Tori Amos
Unrepentant Geraldines
Reviewed by: Lara Supan
Haunting, vulnerable, and ethereally beautiful are words that only start to describe Tori Amos’ new addition to her discography.
There are few that have a passive opinion of Tori Amos. With her eclectic song writing and demonstrative orchestration, she’s in it to win it with Unrepentant Geraldines. Her lyrical precision paints illustrative pictures in each of her stories, from a fairy tale about the Maids of Elfen-Mere to an all too real emotional battle in 16 Shades of Blue. Each song offers a whimsical journey through seemingly mundane subject matter, including the NSA spying scandal!
“Giant’s Rolling Pin” is definitely a tour de force in writing, instrumentation and orchestration. It depicts a fictional journey to find the Giant’s Rolling Pin in order to flatten out the world again, while making veiled comments on our privacy in this day and age. An example of this playful jabbing is “everybody spies, so why are we surprised?” Amos hits the nail on the head without being overly accusatory in her commentary. Joining this poetic ditty is a tuba, creating the overarching footsteps of this giant whose rolling pin she goes in search of, and percussion creating the feeling of motion for the journey. Beautifully composed and thoughtfully imagined, this is only one of the many unique stories found on this album.
Find some time to sit and listen, to soak in and contemplate the lyrical beauty, and to feel the effects of her evocative composition. Even if you come away feeling a little wistful, you’ll know you’ve just experienced a piece of Tori Amos, and you’ll be better off for it.
Rating: Iconic
