Reviews (page 7 of 8)
Like if you put 90s pop wailing into a seashell and add piano.
It was good, but aside from a few standout tracks it felt a little too similar throughout. Still a solid listen though.
This sounds like somebody listened to the soundtrack of Reba and decided to make an album mimicking that. This album is the worst parts of 70’s and 90’s music combined. Listening to this is time I will never get back, my disappointment is immeasurable, and my day is ruined.
4.5 really enjoyed!
I'm not going to deny her talent, but she's too much like a slightly normal Kate Bush. And we all know how I feel about Kate Bush. I'm giving her a 3 just because she's not Kate Bush.
The correct seismologic term is "low magnitude earthquakes". I know she only repeats the chorus 3 times per song, but somehow it feels like 7. Best song is "Precious Things", the rest are saved with skilled piano. 2 fascist panties out of 5 🩲🩲
Excellent piano work and good lyrics, but reaching the album's end without falling asleep is hard.
Not for me. I’m just not really a singer songwriter ballads type of person. It’s not poorly written or performed, just kind of a snooze fest personally.
Feels like she was going for a more accessible take on Kate Bush’s sound (the vocal runs are a dead giveaway) but unfortunately isn’t up to snuff in songwriting quality or vocal performance. Certainly nothing I outright hated, but as a whole there wasn’t really any single track that grabbed me behind feeling like acceptable background music I wouldn’t get up to turn off.
I had more fun than I expected in this album. I feel like there are more interesting artists that do the same genre slightly better, but this is a fine album and I get why it made the list.
I really liked this. Such boldness and incredible songwriting.
Really good job! The tracks combine different genres to create a very nice and chill experience. Highly recommend.(82%)
Agréablement surpris, je m'attendais à m'endormir dessus mais ça a passé quand même vite considérant la durée de l'album. Je pense pas que tout était parfait, mais la voix est vraiment bonne et les compositions son rafraîchissantes. 8/10
One of the greatest albums of the 90s.
Though her Synth project never took off, Tori Amos seemingly led the way for eccentric piano based singer/songwriters of the 90's and mid 00's. A bit odd at first, she really settles into opening a vulnerable and questioning space while putting herself fully on the line.
An exceptional album, with a couple of properly arresting tracks - me and a gun in particular makes you stop what you're doing and listen. Like a wonderful mix of Kate Bush, Björk and Alanis Morissette, with flawless vocals, wonderful instrumentation and musicianship, and exceptional lyrics.
A beautiful album- Amos is so unique. Love the piano.
Still love it after all these years.
Beautiful voice, but the music was a chore.
"It is frequently regarded as one of the greatest albums of all time" despite being infrequently listened to by anyone. Ambitiously creative, but never hooked me.
This is pretty good. I think it would be much better if I paid attention to the words, but it seems that I am incapable of this feat.
Meets expectations. Good musician but just a little too mild for me
Front half of the album was a little better than the back half, but a good album overall. Enjoyed a lot of the piano work.
Pretty enjoyable overall. Couldn't name a favorite song, but I wouldn't skip anything if it came up in a queue
Really enjoyed this album. Will listen to again. 3/5
One of the better pop albums we've had. Was really hoping Cornflake Girl would be on this one when I saw it was Tori Amos
Really enjoyed this album. Not what I would normally listen to, but I love her lyrics and emotions the album goes through. Standouts for me are the title track and Precious Things.
I am going to be called out sexist or worse but this is the blueprint of girly indie with a trembling but strong voice and cringy display of all sorts of musical aesthetics I really will never tune in liberately. When J. Newsom adds a certain quirkyness I can just hear Amos’ mediocre songs that I cannot relate on any emotional Celine Dionish level. Awful!
Legendary album that has a special place in my heart
Interesting listen but Kate does it better.
not my cup of tea.
Very curious! It reminds me of a mix of eccentric female vocalists - at times Kate Bush, at times PJ Harvey, at times Fiona Apple, and a few others. It does generally speaking, to me, feel not quite as compelling as each of those - not as virtuosic as Kate, not as moody or atmospheric as PJ, not as potent or esoteric as Fiona (could make other comparisons to Alanis Morissete etc). But, it's got some very nice stuff, with quite a bunch of really surprising and interesting moments! The singing doesn't always land for me, but sometimes it sounds awesome. Leather! On balance, I dig it quite a bit.
