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Little Earthquakes
Tori Amos
1992
Wikipedia
Reviews
Like a review? Give it a thumb up to help us display relevant reviews!China is a ridiculous song and I still can't figure out what is going on in it. I love it. The album has so many different sounds with each different song and I liked a lot of them. The lyrics were strange and surreal some times, but I always enjoyed the story told. 4 stars, I would like to listen to this again some day.
Powerful. Her voice is amazing, passionate and varied and the piano work perfectly accompanies the pieces (though clearly Me and a Gun is stark and painful with just her voice).
Listened Before? Y This… is one of my favorite albums of all time. Tori Amos in her prime. Complex lyrics that completely capture the emotions intended, beautifully composed and performed music. A classic. Added to Library? Y
This is insanely good. Left me with chills. Standout tracks: all of them but I guess "Silent All These Years," "Leather," "Little Earthquakes"
Pretty fucking epic. So many very-good-to-great songs (“Crucify,” “Girl,” “Silent,” “China” and “Little Earthquakes” and “Tear in a Hand”). There’s a likable consistency to the tone and arrangements (centered on vocals and piano), and yet enough variety to keep listeners consistently engaged. Her voice is classic (if occasionally overextended) and the playing and instrumentation offer lots of grace notes and nice touches. This is way better than I remember (heard a lot when it came out) and has aged extremely well (even improved), an easy 4.5, even accounting for the fact that it was one of my ex-wife’s favorite records, and rounding up for overall excellence.
This album has clearly been influential for a lot of future indie women artists, but I don't think these songs hold up.
This is what Fiona Apple would sound like if she was twice as generic and half as talented.
I feel like I should like Amos (or at least appreciate her) but .. I mean, it's just a really annoying album. Amos comes off as a cut-rate Morrisette and every track grates on the ear. The album is entirely populated with noisy, cardboard songs sung with more energy than skill and oddly lacking in anything approaching passion. I never get the impression that she actually cares about anything she's singing about. And the constant, often atonal warbling and wailing quickly gets legitimately painful. It's fingernails-on-a-chalkboard levels of cringe.
Vocal e piano são o ponto forte. Crucify parece um misto de música ocidental com oriental, maior pira
Double yass! Like so many people, I discovered Tori Amos via Professional Widow. This album is not like Professional Widow. Most tracks are a simple piano/singer combo, and while the style is very familiar to those who grew up in the 1990s, it holds up still. Amos is earnest, emotionally aware and just plain splendid. One of the best albums ever recorded.
Piano girl popped off, haunting vocals, sick hooks and she's CRAZY FOR THE SMELLS LIKE TEEN SPIRIT COVER. i love you and in the pink even more
Superb. Before Tori Amos the only really groundbreaking female piano artist was Kate Bush. Many other artists were making bland, upbeat numbers which never really stood out. Along came Tori talking about masturbation, unrequited and lost love, religious oppression and many other things that made her stamp on the world. This album is a masterpiece.
I always liked Tori, although I see why some don't, she's a bit dramatic....but this album has some nice melodies for sure
A lot of unique textures and sounds. The good songs are really good. I definitely could see myself liking this album a lot upon further listens.
At first I wasn't wild about this one, but I ended up loving its songwriting, performances, and production.
I think this sort of music hasn't aged particularly well. Pleasant enough to listen to, but didn't really grab me.
A lot of this album was beautiful storytelling and poetic sounds- and then Man with a Gun hits you at the end of it. Fuck, dude.
this took a while to warm up I think but, i liked the style, it was passionate with strong lyricism and piano and was overall v nice. ‘Leather’ = 😍😍😍
The song appears as light filament once I've cracked it. As long as I've been doing this, which is more than thirty-five years, I've never seen the same light creature in my life. Obviously similar chord progressions follow similar light patterns, but try to imagine the best kaleidoscope ever—after the initial excitement, you start to focus on each element's stunning original detail. For instance, the sound of the words with the sound of the chord progression combined with the rhythm manifests itself in a unique expression of the architecture of color-and-light. ... I started visiting this world when I was three, listening to a piece by Béla Bartók; I visited a configuration that day that wasn't on this earth. ... It was euphoric.[17] At five, she became the youngest student ever admitted to the preparatory division of the Peabody Conservatory of Music.[18][19] She studied classical piano at Peabody from 1968 to 1974.[18] In 1974, when she was eleven, her scholarship was discontinued, and she was asked to leave. Amos has asserted that she lost the scholarship because of her interest in rock and popular music, coupled with her dislike for reading from sheet music.[
Great album, some sings seemed to me to be a little sleepy vibe, but I wouldn´t be surprised to give it a 5 one day.
