Little Earthquakes

Meh, softcock

My favourite ever ever

3.4/not a fan of the indie music backing here

Never heard of her before. Nice early 90s

This felt a bit like torture but I guess some people like that.

Beautiful harmonies in some of the songs.

Little Earthquakes was definitely a really darn good album. This album gave me a lot of the same vibes that Fiona Apple's Tidal gave despite that album coming out a whole 4 years after this one. This album still hits a lot of the same beats Tidal did with similar sounding vocals and also heavily relying on the piano in nearly all the songs. Said piano was easily the best part of the whole album as it could be really beautiful at points in the songs that did use it. The vocals were a bit more hit or miss but were mostly hits when Amos did her typical singing style and didn't try anything too weird. This is a quite a nice surprise of an album. Best Song: Winter Worst Song: Me and a Gun

I never really understood the appeal of Amos (aside from the fact that she was a waifish, visually pleasing redhead), but I was never her target audience either.

I wasn't a fan back in the day but listening to it now, this album is amazing

Favorite Track: Girl

Couldn't really get into this. Tear in Your Hand stood out. 2/5.

Un p’tit goût de Kate bush

Casse pas 3 pattes mais sympa

When this came up I said ‘fuck yes’ out loud. I still remember the first time I saw the ‘Silent All These Years’ video, I was captivated. This was my early twenties angst album. Timeless. And she is amazing live. No brainer

I wasn’t expecting this to be so good

Album 782 of 1089 Tori Amos - Little Earthquakes (1992) Rating : 3 / 5 Decent listen. Strong songs and great piano. Nice lyricism. Reminiscent of the strong releases by many female artists that would soon follow. Likely won't crave another listen but wouldn't run from it.

Didn’t need to be any hour long, reminds me of a stripped back more toned down vibe of Chappell Roan. Most tracks are self-indulgent to me but some such as the title track have some substance to them.

This has always been a decent album for whenever I’m in the mood for something more chill and laid back. It’s perfect for those times when you want piano-driven music with a strong singer-songwriter aspect.

honestly, i feel like if i listened to this album with an extensive understanding of the background, influences, and conceptual elements of the album i would like it better. However, i did not, and i don't.

The perfect album released at the perfect time in my life. We became adults together in a way. The emotional response cannot be denied, truly Tori’s best work. She unfairly gets compared to the angry bitch rock of the early 90’s but Little Earthquakes is profound and explores much deeper topics than her peers even considered.

Great voice but forgettable and no variation

How can you not love Tori. Absolute classic album, one of my faves since childhood!

I think id have loved this when I was 19 and full of angst and a superiority complex. Its not bad, but doesn't fit my tastes anymore.

Zdecydowanie super

Some cool parts, but a lot of it blends together. Standout songs: Silent all these years Happy phantom Little earthquakes

3.5

Tori Amos has a fine voice and the production on this album is decent, but there is something enervating to listening to a full hour of these songs. They really all start to blend together and the piano forward music starts to grate and become boring. I think maybe you need to connect to the lyrics to really appreciate this stuff, but it didn't do anything for me. Standout: Happy Phantom

Not sure about this one. One minute it's a nice piano driven song then it crashes into something else

I like Tori Amos, and do listen to her occasionally, but somehow she never quite "hits" as much as I feel she could/should. There are some beautiful sections here, and Me and a Gun is incredibly raw and brave. My favourite tracks are Crucify and Winter. But I find her extremely introspective (obviously she's hardly alone in that, as an artist) and perhaps tries too hard to be "different". That could be unfair, but it stops me from engaging fully. Purely on how much I actually like the album, I can't go higher than 3. I like her second album more.

Very little earthquakes indeed.

Cool album especially silent all these years. Not an album I'm likely to listen to again but had a cool vibe

Incredible!

Okay. Was nice listening to while going for an evening walk

I didn't hear all the music super clearly since music was playing in th background, but of what i did hear i quite enjoyed, pretty nice piano playing and some rather original and well written songs.

I respect Tori Amos, it's just her music was never something I got into. The fact that she was able to bounce back from the failure of her first attempt ("Y Kant Tori Read") is admirable. "Little Earthquakes" feels like a very stark album to me. Songs like "Me And A Gun" and even "Mother" are very vulnerable. I did like this album, but the style is not something I would listen to on a regular basis. Just not for me, I guess. Top tracks: "Silent All These Years," "Crucify," "Little Earthquakes"

It's about time. That was nearly 3 weeks since the last time I got a truly worthwhile album. 11 of 12 in between had average ratings lower than 3; and I am more generous than average but there was nothing above average in the last little while. Tori Amos is a hell of an artist. Her voice may get compared to Kate Bush (I get it) but she's more straight ahead and less weird. Just as clever, but her lyrics and introspection are understandable and more raw and personal. And she can tickle the ivory. Silent All These Years gave me goosebumps - the combination of her soft piano, voice, and accompanying (and sometimes soaring) instruments. And the lyrics - "so you found a girl who thinks really deep thoughts; what's so amazing about really deep thoughts? Boy you best pray that I bleed real soon; how's that thought for you?" Just wow. They didn't all give me goosebumps but her songs all have that combination of greatness. Except for Me and a Gun, which is Amos' vocals only but still great for its lyrics (tough, but if you know what it's about, it's powerful). Other favorites were Crucify, Girl, Precious Things, Winter, China, Tear in Your Hand, and the title track. But there wasn't a song I didn't like. I listened to this album over and over and over. Outstanding.

Long time fan of this album and of the rest of Tori's first four albums (she got a little too straightforward and repetitive on later albums for my taste). I've also seen her live a couple of times - her voice is as amazing in person as on the recording, as is her piano playing. I know a lot of people compare her to Kate Bush, but Tori has a much harder edge. Overall, this album is an absolute roller coaster of emotions, lyrically and musically. Relistening to it from the vantage point of 33 years since its release (I became a fan the year it came out), it still hits me in the gut and gives me chills. Some of it hits me in different ways than back then - for example, Winter brought tears to my eyes now that I have a daughter (it's written for her father and sung from the vantage point of a daughter reaching different phases of her life). Then there's all the heartache and pain Tori pours into the album. There's almost no point in giving specific examples - the album is filled with it. And of course, there are no words that can do justice for Me and a Gun. An amazing album, start to finish. Favorite tracks: Crucify, Silent All These Years, Precious Things, Winter, China (yeah, schmaltz and all), Tear in Your Hand, Little Earthquakes.

Better than I thought. Gave it a 2.5/5 cuz I’ll have another go around

This was surprisingly fantastic.

I couldn’t have named a single track by Tori Amos or recognised her, but recognised a couple of tracks. After one listen it was inoffensive but not hugely memorable, but it’s grown on me too nudging it up to a 4 so I come back to it.

I remember getting up early for my 5am swim practice and putting on MTV and the video for silent all these years came on and I was hooked. I bought the album that weekend and it’s one of those rare albums that you love on the first listen!

surprisingly enjoyable

I hadn’t listened to this in so long. There is just something about her that I love. Powerful stuff here.

Little Earthquakes is one of my most treasured albums ever, and Tori Amos is one of my favorite artists. She is, respectfully, a fucking rockstar and deserves to be considered amongst the greatest musical artists of our time. What she accomplishes with her piano work is remarkable. Her arrangements are complex, surprising, haunting, beautiful, and technically challenging. Her live vocal performances would be impressive as standalones, but it's nothing short of masterful that she can play the piano simultaneously without simplifying the accompaniments at all. I really appreciate how she uses the full range of the keyboard; many don't use the lower section quite as often or as well. I also appreciate how fluidly she employs dynamics and articulation throughout her playing. Skill and classical training certainly play a role here, but there's something else too, some kind of magic. Emotion flows through her like water, almost like she and her piano are one living organism. Videos of her live performances around this time are such a treat. I can't believe this is a debut album. She's already so self assured in her artistry with these songs. Reaching deep into the well of her memories, traumas, and emotions, she's unafraid to bring some of the darkest of it all to the surface and shape it into art. I could go on, (go on, go on and dream). I haven't even gotten to favorite songs and lyrics yet. But Tori is one of my biggest inspirations, and this album blows my mind every time I put it on. It's really close to my heart for personal reasons, but I think it would be hard to argue against this being an objectively great album that deserves its place on the list. The deluxe version also has some incredible tracks. Upside Down tugs at every heartstring I have. I hope many others are able to discover and appreciate her through this generator. She's a gem.