This was one of the better weeks on this list and this was a good one to end on. I'm not a big Tori Amos fan, but I enjoyed this album if only for it's calming qualities. I also kept Winter. After all the greatness we got this week, I'm ok with an alright album to end things on. Felt a little like Fiona Apple mixed with Joni Mitchell or someone similar.
Wow, another banger! I know Tori Amos' name, but don't think I could name a song, probably a "me" problem. But this is a great album, apparently her debut too and it's all introspective piano singer-songwriter stuff, which seems incredibly bold. Not a style that many can pull off, but damn she nailed it here. Very heavily reminds me of Kate Bush, and that's definitely a compliment. Will be returning to a quite a few tracks on here, and I wouldn't mind some more from Tori if she's bringing heat like this. Favorite tracks: Girl, Silent All These Years, Winter, Leather, Mother, Tear in Your Hand. Album art: A tiny Tori crouched inside a wooden box, I can't tell if she's trying to or scared to get out. Simple but striking. I like it. 4.5/5
I liked this one more than I thought I would
How did I miss this back in 1992. Too busy with life I guess. Really unique. Reminds me of Joni Mitchell. Variety of styles, very unique melodies and arrangements. Plus this was a debut album. Amazing.
Sounds like a 90s Kate Bush. Good stuff objectively but not my go-to kind of music.
Very good. A bit too long and some songs sound similar.
Exciting music for boring people.
My god this is boring
Primarily anchored by vocals and piano, but with enough musical diversity here that it never gets wearisome. Though I recently saw her described as a "more generic, less talented Fiona Apple", a devastating insult that my brain won't seem to shake, I think her lyricism is quite complex and powerful indeed -- even when the music doesn't reach that level. This album is a very good listen, if not a revolutionary one.
I liked some songs but I don’t think I could listen to the full album again.
Really good in parts
Better than I expected.
Some really good songs, some average, but then there's Me and a Gun.... I don't think I know any song alike, goes deep.
Seemed fine. Made me want to listen to Fiona Apple 2/5
A beautiful album with complex lyrics, and a voice that would make an angel go from six to midnight. thought of many artists while listening such as Regina Spector, Kate bush and Florence and the machine which isn't a bad group to be in with. I will come back again to gain further appreciation.
Boring and moany
Really enjoyed this, very lyrical and Kate bush like
I like Crucify but that might just be nostalgia from hearing it so many times growing up. Still, it's an interesting sing with great dynamics and interesting instrumentation. The rest of the album just sounds very cookie cutter and rather boring. She even sounds bored singing it.
As a NIN fan, I had always heard that Trent Reznor and Tori Amos has some kind of relationship and that he helped produce some of her music. If true, it was not this record. It's not a bad record. But it's painfully boring. The whole thing is just sort of forgettable and sleepy.
Essentially a less impressive/adventerous Kate Bush, although there were some nice enough PJ Harvey flavours. Been suffering a stalemate of threes in recent days.
Some good songs and some I don't get
Zo'n album dat je opzet, vervolgens ga je wat anders doen en je merkt nauwelijks dat het draait. Het irriteert niet, maar maakt ook niet veel los. Dat is voor top 1001-album wel erg mager, maar helaas staan er meer van dit soort in de lijst. Meerdere keren draaien helpt ook al niet. Dus tja.
Een beetje kunstzinnig als Kate Bush. Maar muzikaal iets minder uitgesproken en met minder bijzonder stemgeluid.
Dit was muziek voor de alto-meisjes van die tijd. De jongens luisterden grunge en droegen bandshirts over hun trui heen. De meisjes tooiden zich met Dr. Martens schoenen (al liep Tori blijkbaar op haar blote voeten als ik de hoes mag geloven). Qua muziek is het dus ook niet helemaal mijn ding, te rustig en te kunstelig allemaal, als een vrouwelijke Rufus Wainwright, huismerk Kate Bush. Al heeft ze wel een paar prachtige nummers gemaakt, niet toevallig de singles van deze plaat.
awesome
She sounds like a Disney princess
OK
Pleasant album. 7/10
-tori amos like the name sounds so familiar -but i honestly don’t think i have listened to her before -crucify is already such an interesting song -her voice is really beautiful -i definitely hear some kate bush and fiona apple -precious things is such an epic song -it should be in a magical fairy movie -these songs are really good but idk if i would necessarily ever listen to them again -happy phantom is definitely my favorite
I really enjoyed this. She is more than just a Cornflake Girl to me now.
This had some good songs but most of it doesn’t do it for me
Was expecting some relaxing acoustic folk but got an '80s pop knockoff instead. I guess the "Little Earthquakes" refers to those unnecessarily loud snare booms. Never judge a book by its cover.