I knew the name but am not sure if I've ever listened to Tori Amos before. Honestly, I didn't even know it's a woman. It was a very nice listen. A lot of emotion and musical depth. But I didn't find it gripping enough to see myself actively listening to much more of it.
Listened to this album twice before -- O woman you!! But the end lags a little bit. I love the energy of precious things, happy phantom, and girl :)
I loved this album when it first came out. Today, it has lost a little, but still holds up. Silent All These Years is still such a great song.
Soulful ballads, heartfelt emotion coupled with haunting piano makes for a good listen
Reminiscent of a more reserved Kate Bush, the songs range from starkly intimate to anthemic. A captivating album
Kate bush men hon heter int. Bör höras före död. De här e senare eirik som skriver när ja lyssnar klart albumet. Ja va hög som fan när ja sa att de här e som kate bush. De fanar dock. Ännu senare eirik här. De här e nog lite kate bush ändå. Fanar dock!!!
I really liked this. At first I thought it was a bit nothingy, but as it went on I really warmed to it. Good lyrics, some good musical choices.
Male trzesienia ziemi to jeden z najlepszych solowych projektow jakie lista do tej pory wyplula, przez solowych mam na mysli, ze jest to spektakl jednego aktora w tym przypadku Tori Amos, o ktorej slysze pierwszy raz, ale musialem juz ja gdzies slyszec, bo mam dziwne uczucie deja vu slyszac ten glos, potezny material, bo blisko godzina na 12 kawalkach, wszystkie napisane i skomponowane przez pania Amos, dodatkowo jest ona wspolproducentem czesci trakow, gatunkowo nazwalbym to popowym rokiem z tej ambitniejszej strony, wiec rownie dobrze mozna uzyc okreslenia alternatywnego rokowania, bo chociaz material popularny, to nie posiada on kawalkow radiowych, zarowno minimalistyczne brzmienie oparte na klawiszach, w ktore klika wlasnie pani Amos, zarowno klawisze elektrykowych bordow jak i fortepianowe da sie uslyszec podczas odsluchu, tak tez od strony liryczej jest to raczej trudny material, a moze ciezki bedzie lepszym okresleniem, bo glownymi motywami sa oczywiscie traumatyczne doswiadczenia zwiazane z edukacja seksualna, dorastaniem wsrod wartosci chrzescijanskich, feminizmem, ogolnym niezrozumieniem, wiec all that jazz, ale i tak najwazniejsze jest brzmienie jakie pani Amos stworzyla na tym materiale, mezzosopran w polaczeniu z minimalistycznymi klawiszami i dodatkowymi instrumentami granymi przez studyjnych najmenikow, wiec stringi wiolaczelowe, czy skrzypkowe, akustykowe gitarki, no i basiki, tworza spojna kompozycje, dawno nie sluchalo mi sie tak dobrze samego wokalu, glos jest naprawde czarujaco autentyczny, z plejkowych pickow dodam najabardziej winter, jako jeden z bogatszych instrumentalnie kawalkow, bogaty takze w motyw dorastania i niezrozumienia, kolejnym bedzie leather, ktory stara sie byc bardziej jazzowa niz rokowa kompozycja, co tez robi w ciekawy sposob progresujac klawiszami i elementami gitarki elektrykowej
I really enjoyed Crucify, Precious Things, and Leather. Tori has a great voice. This album was a nice surprise and a pleasant listen.
