Tori Amos is Abnormally Attracted To Sin

Photo: Shaggy

In what comes in as our second story of the day about abysmally titled works of "art," a different high priestess of the ivory keys is returning to the record shelves this spring with a new album entitled Abnormally Attracted To Sin. Even though the title is a reference to the musical Guys and Dolls (Amos told us in an interview last summer she's been ODing on Broadway since starting to pen her first musical, The Light Princess), we still have to say we're none too pleased. What happened to the Tori of yore who didn't need to spell everything out? Who was so deeply entrenched in metaphor and symbolism that 96 percent of the time we had NO CLUE what the hoo-ha she was even talking about -- and we LOVED it?

La Amos will debut songs from the new album (which -- in another "stop with the frickin' concepts for five seconds" moment will be accompanied by documentary style "visualettes," [her word -- NOT ours] or little movies, shot over the past year) at the SXSW festival on March 19 along with rapper Lil Jon (again -- we couldn't make  this stuff up if we tried!).

One thing that was totally bogus -- and this pleases us to no end -- was a fake cover for the new Amos album created by a friend of Popnography, Shaggy. Somehow Perez Hilton got a hold of the horribly photoshopped joke image (above) -- we aren't quite sure how, a la Flickr? -- and posted it as the legit artwork! Ridic. We're still hoping against hope that the album is even marginally worth listening to -- but we're not holding our breaths. If the old pre-2005 tori is out there, somewhere, come home! We miss you.

-- NOAH MICHELSON

Previously >  Off topic with Tori

Comments

[Sage]

Well I guess everyone has their own tastes but I thought American Doll Posse was a wonderful album and the tour was among her best ever! It was a dramatic change from the bee-sleeper.

I Also don't know why you're so anti-concept album. What Tori Amos album doesn't have a central theme? The last few have been very heavy on the concept but I really like that (Especially for ADP and Scarlet's Walk, no comment on TBK).

Boys for Pele was a Concept Album.

Also Perez is a ridiculous person; he shouldn't be allowed to communicate with the public at large.

And lastly: no one's getting beat over the head with obvious lyrics. You mean to tell me you know how cartoons can feed people or what a jesus-swallowing black hole entails?

[Sage]

Well I guess everyone has their own tastes but I thought American Doll Posse was a wonderful album and the tour was among her best ever! It was a dramatic change from the bee-sleeper.

I Also don't know why you're so anti-concept album. What Tori Amos album doesn't have a central theme? The last few have been very heavy on the concept but I really like that (Especially for ADP and Scarlet's Walk, no comment on TBK).

Boys for Pele was a Concept Album.

Also Perez is a ridiculous person; he shouldn't be allowed to communicate with the public at large.

And lastly: no one's getting beat over the head with obvious lyrics. You mean to tell me you know how cartoons can feed people or what a jesus-swallowing black hole entails?

[shaggy]

I think there's a huge difference between concept and theme, when it comes to her albums. The last four have been concept (although, Scarlet's Walk could be considered more thematic), whereas everything before is more thematic. Even Boys For Pele, which I considered to be a concept album at the time of its release, appears more thematic upon retrospect. If she had released Pele with a map, or broken it up into "gardens," or donned different personas via archetypes and wigs, I think that would completely distract from the album. In short, more theme and less concept. Please.

Also, love the photo credit. ;)

[adam]

I love the album's title. Very relieved it isn't the album cover. Haven't been the biggest fan of the past two album covers (ie the beekeeper and American doll posse) but since she's matching a visual to every track, let's hope that a brilliant photographer and concept for the cover is in place. It's the music I'm more interested in. I would love it if she returned to more of a From the Choirgirl hotel and to venus and back sound... although I did like the sound of american doll posse lot.

[Craig]

Guess what? Song writing is all about concepts and when you have a lot of concepts you have a concept album. Do you know anything about music, how people compose music and what it takes to keep oneself fresh in the music business?
Who hired you to be writing negative commentaries about talented artists?
Why even put yourself in the same article as Perez Hilton? This article is crap.

[jenny]

There's a difference between having a concept, like Boys for Pele did, and relying on gimmicky bullshit like American Doll Posse and The Beekeeper did. One has a thematic structure, the other has bullshit concepts about archetypes and includes seed packs with the CD booklet. I just want Tori to make a good album again and not spend more time worried about her wig or which "Doll" she's playing instead of giving her performance everything she has.

