liquid Diamonds and She’s Your Cocaine are not at all quiet, Piano singer-songstress types of songs, they sound almost industrial. Northern Lad contains one of Tori’s most heart-warming and heart-breaking vocal performances, ever.” ^AD

“Hotel…will confound a few doubters with its sheer brilliant wall of rock noise. A stunning album, all told. Perfect from beginning to end, sequenced well, a modern classic growing in stature to rival the reputation of her debut.” ^AD