Lyrically potent; incredible instrumentals; harrowing and exciting, Amos has a fantastic voice packed with emotion
Wauw, lang niet gehoord maar wat een prachtige plaat! Ik was geneigd 5 sterren te geven, maar sommige teksten zijn gewoon echt te ongemakkelijk.
I knew a couple of songs but not the album. It was a good effort and I enjoyed the album. Excellent musical composition and great singing voice.
very solid 4,5; beautiful voice, beautiful melodies, really ambitious music between rock and pop, lyrics about serious and important problems, I love it, it's very influential on contemporary music imo
reminiscent of Kate Bush. Wanted to re-listen to understand the lyrics. Overall good -3.7
Tori has her own sound as a singer/songwriter/pianist. However, I can pick up on her Kate Bush influence. I think her songs are suited for a more mature female audience. At least, that's been my experience as I knew of her while growing up but never really enjoyed her music until now.
I disliked this album at first but really warmed up to it as it went on. Her sound really reminds me of Kate Bush. Highlights: Happy Phantom, Leather
Excellent album. There have been Kate Bush and Joni Mitchell comparisons which occasionally make sense but I think this stands on its own - great piano melodies, Tori has a unique and super-expressive and emotional voice that - rarely, for me - considerably adds to the music rather than detracts. I remember when this hit; amongst the exploding grunge and alt-rock you would hear everywhere this album stuck out; on the surface it seems like it might have been at the other end of the spectrum from the Pearl Jam/STP/Nirvana wall but I actually think it compliments them perfectly. There's a hard edge here amidst the surface-level mellow piano ballads which is encapsulated in her voice and lyrics - the rare album where I do notice lyrics, and for good reason. Emotional, haunting, clear, and yet somehow still catchy. Highly recommended. 9/10 4 stars.
A strong 4. I’m not normally a big fan of the quirky, warbling female vocal + piano/acoustic guitar but she really nails it. On the cusp of a 5 but I couldn’t find a stand out banger on there so had to listen to Cornflake Girl after it finished to round things off. Still a great debut.
Leather is great. Has hints of Owen Pallett here and there. Reminds me a bit of Fiona Apple too. Has a bit of a haunting vibe to it.
Tori Amos: I like her stuff alright. She was always on the periphery of my listening sphere back in the day, but was definitely known to me. This album is a good one, but feels very middle-of-the-pack for my collection so far. 3 stars.
Bit of a dated sound (big on the atmospheric piano), probably a strong album if it's your taste, not my taste on the whole (reminds me of Kate Bush) enjoyed the piano of Happy Phantom
Not as weird as I expected, sugar daddy-o. Still half sounds like it would fit in current music, or maybe that’s just me being old and thinking music hasn’t progressed since the 90s.
Found myself enjoying the album more as it went on, but overall just ok. Thought it was a bit cheesy, but there’s some great story telling on there. Favorite track(s): “Me and a Gun” and “Winter”
This is a fun little album that DRIPS with 90s mood. The only real knock against this is that Crucify is the best track, and it only goes down from there.
Good album. Really liked it at the start, but got a bit samey by the end. Ubiquitous 'reminds me of Kate Bush' comment.
A complete surprise. Complexly arranged with dark lyrics and uplifting vocal talent. Bit long though.
Pop melankolija sa catchy instrumentalom i jako lijepim glasom koji nadopunjuje melodije pjesama na ovom albumu.
Some awesome vocals and piano work. Some of the songs are very good but the others aren't as grabbing. Reminds me of Kate Bush and Fiona Apple somehow, got a bit of a dark/haunting vibe from these songs
I had to listen to this twice to give it a fair review. Not really my thing but once I got over that you can hear the quality.
Starts much stronger than it finishes, but in the end not really my cup of tea. Inoffensive as background music. Enjoyed "Leather", didn't enjoy "China".
Some really good songs on here. Liked winter, crucify, Slightly overindulgent in parts - sounded like a musical number
The start of a run of good albums; not as many highlights as a couple of the later albums but enough to more than entertain.
