FROM THE CHOIRGIRL HOTEL

Hey! I get to first review an album. How cool. I'm glad to finally see Tori Amos on ProgArchives. She is a great talent and has made music that fits into just about any genre with many prog elements. FROM THE CHOIRGIRL HOTEL is one of the better releases she has put out. A good mixture of softer piano leaning and harder rock work. The highlight is the tracks 3, 4, and 5: "Black Dove", "Raspberry Swirl", and "Iieee" which pretty describes the chorus on this track, the finest on the album, and one of her best. Thumping rhythms, great vocals, great lyrics, and some semi-middle eastern beats. Awesome and haunting. Another highlight is the fine soft number "Northern Lad". The last of the great tunes is "Playboy Mommy" which is a slow moving bluesy number about exactly what the title says! The rest of the tracks are not as good but none are really bad, just not as memorable for me. If you have never checked out Tori, you should. Get beyond some of her poppier work and you will find a deep and sensitive artist with really fine songwriting skills. 4 stars.