This was a beautiful album. Tori has a lovely voice and the instrumental elements are all amazing, especially her piano work. Favourite was definitely Crucify!

Really enjoyable, very 90s. Quite 'heavy' in a sense of the word. I like the piano playing and the overall atmosphere. Glad to have discovered this.

I don't know if I can give this a solid review of what was good and/or bad. I remember the first 3-5 songs being slow and mundane, but her lyrics being rather poetic and nice. But it was just so bland overall my brain tuned it out, and when it was over, and Spotify played something different my brain woke back up and I was like, did I even listen to the album. I guess with that, nothing stood out in a good or bad way, which I think is kind of bad if this is an album I needed to hear before I die. 3.2/10 #28/1001

Nice lyrics, nice vocal. Brings to mind the likes of Joan Baez. Good album.

Up until today, I think that Tori Amos occupied the same mental pigeon hole as Alannis Morrisette in my head. However, as seems to be a regular occurrence with this list I was pleasantly surprised again. I found out that she started out in a short lived and not very successful 80’s electro pop band before pivoting into being a singer/songwriter in the vein of Joni Mitchell with a large helping of Kate Bush. The crucial aspect for this album is that the songs are really rather good, ranging from the confessional to strong messages about the empowerment of women in the face of oppression, set to a mostly piano led accompaniment. I hesitate to call it a highlight, but the song Me and a Gun about her experience of being raped is utterly devastating.

That's such a no-brainer, this album is excellent from start to finish. I discovered Amos at a time when I was mostly listening to metal and she is one of the artists who opened my musical horizons. The piano/voice dynamics works perfectly, she really can sing, she's a great storyteller... Everything is powerful in this record, even sung in a low voice with a mezzo piano. That is an album I still come to regularly to this day, and one of my two favourites from her. Thanks to this list I have a better understanding of her influences, but it does not diminish the quality of her work.

Great musician and songer. Average album though.

I was expecting a little more from this I think. She's achieved a remarkable cultural status, without ever tipping over into the mainstream, yet from this album, I don't quite get it I reckon. It's good and nice and enjoyable, but it never screams "I am a totem of musical culture".

Decent singer-songwriter album. Some good piano playing and vocals here. Crucify is a great song and there's also an a capella song here interestingly enough. 7/10 Favourite: Crucify Least Favourite: China

Classic: Silent all These Years, Crucify What a unique style. Rating: 4.5

With the exception of a couple of more chaotic songs, this is a really solid album — music is good, lyrics are intensely personal. Piano-forward arrangements are unique for the time.

Absolutely loved this. I have only ever heard Cornflake girl and her Nirvana cover. This was great! Definitely will be listening again and exploring the back catalog.

An undeniably beautiful voice and some nice witchy vibes. The best bits reminded me of Kate Bush but ultimately a lot of it just kind of bored me. (2.5 stars)

A little Tori Amos goes a long way. A full album is a tad much for me, but most of the songs hit pretty hard on their own

Fairy tale vibes

This should be a Broadway show. Tori Amos’s songwriting is stellar and definitely gives show tune vibes.

This isn’t a tangent, I swear: I was a teenager in the late 2000s, and I was very, very, very emo. I was also very, very, very into the post-hardcore scene, and all that entailed, as you can expect. As a result, I was very, very, very into Glassjaw. For a few years there, I would’ve told you their first 2 albums were some of my favorite records of all time. Now, being 16 in 2009 meant I was ever so slightly too young to be into nü metal proper; sure, I had older cousins and had a pair of ears, so I got down with Limp Bizkit and Korn, and owned copies of Linkin Park CDs myself, especially since they were a gateway into the emo pipeline anyway and came a bit later on, but like, the Nü Metal Proper™️ wasn’t really something I got into until I started to do my own mini cultural re-evaluation of the music of my youth, generally speaking. That means I didn’t come across Deftones until I was 23 or 24, which feels especially crazy now when Around the Fur has become canonized by Gen Z. Still, I was late to the party, which is fine, because when you’re a kid, you gravitates towards what is around you, and the things around me were post-hardcore, and post-hardcore leads you down the hardcore pipeline, not the metal pipeline. But even still, the first time I heard Deftones, I was gobsmacked, because the first thought I had was, “Holy shit, Glassjaw was just ripping off Deftones the entire fucking time!” From that day forward, I couldn’t listen to Glassjaw the same way, and now that I’m even older (and also a woman), the Christian misogyny doesn’t do it any additional favors, especially when Deftones do it all so much better. But I digress, because I promised this wouldn’t a tangent. To me, while still good in her own right, I think it’s hard to praise Tori Amos when you have Kate Bush sitting right there. I’ll say this: Little Earthquakes is a very good album. Even a great album! I like the arrangements, I like the playing, I love the lyricism. “Girl,” “Winter,” “China,' and “Mother” are all incredible, immaculate songs. “Crucify” is really important to understanding the ‘90s alt-girl/weird-girl/Lilith Fair scene. I think there’s only two moments that pull Little Earthquakes down on face value, and they’re all in the back half, with the weird off-kilter “Leather” (although that may be a personal taste issue), and the bold choice of a fully acapella song with “Me and My Gun,” which is just a hard song to sit through due to its conceit, and which also doesn’t feel like it was developed beyond said conceit. Otherwise, on face value, Little Earthquake is a very great album. It’s piano art rock for weird girls, and that’s something I can typically stand behind. But unlike the later spokeswomen for this non-genre, like Regina Spektor, Kate Nash, or even Lorde, Tori Amos has committed a fatal flaw, at least on her debut. On Little Earthquakes, she just straight up ripping off the original Queen of this non-genre herself, Kate Bush. Every single instance on this record can be traced directly back to a Kate Bush song that does it better, more artfully, or more thoughtfully. The most emotional moments like the choir on “Crucify” can be found in “The Big Sky,” the themes of “Mother” are on “Mother Stands for Comfort,” “Silent All These Years” feels like a song off Never for Ever, “Girl” like a song off Lionheart, etc. etc. Now, sure, these doesn’t mean she’s literally ripping off Kate Bush song for song, but the je ne sais quoi, the spirit, and the sentiment are all there. There’s obvious value to an artist like this, especially prior to the advent of the internet and the easily accessible mp3 file. Artists that so heavily copied style and sometimes substance from the less ✨commercially viable✨ were gateway drugs down a path that kids otherwise may have never seen underneath the forest bush. I think Tori Amos was literally that for tens of thousands of weirdo girls in the ’90s, and probably lead them directly to Kate Bush. Much like my anecdote up top, I’m late to this party, although now the result is the other way around, because I was pointed first to Kate Bush thanks to the internet and older weird girls who came before me, and largely got to skip over Tori Amos beyond a passing comment about how she’s “great,” with no follow-up that I absolutely needed to check her out. Having now heard her debut, I see why that played out the way it did; she *is* great, this album *is* great, but it wasn’t a need. I get all my fill from a less-essential Kate Bush album. In fact, knowing that, I find it almost difficult to fully let myself go while listening to Little Earthquakes. It just feels soured, like Glassjaw now that I’ve heard Deftones. It’s not as blatant, and I do think you can find some inherent value in Little Earthquakes that I can’t really find any more in Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Silence, but the rate of exchange still leaves me paying more here. Am I glad I finally listened to this record? Sure, I like this non-genre a lot, and I think it’s a solid album. I personally enjoy it, and it’s well-realized. That settles that. Is it essential? That one I’m having a harder time pinning down my thoughts on, but I guess it depends on your own thoughts on artists being derivative versus being ✨inspired✨, and your overall tolerance for the latter, especially if the latter instance is an important gateway artist and influential in their own right. It also depends on whether you think there needed to be another Kate Bush album in the book or not, and if you’d sacrifice this for that. Mileage may vary. I have my own thoughts, and it directly impacts my face-value listening experience when I try to sit through Little Earthquakes. And yet, despite these complications, still, I end up enjoying this record on face value. Maybe that’s all there is to it.

meh

Still can't hear the diference between Kate bush and Tori. Some others from the era also sound the same. Decent music but nothing special or worthy of top 1001

3.3 3x

Not for me

Listenable

Did not stay with me.