It's nice, she's clearly a very good songwriter. I don't know if I'd revisit it much, or if it does anything special
Yes Less angst than I expected Comparisons with Kate Bush only v valid for a couple of tracks
I've heard the occasional Tori Amos song before, and never really cared about it, but maybe there are a few cool tunes here. maybe. Ok, that was way better than expected. A bit too soft and waify to really justify a full hour, a lot of it is just the same piano-driven stuff, but the first track in particular was really good. 3/5. If it was shorter it'd be even higher.
I always thought she should have been a bigger deal in the 90's. If she debuted today, I feel like she would be a mega-star. Favorite Tracks: "Crucify" "Silent All These Years" "Little Earthquakes"
Alright, bit too musically for my taste but some enjoyed some of the songs. Wouldn't rush back to listen again
At first I thought this was waaay to Disney/show tunes for me. But some of them were OK. Generally not my thing, but also wasn't as awful as I had expected
Vocals are big in the mix, second half of the album was much more artistically captivating. Found it hard to listen to at times but in general a positive experience.
I didn't really listen to Tori Amos at the time this came out, but this album was important to a lot of women my age and she loomed large over college radio in the early 1990s. She was part of a group of women artists who made really personal, uncompromising music and who had a firm grip on how they presented themselves as artists. Listening to it now, it’s pretty good. I'm actually surprised how many of these songs I remember. The album does feel very much of another time. Not every song has held up all that well, but it’s mostly a solid listen with some interesting arrangements. Lyrically, the songs can be a bit much. I just listened to Joni Mitchell’s Blue yesterday and well, that is how you do confessional lyrics. This here is some sort of free associative therapy and it’s a lot of words. I hope Amos was able to refine her songwriting over time, because she does have a way of turning a phrase when she wants to. It’s interesting all of the comparisons reviewers have been making between Amos and other artists, not all favorable. I try not to hold that against artists too much. All music is a conversation with what came before it. It’s almost unfair to compare her to Kate Bush because Bush is such a talented, singular artist. And Bush’s idiosyncrasies are quite natural for her. Tori Amos’ attempts at that style feel like contrivances and she does comes off as somewhat of a discount Kate Bush. There’s a tension between Amos’ attempts at being adventurous and what is in places a fairly anodyne sound. That doesn’t mean there aren’t good songs on this album because there are quite a few. But it is the difference between being a pretty good album from 30 years ago and being a classic. Fave Songs: Winter, Girl, Crucify, Mother
A less weird Kate Bush. Some decent tunes, especially Little Earthquakes, but there are some boring ballads too.
Sicuramente non male, ma la parte cantautrice di canzoni struggenti non mi convince. Canzoni carine, ma che non rimangono.
I've never given Tori Amos a fair chance, I'm not sure why not. Maybe because people like her so much. I shall to try to listen fresh. The album cover is great, and Little Earthquakes is a great name for an album. Diving in. I don't know. Much of it manages to sound both disinterested and like it is trying too hard at the same time as it plods along. That said I really liked the mood of Winter, Silent All These Years is a solid tune, but Happy Phantom just doesn't click together for me, even though I want it too. Mother to the end of the album left me, I don't know, bored with the trauma? I acknowledge the bravery of Me and a Gun, and even the flashes of brilliance in the lyrics, but still. It doesn't grab me like it could. I can't tell if I'm poisoned to her music or if isn't all that good. I've got to go with an ambivalent 3 stars.
An excellent artifact from the time before digitally editing every track on every song on an album. You could add tracks, and that was done here (adding the better piano), but you couldn't autotune yet, so Tori's voice and performance are real. I miss that a little. Singer songwriter stuff always speaks to me more anyway.
She thinks she's Kate Bush, but she's actually more Melanie of "Brand New Key" fame. This particular album will always have a special place with me. When I was a college DJ for an alternative music radio station in 1992, I used to play "Me and a Gun" during my on-air shift. I'd go out of my way to play it because there just wasn't anything like it (and frankly hasn't been anything like it since then either). No other radio station would go near that song. Tori Amos doesn't sound like Melanie or Kate Bush or anyone else on that song.