Love her voice, but not the songs
First 5 songs were SO good. Like Joni blended up with Zevon. Then the rest was real self indulgent and kinda awful. Was thinking 3, then went back and listened to the beginning again. 4 stars it is.
Not a fan of piano echoing vocal pattern style melodies and this is full of them. Feels like she's trying to be Kate Bush minus the interesting lyrics and arrangements. Found absolutely no surprises on this album, sounded exactly how I remember it 25 years ago and it's still tedious to me. Sure it probably gets better with more listens, but doesn't appeal to me at all to want to listen to again.
Not my type of music. She has a great voice, but I found it uninteresting. Not great - not terrible
Wow this was hard to get through.
Uninteresting until "Precious things" came up. The same piano melody is re-used way too often. The lack of anything intriguing melody-wise isn't compensated for the most part by vocals. Lyrics get better at times, but that's it.
Aye, it's OK
These songs are definitely super personal, and I can recognize and respect that, but a lot of this album is just generally boring, especially due to the style at the time musically. Also, once again, overly long, which seems to be a theme for albums for me this week. Still, not as bad as I expected, there were even genuinely good parts.
I know I know you well well better than I used to. I've enjoyed a 30 year relationship with this record. Despite having critics and sceptics along the way for the love I have for Tori, I still try to celebrate and share her brilliance as often as I can. My life is better for knowing her work so well. I'm glad I picked up that cd single at the rock pit record store in 1992 because I liked the cover art. Castles are burning in my heart. Thank you, Tori. Thank you.
I was very impressed with this - I really haven't given Tori the requisite amount of time, and I should, and I will.
Tori Amos is not an artist that is in my go-to, top favourites but I do respect her work. Phenomenal voice, composing skills, and musical talent. This first album is full of raw emotion, melody, melancholy, and heart.
It all sounded the same, pretty bored
I can appreciate the content was good it’s just that I was so bored.
Quite interesting album with cool musical compositions! Tori Amos has an interesting voice, but she’s a bit too much out there for my tastes. 6,5 out of 10
Nice mellow piano
“Silent All These Years” almost has the drama of a Meat Loaf song. But that minor chord change-up at 1:01 is more like a Fiona Apple move. “Precious Things” has drama too. But more in the Kate Bush vein. This was Tori Amos’ first album? It’s really bold! That piano trot on “Happy Phantom” is another one that reminds me of Fiona Apple. (And worth noting here that this album came out four years before Fiona Apple’s debut.) “Happy Phantom” is a clear standout. I enjoyed some of these songs more than others but that’s mostly a question of taste. This is a very impressive album, especially for a first album.
I always wondered if it helped or hurt Tori Amos to be a part of the great 1990's alternative female singer songwriter scene alongside Alanis Morissette and Fiona Apple. Personally I love those acts and think they are amalgams of variables that I often really love and search for in music- edgy, witty, creative, cool, etc. Tori Amos I always felt was unfortunately the most... I don't know.. pedestrian of the bunch and when I've listened to her I've always wanted to rather listen to those other acts. It's a weird curse. I don't know if it's because I've been practicing pentatonic scales a lot lately but the pentatonic run on "Crucify" over the lyric "chains" sounds grating. It's just a little boring and the specific riff highlights the pentatonic's stereotypical Asian sound which I think is the worst use for it when used outside of actual Asian music. The lyrics are pretty corny to me as well, but at least the chorus hook is catchy. I love chromatics but the intro piano in "Silent All These Years" is exactly what I don't like with chromatics unless you are scoring a horror movie. Chromatics I think are best used when they are elevating a normal scale and making for a more exotic sound. Personally I love breaking rules in music! But these are just weird choices... The track with the most plays on it, "Winter" is also pretty bleh to me. It's so dramatic and I think the tone of her voice just isn't enough for it to really shine. It's like going to a college cabaret night. The singer has great pitch and control and can certainly play their instrument, but it's so overly acted and it just doesn't have that star power or star vocal sound that elevates the song. I want to like this because I usually like this sound. I like acts that have come out since that I'm sure were inspired by her, like Sara Bareilles, Olivia Rodrigo, Gracie Abrams, and dozens of female piano driven singer songwriters since, but man I just don't love it. 2/5..
Dama kan synge, og sangene er fine, det blir bare litt kjedelig for meg rett og slett. Crucify er bra!
Maybe I'm not in the right mindset for this album right now, but it's kind of like a boring Fiona Apple.