I never got into Tori Amos during her heyday and only knew a couple of her songs going into this. I enjoyed this album more than I was expecting to. I'm not sure I would have appreciated it as much a few years ago, but after getting more into post punk it makes more sense to me. This is definitely an eclectic and "quirky" album. I was prepared for a lot of slow piano ballads, and there are plenty of those. But I wasn't expecting it to be as dark and as heavy as a lot of it was — not just in terms on lyrics, but in terms of sound. A lot of this album reminds me of Kate Bush, but several songs also remind me of Siouxsie and the Banshees ("Girl", "Precious Girl," Little Earthquakes") which I would not have guessed. Even the songs that are mostly piano and vocals are very atmospheric, using odd chord progressions, eerie-sounding high notes, and choppy playing to great effect. Lyrically, Amos is really talented. The themes are pretty dark, with lots of deeply personal songs about bad relationships, loss of innocence, feeling lost, etc. "Me and a Gun" is especially harrowing, as it's essentially a retelling of a terrifying and horrific rape she experienced. Because of the themes and the heaviness, it might be worth breaking up into a few listening sessions. But it's also one of those albums that benefits from multiple listens to properly absorb the lyrics and narratives. I'll be checking this one out again and probably exploring more of her catalog. 4/5

I had obviously heard of Tori Amos before but had never listened to her. This album was pretty cool. Good song writing, and piano playing. Really honest.

A favorite album of mine. I love the way the lyrics are heavy and the instrumentation is light. The writing, while hitting very uncomfortable topics come over so authentic and honest. A very brave debut album

Man, what a drag. The mix and instrumentation suggest that these ballads are carried by the lyrics, but they're just not that great. She keeps threatening to do something interesting and then backing off. Way too long. "Precious Things" was ... almost good

I don’t know, I like it. I like that the lyrics are a little nonsensical at times. I like the minimalism of piano, vocals, and percussion. I like that it’s not trying to do anything more than what it is, it really works staying in this lane. Kind of has this dreamyness to it, and I’d go so far as to say a timelessness to it as well.

Not a bad record but it’s pathetic as shit. I don’t really know what she wants to tell us.

Theatrical art pop in the vein of Kate Bush? This should be right up my street, and at times it is. Really memorable, show-stopping moments are relatively few and far between though, and at nearly an hour I found it quite hard work. I still like it and it’s probably a grower, but one big bona fide earworm like Cornflake Girl would’ve really helped elevate the album, I reckon. 3 / 3.5

Nice album

Reminded me a lot of Nick Cave and the Badseeds, so I was felt lukewarm towards this album.

This has been a go to album in my collection since it was first released. An excellent album with beautiful musicianship, songwriting and recording. Best heard in its entirety and not as individual tracks.

She is an absolutely amazing musician and singer. Lyrical content is interesting and pointed. Not something i will likely revisit bit a good listen none the less. This will always remind me of my Jr High girlfriend and her budding interest in feminism and riot grrls.

first half is beautiful, rest is a bit underwhelming

powerful woman 90's

For reasons unrelated to this album, I'm not feeling the best coming in to write this review. Add on the fact that I'm behind an album and needa play a bit of catch up... Yeah, just for my own sake, I'm gonna try and keep this short. Which is a bit of a disservice to the artist behind today's album, Tori Amos. She's an artist I know by name, but not by sound. Even after remembering where I've heard a bit of her music before — in Wax Audio mashups, and from the fact that she's covered Slayer and Eminem — I couldn't begin to tell you what she sounded like. As I found out, it's very piano heavy. Lots of piano, lots of strings... There's a person who found the album could get a bit homogeneous because of how heavily the piano is featured, but for my money, well, I'm crazy for it. I love myself a good piano album, from Elton John's work to some Ben Folds. Like, this album never rocks as hard as either of those guys can, but... Gosh, this is an album where, even when I'm not paying attention to the lyrics — and because I'm autistic, I mostly don't, and that's "y Listi kan't read" — I still get such a good sense of the emotion in these tracks. Believe me, it's palpable, goodness. Honestly, it does make me wanna try and figure out the lyrics just so I can clue into why these emotions are happening — y'know? Heck, just that I had more time between all of the everything else happening today. But on just a first listen, mostly solely paying attention to the instrumentals... Yeah, I can say I'm a big fan of this. For sure, it's one of the better albums I've heard classed as "singer songwriter." And for real, go check out Wax Audio's mashup "I Want Precious Things"; it's really good. And, uh, I'unno, if you really want to, go check out her ten minute cover of "Happiness Is A Warm Gun"? I mean, if you **really** wanna, goodness.

Just absolutely superb singer-songwriter tracks. Solid 5 Stars.

Well, I’m pretty sure I’m at a 5 – I just need to figure out exactly why, because my brain hasn’t quite cracked it. It’s definitely because of the lyricism; it’s both wonderfully & painfully vivid, even in its more flowery and verbose moments. It’s certainly from her vocals, which project the same confidence as someone like Kate Bush, and sound lovely throughout the whole thing. It’s… partially from the instrumentation, which is really nice, if a bit too attached to the piano on a few tracks, in a way that made the 57 minute runtime start to get a little homogeneous. Altogether, I think it’s a lovely album, beautiful through the honesty of its pain, and one of the finest examples of a singer-songwriter we’ve gotten so far. Everything about this screams a 5 to me, and I’m pretty damn sure it is one, because I certainly enjoyed it as if it were one. Why, then, am I sort of struggling to justify giving it a 5? Is it because it’s sort of like an Oscar bait film, where you feel like you have almost no choice but to come to that conclusion, or is this actually standing on its own merits, and I’m just sort of paranoid about it? Is it because we just got “Exile in Guyville”, which is sort of an antithesis to this album in a lot of ways, or am I just burnt out on two albums with similar, yet different thematic views of femininity & portraying confidence as back to back, hour long experiences? Those are both sort of true, to some degree, but I think my brain has finally cracked why I’m struggling, & I’m not sure how valid it is. I think I’m struggling to give this a 5 because I’m feeling woefully ignorant to a lot of the subject matter & themes this album tackles, due to a lack of personal experience. I’m empathetic towards an incredible amount of this album, especially so on “Me and a Gun”, which is horrifyingly portrayed, yet wonderfully performed, enhanced by the choice to go fully acapella on it. However, I’m just not able to feel a lot of these tracks, at least not with the emotional pain that Tori Amos used to write & perform them. That’s no fault of her own, and it shouldn’t play a factor into my rating at all (& it won’t!), but I can’t help but feel like I’m giving this a 5 more so out of an emotional connection to her strife, as opposed to a full appreciation for the actual musical qualities of the album. Whether or not that’s actually true is basically dependent on how I approach these tracks in the future, but I think this is an album that needs a few plays to fully grab the depth of, both vocally, instrumentally, lyrically, and tonally. I’ll certainly replay it a few times, because it’s a deeply touching album, and I’m sure that I missed a few things along the way. I will give this a 5, because I did enjoy it a lot – it would be weird to drop it down to a 4 just on sole account of “did I actually like the musical parts of this album that much”, because I do think the emotional weight of this album goes hand in hand with the musical parts, in a way that’s oddly intertwined, yet separately impactful. It is easy to sort of ignore the instrumentals and focus on the stories, but the stories themselves are enhanced by the power of the instrumentals behind them. They work together brilliantly, but it is easy to get lost in one opposed to the other the longer the album goes, and that’s probably my only real “knock” on the album. If your big issue is reconciling the emotional impact with the musical impact though, then you’ve made one hell of an album. It’s worth a 5, and it’s worth a lot of listens. I’m very glad I finally listened to Tori Amos. I also need a hug, probably.

It's really not what people think it is. You don't have to listen to the lyrics or be personally involved with what Tori is writing/singing about (although it's deep and meaningful). To me the arrangements, tempo changes and fearlessness in the instruments other than piano make it glimmer. The piano is obviously the star, but it's more than just a sad girl shrieking and singing loudly.

Tedious

Favorite Track: Crucify

The production aesthetic of this doesn't use sounds I like and I'm not a lyrics listener unless I love a record, so while I'm sure this is good it isn't really for me.

Tori Amos seems to be a more pleasing, less experimental and electronic version of Kate Bush. Some also see parallels to Alanis Morissette, but I think the album has far too little rock for that. Little Earthquakes almost exclusively features piano focused tracks, sometimes more, sometimes less heavy. Apart from Winter, nothing really moved me. Neither emotionally nor physically.