Not what I would have chosen for myself from the list to listen to on my birthday, but it might just be what I needed. Tori's voice is incredible, and her songwriting is impressive. I'm in awe of her talent. There's a lot to unpack here, the lyrics are dense with meaning and you can tell this album was a heavily cathartic artistic experience for her. Me and a Gun is bone-chilling. I may not become a regular listener, but goddamn she has my respect now.
Once again another 90s album that is way too long. I enjoy Tori Amos, but I felt like this dragged way too much in a lot of places.
she has a very pretty voice and string lyrics overall. some of the songs were boring but overall it was good.
I have heard about Tori Amos, but never really taken the time to listen to any of her albums. This seems like a pretty early example of the "confessional eccentric singer-songwriter" genre that became popular in the 90s/00s with acts like Alanis Morissette, Fiona Apple and Regina Spektor. Also has definite elements of Kate Bush but with more stereotypical 90s production, which I feel has not aged as well as some of the listed examples. The big echo-y drum hits and washy guitar sounds remind me of a classic Disney soundtrack (looking at you Phil Collins). Her musical talent, and songwriting prowess is unmistakable here. You can tell she is really laying her soul down onto this record. Unfortunately it doesn't quite resonate with me. I didn't dislike this album, but I didn't enjoy it as much as I should have, given that some of my all time favourites follow the same formula. Also just want to note that the bonus disk has an unexpected cover of Smells Like Teen Spirit. Wouldn't exactly say it's good, but interesting that it exists. Fav Tracks: Happy Phantom, Me and a Gun, Little Earthquakes
Reminds me of Alanis Morissette, also maybe Evanescence? Very emotional songwriting with intense soundscapes behind the words. I thought it was fine. Nothing sensational. Vocal performance is really good, but I don't resonate with the lyrics. The record and I do not seem to operate on the same wavelength. Fave tracks: Little Earthquakes
How can you see no to a budget Kate Bush? Here's how. She wrote lyrics for 12 songs but only had ideas for the first half. I have nothing to comment on about "China", "Mother", and "Me and a Gun" besides the lyrics. I like to think of "China" as a romatic interpretation of a conservative uncle who complains about everything being made in China and building a wall around Mexico. "Leather" has a couple cool piano tricks and a quiet yet hard guitar reverb. "Tear in Your Hand" has an echoey over-the-top 80s production (yes I know it's 1992). I do like the chaotic frenzy of the second half of "Little Earthquakes" to close the album. But otherwise, the second half of the album was forgettable, with tracks going on twice as long as they should. I had high hopes going into the album with "Crucify." I like the overlapping chamber lines, the versatile vocal range, and the fine 80s production. "Winter" is the other super strong song, nice strings and gospel choir. I do think the first half is fine. There's some goofy songs, but besides "Happy Phantom" they're all hidden in the lyrics. Songs like "Precious Things" is quite literally the reason why a lot of people hear an amalgamation of Kate Bush and Alanis Morissette. It has the creative power of Bush's instrumentals (some avant horror and etheral aspects from Hounds of Love) and both of their vocals (Alanis-esque at 0:55 and 3:10). Although most songs have just Bush's vocals. Here's my 3rd listen on the day of my review. Mad respect to the girl for getting kicked out of the Peabody Conservatory as a kid for listening to Beatles and LZ over Chopin and Beethoven. Maybe I started off this review harsh yesterday. With so many amazing works you have to train yourself to find things you genuinely don't like, but honestly it's really good, and it gets better with multiple listens. Her lyrics take on a variety of literary genres whether comedic, romantic, or horror. Her singing is powerful and versatile for many emotions, it's way better than anything you hear on contemporary radio, and comparing her to Kate Bush is a plus. Even on the latter half she doesn't fail. Her piano work is superb, even on the latter half, and she incorporates other instruments and techniques as well as many indie folk artists. Even now, I still believe the latter half is significantly melodically weaker, and her ideas did run short.
Feels like listening to a musical, but not in a good way. I'm not a fan of the mix of backing. There doesn't seem to be a smooth transition in songs, but lots of sudden shifts in volume and instrumentation that feel random.