[Robert]

While the title does, objectively, leave everything to be desired, I disagree with the entitled, crybaby attitude that underlies your post--there's a bitchiness that reeks of "Tori owes me another 'good' album so I can once again become dependent on her music and touring to dictate my livelihood". Why don't you just move on in your own life and let Tori do what she feels the need to do in hers? Why the cynicism and dramatics? Especially without hearing a note. It's almost patronizing, really.

[tiduspr]

I guess perception really is everything. I'm a fan of Old tori and a fan of current tori as well. I dont need her to be pissed off at the world or angry to enjoy her music.

Have never understood why so many toriphiles keep bashing The Beekeeper.. I guess they need Tori to be in a constant state of pain. The beekeper is imho a very deep album and i love it.

Good thing about Tori is she couldn't care less what people or their "fans" say. She'll write what she wants. And, thankfully, i have always been 100% satisfied with what she's done.

Stay true to the music.

[billy]

Tori is a modern day siren! Every album she has produced has invoked such strong emotion in me. Weather it be precious thinggs. or the rage in boys for pele, to the soft silky folksy nectar ther was the beekeeper. ADP was a kick ass album, and i can't wait to here what this modern goddess, has for us next!!!!!!!!!

[Ashley]

I say if you don't like, don't buy it, but don't diss it before you've even heard it. Or have you? I'll buy it without even hearing one note because even if it isn't her best work it will be better than a lot of the crap out there!!

[sadi]

Wow. Whether I was a hardcore Tori fan or not, most of there are some serious fighting words here....The woman has training, is talented out the wazoo, and has bled herself dry time and time again to bring us an alternative way to deal with our own hurts.....She certainly gives more than her share of herself to her craft, and she is phenomenal....Whether you like a chord on the album, buying it would certainly go a long way towards helping RAINN...

[Matt]

real cover art for the new album can be seen here: http://www.blogcdn.com/www.spinner.com/media/2009/03/tori-amos-sin-cover.jpg

[Alysha]

I suppose I kind fo agree with you-- I'm still a HUGE fan like I've been for some time now...
I almost feel as if she has... sort of ditched old fans, maybe I'm wrong.
But I know what you mean about being too literal.
Although, I'm sure the album will be lovely... I must admit though, ADP ticked me off a little, it almost seemed (Or maybe it was the diction used in one of her interviews which sways my next opinion) like she was looking for a newer, up-to-date audience. Heh.
Who knows, but I still remain optimistic!
What can I say-- I love Tori.

[KS]

Why would Tori wanna bother her songs please her fans not? Or do u think that u became her fan becos she actually pleased u at the 1st place? then if she doesnt please u then u just walk away or crybaby? She's an artists, she stil good in what she does and she still put in what her efforts even for her age, n she defintely knows she cant please everyone so why bother? I will not say i love all her songs as i'll be lying, no artists r perfect as well as songs, its just an impression, an inspiration or entertainment at times n thats all that matters. Ppl evolves, u cant expect her to be "pele" everytime or else ppl may say she repeating the same cookies n cream, yes we all love that part of her but we grow as life goes along. If u found her new stuff doesnt inspires u, dont listen, if u like some then just listen those, if u like then grab the CD(at least she's not singing britney's).Isn't that all that matters rather than wasting all ur breath for all the selfish wishful thinking to mould her into something u wished her-to-be in ur own mind? I'm still a fan of her bcos of her efforts, not bcos blindly-saying [i love all her songs], she's still inspires me n that the only thing that matters. Dont u think?

[Miscelaineous]

I love Tori, I really do, but why the hell would she work with Lil Jon in the first place???

[Mark]

Could not agree more with you Noah. Tori has had one too many smokes on the pipe and then had a kid which equals crack-head rock&roll on valium. No bueno.
I miss the Tori of Professional Widow, Cruel, and Caught A Light Sneeze. I miss the weird, angry, banshee that was...

[Amanda]

Wow! I guess people have never heard of growing up and/or evolving personally or professionally. Tori, like a multitude of other artist have grown up and evolved! She is not the Tori from when she first started out. Give it a break guys! Reguardless of you hopes of her remaining the single girl who seemed to make love to the piano she is not. Maybe if you could put that love lust aside you would she that she still is an amazing artist and deserves some credit!

[Gloria]

I have a theory as to why Tori fans have become disenchanted with her... Tori started to play into her type cast as a fairy goddess yellow dafodills and pink ponies. When really she was a "I believe in Peace, bitch!" (The original "It's Tori, Bitch!") ADP had some of that old Tori but with fewer mediphors. Welcome to England seems promising, but Maybe Claifornia, not so much.