One of those artists I feel like I SHOULD like more, but I find whole albums of her a bit too much - especially the solely piano/voice songs. I like Crucify, Girl, and Precious Things a lot though.

Hauntingly beautiful.

An album that became liked by lots of repetitive plays by the ex all those years ago. Music doing it’s memory thing, the good and the bad.

Прекрасный альбом. Сохранен в медиатеку

90’s essential

Enjoyed it - although found it a little bit uneven. Really liked Winter - but found others like Leather a bit broadway...

Little Earthquakes Just because you can make me come, doesn’t mean you're Jesus Wise words. I really liked this, but I’m struggling to think of a great deal to say about it. Apart from the cabaret excursion of Happy Phantom and the unconvincing bluesy-quirk of Leather there are no bad songs and there are some great songs; Crucify, Girl, Precious Things, Winter, China and in the duo of Me and a Gun and Little Earthquakes it has an emotional charge and frankness that is incredibly affecting and harrowing - the reverb heavy crassfade to Little Earthquakes is superb It feels a bit reductionist to make the comparison but I suppose Kate Bush is the obvious touchstone, particularly on something like Girl, but her emotional frankness and directness makes her quite unique. It’s on the border of 3 and 4, but I think those final two tracks being as great as they are just push it into a 4. 🫨🫨🫨🫨 Playlist submission: Little Earthquakes

This album of confessionals feels a different proposition to 'Jagged Little Pill' though, which it clearly heavily influenced, down to even the a cappella track. For a start, the piano playing is excellent throughout, finding new refrains and hooks every minute. At least the first half of this album is superb. She went on to cover Chas n Dave, and suckle a pig, and write Cornflake Girl. I cannot argue with any of that.

This was really pretty good, and I had really never listened to this artist before. At times her voice is a little too “poppy” sounding for my liking, but I still think she is really talented, and I enjoyed this album. It’s probably a 3.5 for me, but I will round it up to a four, and will listen to it again. I really, really liked the song “China” except for a short annoying few seconds about 2/3 of the way through.

Piano-driven emotional singer-songwriter.

fml

As a feminist, I'm certainly glad that women have Tori Amos. I know many women who love her and I get it. Honestly not for me, but I wouldn't jump up to turn it off.

just didn’t leave that much of an impression on me, there are other singer-songwriters that do more interesting things to me

This started off strong, but over an hour of runtime it became a bit of ear fatigue with little variation. Still pleasant, and stuck the landing with Little Earthquakes, but could have been more engaging. 2.6/5 -> 3/5

Very cool voice and some weird soundscapes, this is not the usual singer-songwriter mush I had expected - much more like a transatlantic PJ Harvey. Definitely of its time! There's a quiet power here, it's a clever and thematically strong album which makes an appealing noise. Favourite tracks: Girl, Precious Things, Leather, Mother, Little Earthquakes

An album that begins beautifully, but I'm afraid it didn't stick the landing. Except the closing track, the second half didn't blow me away as much. Highlights: Tracks 1-5 3.5 stars

I was honestly bored. It's not bad, it's just not for me.

I went in figuring this wouldn't be my kind of music but really enjoyed it. Winter was my favorite track and it's an amazing one. Bonus star for that alone

- This music is not written for me. But I appreciate it for giving me a glimpse into an experience decidedly not my own. - Beautifully haunting, both in lyrics and tone. - First few tracks are extremely solid, though I think the album takes a definite downturn with "Happy Phantoms" and "China." But "Me and a Gun" is so transcendentally devastating that I excuse those missteps.

Ok I guess, never got into her stuff

fave song: winter fave vocal melody: the way she sings “chains” on crucify honorary mention to the bravery it took to write “me and my gun” and release it to the public. i couldn’t listen to it because it’s too heavy and way too triggering for me. but i admire her strength greatly!

Tori Amos has always loomed over me as an artist who I know I should like, but the music she created just never felt like it was meant for me...? Not even as a gender thing, just never really connected with it. Maybe, that's not a fair reason to not give an artists music a chance, but it is what it is. With that said, I've never heard this album. It starts out strong with Crucify and I, immediately, love this song. The boominess of the drums is outstanding. We continue on from this song and it leaves me wanting to get back to what the first song was doing. There's some interesting choices throughout, which certainly shows me why she is seen as iconic. Some great, great songs on this album, but not all of them will be revisited often by me. I'm going to assume that if I dive deeper into the lyrics, it will weigh even heavier as an album, but I don't know that I'm going to do that... we'll see, though.

I'm not big on Tori Amos

This album really has a timeless quality about it. It could have been made in the last 10 years, and I wouldn't have thought it out of place. A lot of her lyrical subject matter feels more modern than 1992 as well. Just a really beautiful album that balances the soft moments and the intense ones really well. 4/5

Well you can certainly see (hear) who was a major influence on Ms Amos. Unfortunately, although a good attempt, it just doesn't match up to Ms Bush's works. Still worth a 3.

Couldn’t really settle in to this. Just as soon as I started to enjoy an aspect of it, she started up with some weird vocal exercises. Not for me chief.

In places this really grabbed my attention and thought, she's great, then in lots more places, I was thinking, just shut up please. I'm sure she was getting some very important message across on large parts of this album, but it was completely lost on me.

Didn’t love her voice but a few songs were good

Picture it: It's the late 2000s, and you need background music for your poorly created picture slideshow of your Young Life adventures that you're eventually going to upload on YouTube. This album is what you'll use for that slideshow. The only thing saving this from a one-star rating was its versatility. Favorite Track: "Leather".

Ok

ehh

Pre-listening thoughts: hallelujah praise the lord it’s a woman songwriter of the 90s which means it won’t be nearly as godawful as the bullshit electronica album we got yesterday! Post/during listening thoughts: there is something very Kate Bush about this. It’s sort of Kate Bush meets Fiona Apple meets k.d. lang meets old Marina and the Diamonds. There is really lush instrumentation (I love strings sorry) and her lyricism is pretty great. I really like this and it could easily become a 5 upon relistens. 8/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: no Fav tracks: Crucify, Silent All These Years, Precious Things, Happy Phantom, Leather, Tear in Your Hand Least fav tracks: Me and a Gun

Hadn't heard this one before. I was blown away. Incredible piece of art

I'm often not the biggest singer-songwriter fan but this album is very good. Her voice is fantastic and the lyrics hit a lot of very powerful topics. Instrumentation is varied and complements her voice well.

Little Earthquakes isn't exactly world changing, but it was ground breaking at the time. Not great, but definitely enough to move the scale.

I mean, it’s Tori Amos, you know what you’re going to get. She ok but a whole album is a bit much.

Frankly, exactly what I expected going into this. Kind of warbly singer-songwriter vibes, filling out the generational Matryoshka doll of Kate Bush --> Tori Amos --> Lorde

A very 90s album mix of Bjork and Kate bush, it's enjoyable enough but I'd think I would rather the original inspiring artists instead

I like it. The vocals are good and the kick drum quite punchy which I enjoyed. I also enjoyed the varied piano play and buildup and such. 'Me and a Gun' is a haunting track and the choice of a capella means that there's nothing to hide behind Standouts Crucify Winter Me and a Gun 4/5

7.2/10

Good voice, lots of variety. First half of the album is better than the second.

По мнению А: 4/5 По мнению С: 3/5 ИТОГОВАЯ ОЦЕНКА: 3/5 (21.02.2025)

Pre Tori buying into her own Elvin myth is so good. Such a strong debut. There are a few songs towards the end that aren’t as strong but then she ends with Me and a Gun and kills you.

Soothing mellow tones.

Great vocals

kinda reminds me of fiona apple :>

Beautiful, while listening to each song, it felt like the lyrics were jumping at me

Solid album. Me and a Gun is devastating. Everyone should listen to that song. The rest is very good albeit not perfect. This is a proper singer-songwriter album filled with strength and vulnerability.

My first concert

2.8

this was how i imagined all music by cool, mysterious, older women would sound when i was about 8 years old. this is not a bad thing.

i only really knew tori amos from her cover of smells like teen spirit before this, so i'm glad i listened to this album. the front half is great - interesting, impactful, and beautiful. her piano playing is both impressive and expressive (sidenote, why aren't those words opposites) and the lyrics are very poetic and moving. the rest of the tracks are pretty underwhelming, just more of the same. i did laugh during leather at the voice she used for the cigar line, but otherwise nothing really stuck out to me. this album may have been more impactful in 1992 when there was a dearth of piano-forward female artists but it's still really solid overall in 2025, and a great debut. favorites: crucify, silent all these years, precious things, winter

Unadulterated cr*p!