Had a couple of good songs on there and nice storytelling, mainly just not my genre or vibe
Don't think I've ever listened to a Tori Amos record. Listening to it, I don't think its aimed at a man in his 30s. or men in general. The theme here seems to be about women's struggles. Songs are okish without any real hooks. 2/5
nothing glaringly that i dislike about this album but the voice doesnt sound quite right and the background music doesnt match the severity of the voice. sort of sounds like a ripoff adele as well
Clearly talented and some nice moments but all very dull. A classically trained pianist who hopped onto that early nineties angst thing or at least that’s my perception
Probably deserves higher score as it’s genuinely very impressive in parts, couple of great tracks and overall a lot darker than I expected. But I won’t revisit so it has to be a 2
A pretty dull start to the album, like a boring Kate Bush., but then Happy Phantom came on and woke the album up. Me and a gun is very moving too. Lyrics and themes are interesting, I just don't like the arrangements or style particularly.
I couldn't get through this one. I can relate it a lot to my feelings on Kanye: I usually like the songs, but there's always just something off about them. Tracks 1 and 2 start the album off strong, but the album becomes pretty boring to me after that. Highlight: 1, and 2.
This wasn't the most enjoyable album. I think she's a talented and skillful singer, but I don't like the vocals in the songs. The piano and instrumental is pretty, but the style she sings in reduces my enjoyment. Favorite track: Winter
It should be a rainy day, in Seattle, on the set of twilight before listening to this. Only reasonable time.
Not bad, but mostly not really my style. It may just be a bit too 'soft' for me. Not really sure. Nothing on it that I would call bad, but to me it's a very forgettable album. Like it's something that could be on and I wouldn't even notice for 3 songs that there was music playing. Happy Phantom was probably the only song that stuck out which I would listen to again.
I can’t deny the depth of the songwriting and production behind this album, but it’s just not for me. Sorry
Eh. Can't say i enjoyed most tracks, though the title track and the one lacking an instrumental hitbpretty hard. Felt way too long for how few original ideas this record had.
I did not care for this album. I don't need to listen to it again. The piano portions were alright.
I liked this when it came out, but it sounds quite samey and a little boring now, even if the piano playing and Kate Bush vocals are clever. Disappointing.
From the limited bit if Tori Amos I'd heard I thought I was really going to enjoy this. Instead it felt more like a disappointing collection of b-sides that never made the cut for Disney movies.
Had to stop half way through. Couldn't do it anymore. Sounds like Lyrics from a bad poetry reading. A lot of rhymes and lyrics that made me cringe a bit. Piano parts were pretty good. Best I can say about this one.
The album cover shows Tori in a box. I wonder if this was purposeful? She has an amazing voice, but ultimately, this album still has a 90s sound.
2.9 - A classic case of an amazing talent that desperately needs an editor. There are moments of deep introspection where Amos confronts past traumas (“Silent All These Years”). But there are too many moments where it’s unclear what she’s going on about (“Leather”). And “China” is probably the worst song I heard this past year. Points deducted for overuse of vocal fry. Overall, the rawness of emotion sometimes works but mostly ends up feeling self-indulgent.
Bit of a folk, intimate vibe throughout. I can see why people would like this but I needed more to capture my attention
Like most prog, this has a tendency to get lost in a single-minded pursuit of virtuosic wizardry. And like some folk (even freak-folk), in the pursuit of the notion of purity. While I'm not averse to Amos's musical theatre tinklings or, say, the penultimate a capella number, I'm far more entertained when she conjoins her great voice and sense of drama with hooks, not to mention some provocative writing. E.g. "Just cause you can make me come doesn't make you Jesus," or "I can scream as loud as your last one, but I can't claim innocence." Oh look, a theme is emerging. Pardon my prurience.
I was not a fan honestly. About a few songs into the album I found myself oscillating between "I wish I was listening to Jagged Little Pill" and "this sounds like my least favorite song from a musical." I don't think it was made poorly, just not my thing. I did like Precious Things which will save this from being my first 1 star.
Feels stuck in the 90s, like I'm watching a long lost Honey I Shrunk the Kids sequel. Not necessarily bad, just doesn't feel like a must listen.
No
Sounds like a bunch of disney songs, not really my type of music and i actually found it annoying to listen to.