- Never heard a Tori Amos album before - Really enjoyed it, better than I'd expected - Kind of Kate Bush-lite but that's not necessarily a bad thing - Fav songs: Silent All These Years, Crucify, Winter
Beautiful and moving album
Rating: 7/10 Best songs: Crucify, Winter
One of my favorite of all time. I don't need to listen to it to hear it, but I will.
I like her voice
Kate Bush wannabe. Slightly grating
3. Idk, I always think I like Tori Amos, but I never actually feel like listening to the music..
Some very light music, nothing stood out
I’m possibly rating this too high as I think a few of the songs in the middle of the album are pretty weak, but it think the highlight (crucify, girl, tear in the hand etc.) are some of my all time favourite songs. I think the lyrics are really interesting and unique and overall I find the album really engaging.
4.0
I’ve come across Tori Amos a few times but always disregarded it because I thought she was a country artist. I don’t know why I thought this, because a quick Google says she’s comparable to Joni Mitchell, who I love! I’m very interested to listen to this today, because it sounds like my expectations were all wrong! Songs I already knew: none Favourites: Precious Things, Happy Phantom This was pretty great! I was certainly wrong with my expectations as this is piano driven folk pop. The singing was beautiful throughout, and the lyrics were interesting. I read online that her label tried to push this into being guitar driven, but I’m glad that she stuck with it being on piano because it sounded so pleasant. I can understand the comparison to Joni Mitchell, and I was very impressed with this album.
It's obvious she wanted to be the next Kate Bush, but nothing here is musically interesting, or lyrically inspiring in the way of the aforementioned artist. Overall just a big pile of argumentative nothingness. A disappointing record.
I knew nothing about Tori Amos. Reading about her while listening to this album, it's clear why this album is important given the context and the subject matter. Musically she is without a doubt incredibly gifted. This is just not at all for me.
Phenominal album, I love how personal and touching her storytelling is throughout. You won't find many songs better than Silent all these years.
Some excellent songs mixed with I don't know what. The album switches between genres and the majority of the songs doesn't hold up well. Kate Bush vibes.
Not gonna lie…I struggled to get through this. I’d never listened to Tori Amos before but with any luck, I won’t have to again.
A fantastic pop album based around piano, emotion, and great singing. This should be an example on strong serious pop writing. It’s not as upbeat, but it’s effective. Only its length and weaker songs in the second half hold it back.
What a great surprise. Loved Tori's soft voice paired with the great instrumentation that ranges from acapella to atmospheric piano
not for me, but very cool
Voor een album met Winter kan ik niet minder dan 2 sterren geven, maar verder nogal saai.
Overall pretty music! Piano and vocals, I liked Winter the best (most popular song on Spotify, go figure). I'd listed to this again, so 4 it is. Kind of too long for me overall.
Where has this been all my life??
Parts boisterous, parts arresting and parts vaudevillian, Little Earthquakes announces Tori Amos' arrival to the music world. And what an arrival it is, reconfiguring the singer-songwriter pianist trope for a new generation and infusing with stories fanciful, imaginative and taboo. An enduring classic thirty plus years on.
Þessi spilaðist oft í bakgrunnninum í den, en ég gaf ekki mikið fyrir hana. Núna græðir hún vissulega á kunnugleikanum, en sko vá, þetta er frábær plata. Ég er ekki mikill píanómaður en þetta steinliggur. Frábær lög, flutningur og útsetningar.
I'm personally a fan of her voice although I know it can be a little divisive. I think she's smart and cool and writes terrific lyrics. This album has several of my favorites like Crucify and Silent All These Years, and Winter (with its giant strings and sleeping white horses). Great tracks.
I know Tori Amos is beloved by many, so I won't be too brutal. Basically, Tori Amos makes music that I don't like. I came to this conclusion after being surrounded by this album ad nauseam beginning 1993 and stretching through 1995 and again today. To each, their own. This is not for me.
I love how Tori uses her voice and sparse piano arrangements. The meter and delivery are uneven and unpredictable, keeping you off-balance but wanting more.
One of my favorite albums of all time. Happy Phantom is, in my opinion, the perfect encapsulation of 90s Tori. Listen to the Deluxe edition for a haunting Smells Like Teen Spirit cover: https://music.apple.com/us/album/smells-like-teen-spirit-remastered/961925135?i=961925206
I didn't discover Tori Amos until Under the Pink (1994) and then I went back and listened to Little Earthquakes relentlessly. Tori was basically a different, less distortion driven way to express my teenage angst at a time when grunge music was dominating airwaves. Grunge and Tori Amos were two sides of the same coin for teenage me.