Tori has a great voice. Just not for me.

Classic

Kedvenc/Favourite: Mother Elég felejthető volt számomra. Tetszettek a vonósok, a zongora, a dallamok szépek voltak alapvetően, de semmi igazán lenyűgözőt nem találtam benne. Egyáltalán nem rossz, el lehet hallgatni, de nem élveztem sajnos. It was quite forgettable for me. I liked the strings, the piano, the melodies were generally nice, but I didn't find anything really impressive about it. Not bad at all, it can be listened to, but I didn't enjoy it unfortunately.

indy rock with nice vocalist

Miserable nonsense.

Happy Phantom is a great song. Almost Kate Bush vibes.

I know I've heard of Tori Amos as a singer-songwriter before. This past year, I heard "Cornflake Girl" from her second album, and I feel like I've listened to "Crucify" on FM radio somewhere. This will be my first full listen to an album of hers, where this was her breakout solo album after the dissolution of her synth-pop group Y Kant Tori Read. I can comfortably say Little Earthquakes is a remarkable record. My first thought from my listen was Kate Bush, having heard Hounds of Love earlier on this journey. Tori's mezzo-soprano was just as elegant and whimsical as Kate's voice, and her piano-driven compositions are on par with the latter's work. Sure, it's not full-blown synth pomp like Hounds of Love was in places, but the overall quiet storm sound suits Tori well for these songs that demand deeper reflection. Whether it's the struggle to overcome self-hatred on "Crucify", the desire for self-expression on "Silent All These Years", the sexual awakening amidst a Christian upbringing on "Precious Things", the meditation on death on "Happy Phantom", the lost love of "China", or the personal account of a time when Tori was raped on "Me and a Gun", these songs evoke the listener to think critically about her words, and the music behind her strikingly fits the tone of the subject matter. This was an exceptional debut from an artist who proved she had a voice for this world, and I am glad to have enjoyed it.

Incredible voice and piano talent. Other than that, this is pretty generic 90s soft rock.

The 1st song was incredible, unfortunately none of the other songs did anything for me

Back in high school, a friend tried to get me into Tori by playing me "Past the Mission", assuming that my love for NIN would transfer over just because Trent sings backup vocals on it. It didn't stick. A couple years later, I heard "Professional Widow" and that lured me in. I picked up Boys for Pele and worked my way backwards, then kept up with her until we started drifting apart after the 90s ended. Her 90s run remains undefeated (and I'd argue all 4 albums could have a spot among these), and while Boys has long been my personal favorite, there's no denying the power of Little Earthquakes. I know every word and note on this album, and yet the emotions still hit me like they did the first time. Her sense of humor and word choice endears me to her, and I'm as moved by her strength as I am her vulnerability. For whatever reason, I can't think of a single song that's ever made me actually cry, but there are at least 2 on here that bring me close to it. That's worth celebrating. As is everything else about this album.

Very nice voice; ok songs. Easy listening. 7/10

Pretty pleasant. Low 4/5

Very good album. When this album came out, I seemed like Amos was oversharing. I had read that she'd been raped and this album felt like a therapy session that I accidentally overheard. It was uncomfortable. Her pain was evident. In retrospective, I can see how this was probably cathartic for her and others who suffered through sexual assault. This album really is a masterpiece of sorts. To be able to put your feelings out there and make an album that people can relate to really is something special.

Pleasant

I've a lot of time for Tori Amos and I'd listened to this album a few times before. I thought I'd give it a 4 before I listened to it again, but it's probably a 5.

i liked it but it's not really my style

It was listenable, but it's really not my thing. It has that Kate Bush \ Joanna Newsom feel that I just can't get with. The vocals are bouncing about all the time, and they have the feel of somewhere making the words up as they go along. Musically, there's nothing special there. If this is your thing then knock yourself out, but personally it's a pass. I made it all the way through so it's 2 stars for me Clive!

Very good. Poetic and emotional

meh

Like if kate bush was a human person instead of a mysterious paranormal entity

I got about 4 or 5 songs into this and bailed. If this is one of the 1001 albums I need to hear, I have clearly been doing music all wrong. Bland, unexciting songs, played and recorded in a very obvious way.

If you own a Tori Amos album then you are also statistically likely to own a Queen album.

The American Kate Bush with significant echoes appearing later in the work of Alanis Morissette. Entertaining and some good tunes ('China' in particular). I like it.

top 5 favorite album of all-time - this one's for Nancy

3.5

High 4. Could be 4.5— I understand why folks have this at 5.

Long running fiver for me 10 ★★★★★

Good songwriting, singing is too theatrical. 4 stars

I don't like Tori Amos. I'm sure she's a fine person, but I don't like her music much at all. I kind of feel bad saying this, as I know a lot of people can relate to her songs and this is an important album for them, but stylistically, I find it really difficult to get into. The arrangements are probably a little too piano-forward for my tastes and I really hate the way she sings. It's that overly theatrical style that is just like nails on a chalkboard for me. There's a few songs I think are alright -- "Crucify", "Silent After All these Years", the title track -- but probably not to the extent I'd go out of my way to hear them. 2.5 stars.

Pretty solid album for the most part. Does shine throughout with quality songs and great piano playing even if the melodies are kinda flighty and the singing style is a bit too shrill and theatrical for my tastes. Last couple of songs sunk the album for me. As raw and severe Me And A Gun is in terms of topic I do simply prefer Tom’s Diner.

Good tunes

This takes me back to teenage angst - utterly wonderful and some of the songs still make me cry.

Opener was ok. I really like “girl”. “Silent all these years” sounds like what I have come to expect from Tori Amos. Great song. “Winter” is where everything starts to sound the same with Tori. It’s well written and arranged, but I know she has other songs that sound like that. This is a good album but it is not for me.

1992. Chamber pop. Alt Rock. 9/10 Crucify / Girl / Silent All These Years / Precious Things / Winter / Happy Phantom / China / Leather / Mother / Tear in Your Hand / Me and a Gun / Little Earthquakes

It was ok

Sounded a lit like Kate Bush, but I might like this one a little bit more.

Not very fond of this kind of singer/songwriter. Probably not so bad if you like that type of music.

Wonderful!

Sad girl pop over piano. Right now my alley

One of my favorite albums from the 90's. Powerful and vulnerable. An absolutely beautiful album.

I really liked this one! Beautiful instrumentals and a beautiful voice to accommodate them. Some songs were definitely out there, but I enjoyed the composition of the album. 'Silent All These Years' was my fave.

This was the second time I've heard this album. The first was about 1 1/2 years ago when someone recommended it to me. I didn't like it then. I called it "sad girl with piano" music, a genre I'm not at all into. Listening to it again, the first track (or two?) aren't that bad I guess, but then it just all starts to sound the same. I don't want to listen to this for an hour. She has a fine voice, but for me it's wasted here. Women do seem to love it though, so that's good for them, but I have to give it an honest rating for myself.

frekar hrifinn af þessu. held ég þurfi aðra meira. 3,5. píanópopp, fín lög og yfirkeyrt.

Before her MTV video dropped for the title track, a buddy of mine told me to get in the van; we were going to a concert. "Who?" "You've never heard of her, but you want to come." In the van we go down to Deep Ellum, Dallas. We get into the club, $10 a head, and there's nobody there, but there's this piano on the stage. Where's the rest of the instruments? Don't worry about it. We walk up, take a seat – we can reach out and touch the stage. After a few minutes maybe 100 people total show up. Small show, and then Tori takes the stage, straddles the piano bench so she's quarter facing out, quarter facing the piano, and she proceeds to blow my 17 year old mind. I am utterly entranced with every moment of this performance. She plays every song on the Little Earthquakes album, yes, even Me and a Gun. She covers The Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin, and I cherish this concert as a core memory. Afterward, my buddy, who is 6 foot four, and I go out back to the access door to see if we can talk to Ms. Amos. She actually comes out and is so generous with her time. We thank her for the incredible performance, and my friend gets his picture taken with her. He just towers over this woman; she barely comes up to his collarbone. When I go to see him years later, he has a life-sized copy of this image framed on a significant portion of his wall. I've seen her in concert since then, and it was a good show, but there's nothing like this that I can compare it to. "Saw her before she was big" is a cliché, but her video dropped the next week, and she blew up. But I was front row before she was big, and Tori Amos was absolutely amazing. Easiest 5 on here. Little Earthquakes is a desert island album for me.

