Tori Amos - Scarlet's Walk

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 Amazon.com

Top 5

I love this disc. It would make my top 5 all time
should I be dumped on an island - and given the choice.
Pancake is my fav. tune on the disc but when I put it
on I never skip tracks, they are all worth a listen.
Many hard core Tori fans tell me Scarlets Walk is a
bit 'down to earth' given some of her other releases -
but regardless of what planet she is from...
This is great music. June 13, 2008

Took a minute to get into it

It took me forcing myself to listen to this cd several times to get to where I could differentiate between the songs and enjoy the cd. At first I felt I didn't like it much but I've changed my mind. I actually like it a lot. It's a little more subdued than her other cds. It's great to have playing in the background when company is over and you don't want something too obtrusive, or if you want to have quiet music playing to lull you to sleep. The last song on the album, Gold Dust, is probably one of Tori's most beautiful songs ever. That song alone is worth buying the cd I think. November 8, 2007

Volatile

I really wanted to like this CD, but I just couldn't get into it. I admire what she was sharing, her feelings about humanity's treatment of itself... It just did not convey into musical scores I wanted to listen to. August 1, 2007

The Greatest Album of All Time. Period.

For years, I toyed with the idea of writing a review for this, my most favorite album of all time. Then I decided that nothing I could possibly write could do it justice, and that I would have to instead write a book about it.

In the meantime, heres a rundown - do yourself a favor and get this, no matter WHAT your musical tendencies. Here are a few things of note:

1. Every song is memorable and replayable - An achievement in this day and age. No two songs have the same melodies or musical styles.

2. The lyrics are the best Tori has ever put to paper. These are her most accessible lyrics - this is one album on which she put aside her eccentric songwriting in favor of more obviously meaningful words.

3. The Flow - The seamless transition from one song to the next in terms of narrative should be heard to be believed. Every song links to the next, but they also work wonderfully when listened to separately.

4. The Message - Tori has made a record for America, but its also her least American record, in many ways. It is so blatantly anti-American at some points, but not in a critical fashion, but more like 'Look at what we've done!' - amazing.

5. The voice - I own all Amos' albums, and I can honestly report that she sounds the best on "Scarlet's Walk".

6. The Replay Factor - This is the only Amos album I find myself reaching for even when I have newer albums with me that need playing. This is an achievement, yes, but if you think of music as an artistic investment, this is the only CD I can think of that will pay you back so richly.

The Music:

1. "A Sorta Fairytale" : Perhaps her greatest single - and her most politically controversial. She obviously sides with the Native Indians on this one. This is a song to memorize and sing to yourself - in fact, you will remember most of the lyrics within two listens!

2. "Another Girls' Paradise" : An underrated Tori gem, this track is found tacked toward the end of this 80 minute album. Its soaring chorus, amazing play on flower-names, and gorgeous imagery - a truly remarkable song indeed.

3. "Wednesday" - Tying in with Neil Gaiman's "American Gods", this is one song that instantly won me over and is the most playful, in a 1960s retro style, on the record. One for keeps.

4. "Carbon"/"Strange"/"Crazy" : The best trilogy of songs in recorded music history. Listen, and become a believer.

This is as musically rich and empowered an album as they come.

Thinking of it while I write, I am tempted to tell you about the stark beauty of "Virginia", or the goosebump inducing lyrical quality of "Gold Dust". But then I would also have to tell you about the snazzy production on "Don't Make me come to Vegas", as well as the chorus-dominated opener "Amber Waves".

There is a reason this is No. 1 of all-time albums, on my list. No other album on earth mixes musical genre, stellar songwriting, and breathtaking vocals, as much as this one does.

Years after its release, Tori Amos "Scarlet's Walk" remains the Greatest Album ever recorded.

Words do not do it justice. Get this now, and discover it for yourself. July 5, 2007

Great album but not the packaging

I purchased this cd as a gift for my sister. The cd she received was packaged with only the cd, not the bonus dvd, the stickers and the map that I received when I originally purchased the cd for myself. I was disappointed that I was not informed that the extras would not be included.

But... the music is some of Tori's best work. March 21, 2007

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