Tori Amos seems oddly familiar, but I can’t seem to pinpoint exactly where I’ve seen her previously. I’m sure it was probably a feature on some other song I enjoy. But she’s definitely a recognizable female figure in music. She seems to get compared most often to Björk or Kate Bush. Her musical career actually began not long after Kate Bush’s, in 1979. But the band she initially sang for never seemed to really take off commercially like her solo career did. But it explains why her debut solo work comes out swinging so hard. It feels like the sound of a developed artist who had already been at it for well over a decade. Tori’s voice is excellent, no doubt. It’s incredibly expressive and provocative, and very dramatic. Musically the album is as a whole. She manages to convey such intense emotion with just her voice and the piano. But I think that’s what my issue is with this. Rarely can even the best singers rely solely on their voice to carry an album. They need something compelling instrumentally to back them up. And for as much as I like her singing, I don’t think the instrumentals are interesting enough. There is more than enough variety from song to song, but they just feel kind of flat. The best moments are pretty good though. I like how sinister Silent All These Years starts out sounding, but the entrance of her voice into the song immediately dissipates that tension and makes it sound really beautiful. This isn’t a terrible art pop album. And I think if you are a fan of any of the artists she regularly gets compared to, you should give this a shot. But I also enjoy the music of those contemporary artists much more. Rating: 5/10

Meh

I did not like this. There were a couple moments I liked. The dissonant piano on precious things and the song Happy Phantom. Other than that I couldn’t wait for it to be over. This album was a drag.

Great songs, great musicianship, great production. Love it. It's epic.

Hey this Disney channel ass record kinda had me tapping my feet a little bit, OK Tori!!

I’m not a fan of ballads. This actually sounded like a huge rip of Kate bush to me

I wasn’t expecting to get my first 5-star album of the year so early, but I’m definitely not complaining. Tori Amos lays her soul bare in a way that’s sometimes harrowing but never boring.

Weird but i think i like it

Totally hear Kate Bush's influence, but much less riveting.

Didn't know her before and am happy I heard this Album before I died.

I can appreciate that people would like this, but it's not for me at all. It's not terrible, it's just kind of bland and uninspiring. At it's worst it's a bit annoying. I don't like her style at all, the construction of the songs, the delivery... Nothing works for me personally.

The opener Crucify is a pretty good song. Precious Things is neat. Happy Phantom is good too. Leather is pretty and has a nice piano solo. Mother is very good too. Me and a Gun is quite something. Better than I was expecting.

yay! this seems very Kate Bush-ish but all the good bits. Quite simple instrumentation. Really good singer. some songs drag on a bit... Favorite songs: Crucify, girl, precious things, tear in your hand. Overall around 7/10

3.5

Really don’t have much to say - it’s ok, it goes on far too long, and I really couldn’t be doing with the unaccompanied vocal of Me and a Gun (not a judgement on the vocal itself, she can surely sing, but it just really annoyed me). Very, very mid.

Je me suis un peu ennuyé, à part peut-être sur le dernier morceau ...

Kann man hören fand es etwas langweilig

My inner feminist has been touched. Now in a time capsule heading back to Lilith Fair.

Classic Tori. A fully formed first album,

Look I'm standing naked before you Don't you want more than my sex I can scream as loud as your last one But I can't claim innocence Oh God could it be the weather Oh God why am I here If love isn't forever And its not the weather Hand me my leather Yeah, this is a pretty damn good album. 5/5

Day342 - i wasn’t a fan but i can appreciate her talent

Crucify 3.3 Girl 3 Silent All These Years 2.8 Precious Things 3.4 Winter 3 Happy Phantom 3.1 China 3 Leather 3 Mother 2.7 Tear in Your Hand 3.1 Me and a Gun 2.4 Little Earthquakes 3 Score: 2.983333333

Good.

No

Really good Really enjoyable Fantastic voice

Own this on cd and vinyl. One of my favorite singer songwriter albums ever.

Sick of her piano and voice

I had heard of Tori Amos, but never really listened to any of her work. A shame, because this is really good stuff.

Didn't really care for it.

3 Sterne

Definitely sounds like a 90s record and definitely dig it.

Ja nice Kende de naam wel al maar nog nooit geluisterd Leuk album

I have to admit that I've never really listened to Tori Amos before, apart from the radio hits. I was into the punk and metal scenes back then. On top of that she didn't get airplay in my country until Cornflake Girl, a couple of years after this album. So this album was all completely new to me. Wow have I been missing out. This album is fantastic.

Pianovetoista singer/songwriter kamaa. Menevämmät kappaleet parempia, rauhalliset vähän tylsempiä. Mielenkiintoisia melodioita kuitenkin. Vähän alt rock viboja kanssa Parhaat: Winter, Crucify

Absolutely gorgeous. Normally don't care for the emotional singer songwriter girl albums, but this was moving. Something about the piano, and the way the songs flowed. A nice surprise

There’s lots to enjoy here but it’s also true that there’s a certain lack of variety when the same piano sound and singing style is stretched over an album When it works (China, Winter) it’s really great though And the thing is I’ve largely changed my mind about the album the more I’ve listened and it’s really grown on me. Me and a Gun in particular is incredible I was leaning towards a 3 but then the album had a strong back end and I think it’s a 4 really

Crucify is a killer opener with its piano hooks and insistent drum beat. The piano is weaved through all of this, but some of the best is in Precious Things where it's layered with guitars and a healthy dose of female rage. There's a dissonance to it that keeps you on edge. Winter is a dramatic ballad that tries to walk the line between epic and Disney movie and doesn't quite manage it. The next 3-4 songs are also a bit too musical theater for me. The a capella Me and a Gun is as uncomfortable to listen to as it's supposed to be. Overall, up and down, had it kept the momentum from the first four tracks this would be a winner. Crucify and Precious Things are good ones though.

She is a good singer and song writer, but she kind of writes the same melodramatic song over and over again which gets really tiring by the end of the album. Mid 3.

It’s a fun album I like the sound and the vibe but it just didn’t rock with me today. I’ll revisit it down the road see if it plays differently … Silent all these years is def a stand out and I like hearing some jazz vibes always , getting this after steely dan hurt its value

his was okay, good voice, gave me bjork vibes kinda

HEYYYY I was just listening to her earlier this week! Oh Crucify is on this. HM This was 3 yrs before Boys for Pele. I thought her fame came from that one but Crucify was a hit way before. I love Tori Amos. Oh shit Silent All These Years too is awesome! I really liked this album. I went on a whole Tori kick after this and checked out some of her other stuff.

We’re getting dangerously close to Kate Bush territory here, and now I have this overwhelming urge to watch Dawson’s Creek.

Actually valued listening to this in a way because I'm now more sure of where the line is on vocals I think are pushing the boundaries in a good way and those that have no sense of them whatsoever.

Les pièces de Tori Amos sont tumultueuses et fluides comme l'eau. Je pourrais réécouter sans arrêt.

Classic Tori Amos.

great songs a bit weird

Highlights: Crucify, Leather, Me and A Gun In a nutshell: strong female singer-songwriter Tori's music is in the same echelon as Kate Bush, Joni Mitchell and Tracey Chapman - unashamedly vulnerable songs with a curated sound. Have a copy of the lyrics nearby. Soak it in. Her voice and piano composition may not be for everyone, but she deserves a chance. It's a debut, and she gets better from here. Follow up with Under the Pink (not on the list but it should be). Overall: 6/10

3*

I absolutely loved this - the writing is fantastic and the piano arrangements are just so bold and beautiful

I didn’t hate this, but I’m not sure it would get another listen from me. Sits somewhere between Kate Bush and Fiona Apple, which begs the question why not listen to either of them instead. On the whole, it’s fine.

One of her better ones

I liked this

Impressive album. Good lyricism, definitely making it one that I'll come back to. Vocals are also nice.

Dare I say… classic? Yes, I think I dare. It has lost nothing, all these years.

I quite enjoyed this Tori Amos record, there were some nice discoveries on here, especially Crucify. I saw on the Deluxe version there's a cover of Smells Like Teen Spirit which was quite haunting. It left me slightly curious about finding out more about her.

Great album

Amazing album, I was only aware of the reputation Tori Amos has built since the 90s, and this record helped me understand it.

"**Little Earthquakes**" by Tori Amos, released in 1992, stands as a cornerstone in the history of alternative rock and singer-songwriter albums. This debut album introduced Amos as a bold, introspective artist willing to confront themes of trauma, self-identity, and empowerment through intimate lyrics, haunting piano melodies, and inventive production. Here’s an in-depth review exploring the lyrics, music, production, themes, influence, and overall strengths and weaknesses of the album. --- ### 1. Lyrics Tori Amos’ lyrics on *Little Earthquakes* are raw, confessional, and often confrontational, delving into deeply personal experiences. The words are poetry in motion, unafraid to examine difficult emotions and moments. Amos writes about sexual assault in “Me and a Gun,” expressing both vulnerability and strength as she sings from her own experience. This track is unaccompanied, forcing listeners to confront every word without distraction. “Silent All These Years” reflects on self-discovery and self-worth, giving voice to the silenced parts of Amos’ personality as well as the voicelessness many women experience. Themes of religion, sexuality, and internal conflict permeate songs like “Crucify” and “Precious Things.” In “Crucify,” Amos wrestles with feelings of guilt and repression, using religious imagery to illustrate a struggle between personal freedom and imposed guilt. She critiques societal standards and uses metaphor in innovative ways. Her lyrics often shift from soft reflection to biting critique within a few lines, such as in “Precious Things,” where she examines social expectations and identity, mixing anger and sadness in a biting yet vulnerable manner. **Pros of the Lyrics**: - Lyrically intense, they offer a profound look at personal and social struggles. - Amos’ ability to blend the personal with universal themes makes the songs accessible and resonant. - The rawness of “Me and a Gun” particularly stands out, giving voice to trauma in a way few artists have dared. **Cons of the Lyrics**: - The complexity and ambiguity can make the lyrics difficult to interpret for some listeners. - The heavy nature of the themes may feel overwhelming or uncomfortable for more casual listeners. --- ### 2. Music and Composition Musically, *Little Earthquakes* is piano-driven, which gives it a classical-meets-pop feel, distinguishing Amos from her guitar-centric contemporaries. The album opens with “Crucify,” where Amos combines layered vocals, driving percussion, and rhythmic piano to create a powerful soundscape. She uses her piano not just as an instrument but as a companion in storytelling, often using it to build crescendos or underscore emotional peaks. “Winter” is a standout, with its delicate and melancholic piano line that enhances the introspective lyrics about family and self-identity. The arrangement gradually builds, matching the progression of the narrative. In “China,” Amos brings a softer touch, with a melody that reflects longing and separation, highlighting her dynamic control over emotion through instrumentation. **Pros of the Music**: - Unique, with the piano as the central instrument, setting Amos apart from other alt-rock musicians of the time. - Each composition supports the mood of the lyrics, adding depth to the stories she tells. - Musicianship is exceptional, particularly Amos’ skill at building emotional peaks and valleys through music. **Cons of the Music**: - The album’s sound can be too somber or slow-paced for listeners seeking more energetic music. - The reliance on piano might make some tracks feel repetitive or lack instrumental diversity for some. --- ### 3. Production Eric Rosse co-produced *Little Earthquakes* with Amos, creating a lush, layered sound that complements her lyrical and musical vision. Rosse’s production style is subtle; it focuses on amplifying Amos’ voice and piano without overshadowing them. The album was produced in an era dominated by grunge and rock, so the minimalist production style allowed *Little Earthquakes* to stand out as more personal and intimate. The production enhances the storytelling; each track feels meticulously crafted to capture different moods. For instance, the bare production in “Me and a Gun” leaves the vocals completely exposed, maximizing the impact of Amos’ story. In contrast, “Silent All These Years” incorporates reverb and harmonies that build into a fuller sound, emphasizing the theme of finding one’s voice. Despite some tracks featuring layered arrangements, there’s a spaciousness that gives the lyrics and piano room to breathe. **Pros of the Production**: - The production is minimalist yet effective, amplifying the emotional impact. - Rosse’s approach respects the rawness of the material, avoiding overproduction. - Each song’s production is tailored to match its theme, creating a cohesive feel. **Cons of the Production**: - Some may find the sparse production lacking in excitement or polish. - Tracks can feel too uniform in texture, which might deter listeners who favor varied production styles. --- ### 4. Themes and Subject Matter *Little Earthquakes* is thematically rich, tackling identity, trauma, self-worth, sexuality, and resilience. Amos doesn't shy away from uncomfortable topics; instead, she uses them to create powerful, relatable narratives. The album’s themes are universal yet deeply personal, offering listeners a look into Amos’ psyche while inviting them to reflect on their own experiences. “Silent All These Years” addresses the theme of finding one's voice, echoing the sentiments of empowerment and self-worth that run through the album. Songs like “Girl” and “Leather” delve into femininity and the struggle for self-identity within societal constraints. Amos’ exploration of sexuality is both overt and complex; “Leather” juxtaposes sensuality with vulnerability, challenging societal norms about desire. Themes of religious guilt and self-acceptance in “Crucify” are particularly compelling, as they reflect the conflict between self-expression and moral expectations. Amos’ use of religious and cultural references is impactful, as she examines how they influence personal freedom and guilt. **Pros of the Themes**: - The themes are universal yet deeply personal, allowing for emotional engagement and introspection. - Amos’ willingness to address taboo topics like trauma and sexuality is bold, resonating with listeners who’ve experienced similar struggles. - Complex yet accessible, the themes reflect both an intimate and societal exploration of identity and empowerment. **Cons of the Themes**: - The heaviness of the themes may feel intense or overwhelming, limiting the album’s accessibility for casual listeners. - Some listeners may find the depth of subject matter overly introspective or difficult to relate to without similar experiences. --- ### 5. Influence and Legacy *Little Earthquakes* influenced a generation of female singer-songwriters, proving that commercial success could coexist with unflinching artistic honesty. It established Amos as a voice for women in alternative rock and challenged the music industry’s norms by prioritizing vulnerability over polished pop tropes. The album paved the way for artists like Fiona Apple, PJ Harvey, and Alanis Morissette, who would also bring personal storytelling to the forefront. Beyond the music, Amos inspired a conversation around the importance of survivors speaking out, particularly with “Me and a Gun.” Her candid exploration of trauma and resilience provided a blueprint for artists to address such issues openly, promoting healing and validation for listeners facing similar struggles. **Pros of the Influence**: - *Little Earthquakes* has a significant impact on alternative rock and the singer-songwriter genre. - It created a precedent for female artists to discuss personal, often taboo experiences in their music. - Amos’ unapologetic approach to complex themes gave legitimacy to vulnerability in mainstream music. **Cons of the Influence**: - Its unflinching content may limit its influence in pop music, which often prioritizes mass appeal over introspection. - Although influential, the album remains somewhat niche due to its heavy themes and distinct sound, which may not suit all musical tastes. --- ### Final Verdict: Pros and Cons of the Album **Pros**: 1. *Little Earthquakes* is lyrically profound, touching on universal yet intensely personal themes. 2. Amos’ musicianship is exceptional, and her piano-driven style is refreshing and distinctive. 3. The album’s production supports its intimacy, enhancing the emotional resonance. 4. Thematically complex, it offers both personal and societal commentary, making it deeply resonant. 5. Amos’ influence paved the way for many artists, particularly female singer-songwriters, to be open about their vulnerabilities and experiences. **Cons**: 1. The album’s themes are heavy and may feel intense or overwhelming for casual listeners. 2. The production, while intentional, may feel sparse or uniform for those who prefer more dynamic arrangements. 3. Amos’ distinctive sound and lyrical depth might be challenging for listeners unfamiliar with alternative rock or introspective music. 4. The piano-centric sound may seem repetitive to some, limiting the album's appeal to broader audiences. **Conclusion** Tori Amos’ *Little Earthquakes* is a groundbreaking album that embraces vulnerability and challenges societal norms. Its impact on alternative rock and singer-songwriters cannot be overstated; it remains a daring testament to the power of personal storytelling. While it may not be universally accessible due to its intense subject matter, it is a masterpiece for those willing to engage with its depth and honesty. Amos crafts a journey that is raw, reflective, and revolutionary, making *Little Earthquakes* not just an album but an experience.

Absolutely nuts. Amos is a great storyingteller/lyricist, and her arrangements are great. So unique but still accessible. And can we talk about how fucking crazy it is to have the lead off single be an a cappella song about rape? Damn

# Playlist track - Happy Phantom # Notes - I feel this album is way way overdone. There is too much singing, if that makes sense. It's like Adele, if Adele was more interesting. It's better, but not a good album.

Sorry but no immediate dislike but not bc is bad, just straight up dislike for me

8/10…singer-songwriter / piano rock

🎧Thoroughly enjoyed this. Stellar debut from Amos. Traces of Joni Mitchell and Kate Bush. Couple moments that reminded me of Joanna Newsom, I wonder if Amos influenced her.

boring

Jebiga crucify mi jedna od najdražih pisama devedesetih. Nikad nije nadmašila ovaj album ali jebiga, dešava se😃

The "female singer-songwriter" list is not a terribly deep one for me, and Tori is near the bottom

This far in I can now calibrate the marks much more objectively. This is a wonderful, tuneful, fascinating album that deserves its place. It’s a great work.

No

Great lyrics, strong vocals that pair well with her piano style. Haunting and powerful. I'm surprised how timeless it sounds over 30 years later. I like the next 2 albums a bit more but a great choice for the list. 4.5

Lyrically bold, strong vocals, dynamic piano that blends pop and classics elements. Highlight: Crucify (obviously), Silent All These Years

Crucify is a really good song. This album isn't for me. Just like it wasn't for me when i was in high school. I did appreciate it more on this listen.

I've never been a huge Amos fan, but this album is listenable. Mostly. Not going to get high rotation, but probably wouldn't turn it off if it was on.

There are parralels with Kate Bush, which in here for. She also sounds the precursor to Regina Spector at times. The album strikes somber tunes and has beotifuk poetry. A few gems in here for sure.

First listen was not impressed, felt like it reminded me too much of other artists and lacked originality. A few more listens and I can appreciate the variety of styles throughout, with the first half of the album growing on me in particular.

Definitely giving off Kate Bush vibes. A great opening 1 2. It doesn't ever really shift a gear for me though, most of the way through.

Very good. I think a lot of female artists are unfairly compared to Kate Bush, but I do admit I hear some similarities here - while still being a distinct and original songwriter. There are powerful moments in almost all the songs. Favorite tracks: Winter, Precious Things, Me and a Gun

Meh

great debut

This is not really my kind of music, but it is clearly very well made. The album was a little longer than I would have liked but I still really enjoyed it. Favorite songs were the opener and closer.

Приятный альбом, хороший голос

I saw some reviews comparing Tori Amos to Kate Bush, but I prefer to keep them apart. I liked this album. Certainly I had heard of Tori Amos but had not given her a serious listen.

I’ve always been aware of Tori Amos throughout the years. I’m a big Kate Bush fan so that was the obvious attraction. I did dip in and dip out of her music but much to my detriment I never gave it chance and regarded her as a second rate Kate Bush. It was only in the last two years when I began to move away from streaming to buying physical media again that i began to pick up Tori Amos CD’s at charity shops. It was this album that really cemented my appreciation of Tori and as a result of buying this album I made it my objective to purchase all of her studio albums which I now have done. I am now a massive Tori Amos convert. To say that this album was her first it is testament to what a wonderful talent she is. As I have already done and many others do Kate Bush is always mentioned in the same breath has Tori Amos. Kate is often applauded for her first album The Kick Inside but I would say that Little Earthquakes is a much stronger debut than that. To get one up on Kate Bush deserves top marks which I am happy to give it. My one regret is that I turned my nose up at Tori Amos for too long but now I am working hard to make amends. 5/5 10/10/24

A little sad but okey

Never cared for her.

I like this

Nice voice. Not for me…

Was quite nice! A nice surprise

+-: Girl, Precious Things, Happy Phantom, Leather, Me and a Gun -: Crucify, Silent All These Years, Winter, China, Mother, Tear in Your Hand, Little Earthquakes 2,5/10

Not my jam. Seemed like a Kate bush knockoff

This is a very good debut album. Standard singer-songwriter material with a little edge.

This just wasn’t for me. Reminds me a bit of Fiona Apple or Kate Bush but not as good as either in my opinion. Obviously I’m not the target audience for this though so I’ll give her benefit of the doubt and go with a three.

Great vocals, great piano, great songs, one of my top albums

1, мн ме издразни

It’s ok, unique voice but also a bit trill like a bird.

It was an okay album. Well written, great musical talent. Just not for me.

I have plenty of friends that like Tori, but I've never been able to get into her. She's a good poet, but I don't care for her singing style.

This is one where I hold my hands up and admit that I liked this way more than I thought I would

okay but a little bit bleak for me

SO SAD

Back in the 90s, I really liked Tori Amos. She was a singer songwriter that was much more raw and visceral than was typical of the genre. Amos was part of that wave of high confessional, no holds barred singers that emerged at that time. Subsequently, I bought her first three albums which include this one, LIttle Earthquakes, plus Under the Pink and Boys for Pele. In the ensuing decades, I find that her music hasn't aged well. What seemed intense then, now just comes across like shrieking. Highly confessional songs from that time, are more like whining now. Maybe the world has changed; Maybe I have. Perhaps it was a simplier time and I've becopme jaded. In any case, Tori Amos is not something I bother with anymore. She was of the time but the time has gone. Listen to this album, if only to get the zeitgeist of the early 90s which spawned a lot of angry music. Just don't expect to come back to it again and again. It's a one and done type album.

2.5 - after a while just got on my nerves a bit.

Exceptional. Delicate. Powerful. Devastating. Wonderful.

I listened to two songs but I prob would not have enjoyed it any better than I did those two songs

I confess that I was never a Tori Girl when I was a nineties teen, but she's grown on me in adulthood. I saw her play in Boston last summer and one of her first tasks was to summon the Salem witches from across Boston Harbor to exact revenge on our behalf. If that moment isn't Tori Amos in a nutshell, I don't know what is. It is difficult to imagine a world that holds Alanis, Lady Gaga, and even Chappell Roan in its hands were Tori not there to clear a blazing path for them all. She is angry and contained, weird and wonderful, and there is no one quite like her. If you couldn't quite connect with Little Earthquakes and you don't understand what the hype is all about, I recommend reading wrestling legend Mick Foley's beautiful 2010 Slate article "The Wrestler and the Cornflake Girl," about how Little Earthquakes' Winter gave him a new perspective on both his own life and the world at large. That article made me curious to give Tori another chance, and I'm so glad that I did.

Classy

Strong female vocalist, similar to Fiona Apple to me

Not something I would choose to listen to but I didn’t want to turn off the album either.i can see why she is popular and has had a pretty long career.

The melodrama is strong with this one. In a way I do miss this era of the 90s when a mainstream album could be filled with sad love songs. But I can't say I'm in a hurry to revisit this one.

An undeniably declarative debut showcasing complete control of the artist's worldview and considerable talents.

Not bad I guess

Yes Tori Amos is a good lyricist and piano player. Personally I just can't get into this music too much.

4 - I wish I could have given this a second listen. not a 5 but I think there's some genius behind this. I loved Silent All These Years, and tracks like Girl and Me and a Gun show there's a complex story behind the somber songs.

Excellent music. I recall my introduction to Tori: I was still a teenager, and I had a local music station on, very, very faint, and Tori's version of "Smells Like Teen Spirit" was playing, and it was so strange -- I kept thinking "Wait, what? Am I imagining things? Sounds like Nirvana", but the volume was so faint it was almost like I was being haunted. I finally figured it out, turned up the volume, and enjoyed the song very much. A very similar, but actually more intense experience happened with Tori's cover of Led Zeppelin's "Thank You", but that's more personal and another story. Anyway, Tori is very good, and I like her, but... (I'm going to give this album 4 stars, easy) but her music tends to be emotionally intense. This is not pop music. This isn't something you put on to relax or feel peppy. I like her, and appreciate her, but it's also a bit of a knock. It's like saying "No one captures my mood better when I'm down." That's impressive, yet I am hoping to not be down a lot.

This was a nice surprise that I didn't expect to like at all. There are some great songs here, and there is no arguing that Amos has a spectacular voice, that she uses in so many differing ways throughout the album. Very enjoyable.

Kate Bush with an American accent? I dunno, I'm a middle aged bloke so maybe it's not meant for me and it's not clicking. Might listen to it again later but right now it's mid.