This is a 3.5 for me. Objectively I think she’s a really good musician but it’s just not my style of what I want to listen to for a long while.
Amos’s voice is pleasant enough, but I get hung up on the meter of her delivery. It’s uneven, not quite jerky jerky, but enough to keep me off balance. I don’t find the music overly interesting either. This is not to say why I dislike the album. It is fine overall. It would be fine to have on in the background at a party. I liked Leather the most.
I liked this a lot. Art poppy piano ballads. Maybe less eclectic and perhaps harder than say Kate Bush. I guess that's who her voice makes me think of the most. I love the mostly just piano based songs but I think she uses just the right amount of late type 80s/early 90s production on the full band stuff. Obviously can get out-there lyrically but also just very real. I think it gets a four from me until I listen more.
The beginning of the album wasn't the strongest IMO. Nevertheless, this is one of the more emotional albums I think I've ever heard, and Tori Amos seems to be (despite her top-flight piano skills) a songwriter and lyricist at heart.
OK
Usually when I’m listening to a new (to me) album I’m looking for songs that grab my attention and don’t let go - ‘Crucifier’ came close in that regard before the rest of the album sunk into banal 90s singer-songwriter tropes, and my attention never recovered.
one of my favorites ever!
Great! I loved the vocals.
It sound's like the Demon Madonna made a pact with the Devil to steal's Bjorg's body in a different dimension and made an album about the struggle's of being a woman. With a small twist, she's already a demon for 500 year's and forgot what being a woman is so the lyrics are senseless just like the modern movement, talking about jeans, snowman and mirror's. Point's to feminism I guess, for another non remarkable shit that was made into something.
Didn't put in as much time as I should have with this. She's a beautiful singer
Beautiful voice but really not my thing.
Couldn't even make it through the first song
Not a big Tori Amos fan...probably my least favorite of the old Lilithcore artists. 1.5/5
Silent all these years a great song - didn't hate the rest of it that much
Solid album with a couple of great tracks.
Enjoyed
Tunnelmallinen ja hieman Kate Bush -henkinen. Tykkäsin kyllä. 3/5
Ei tää ihan toiminut. Taitavaa sinänsä, mutta loppua kohti jopa hieman ärsyttäviä biisejä.
Ihan menevää poppista, mut ehkä vähän aikaansa jäänyt. 3/5
First 2/3 are brilliant
She showed her (and women's, I assume) vulnerabilities to the world with incredible bravery. Like, the disc opens with "Crucify" reminds me about Odysseus ties himself to the sailboat pillar to hear - not to hide - the voice of sirens while the other sailors cover their ears to avoid (though It doesn't actually relate to the lyrics). She crucifies herself on the piano with no attempt to hide away any of vulnerabilities at all, thus, at last, reaches to a carthasis that made her delivery becomes redemptive and universal. And again, no songs are worth to be skipped. Fav track: Winter.
shes very talented, just not my style....I can hear alot of Fiest in here....and I love fiest...not sure why I cant get into it
I though this was pretty good. Very Tori Amos, and good quality of songs throughout.
How is it never really a giant Tori Amos fan and now I remember why there's some weird little inflection in her voice that just is grating to me. I like the music and it's a pretty decent background album I was surprised by a couple of songs.
Enjoyed as background music. Her voice reminds me a little of Madonna. I can't say I love it and would seek out to listen to it, but wouldn't mind if it were playing. 7/10
This was an enjoyable enough listen. A little slow for my taste, but I do enjoy her voice and the overall style of music. I liked 3-4 songs in particular, and only really disliked one (seriously, wtf was that acapella track?). A nice background album. Will probably listen again at some point and will likely add 1-2 songs. 6.5/10
Great songwriting and singing
Oooh deze vond ik zo leuk, rustig maar zo genieten
Leuk en tof en leuk
i know the name because of the massive dance track that sampled one of her tracks so i kind of assumed she might be alright. well armand van helden has gone massively up in my estimations to have made such a tune from meagre pickings. this album is shite. it's like a 90s kate bush, and that's not a compliment.
Bad
Pretty songs but not my favorite.
While I understand the appeal, Tori's music is just not for me. Her vocal gymnastics gets on my nerves pretty quickly and I find the production to be a bit corny now. I guess she's a good songwriter but I'm just not into her art.
Nothing really bad, but just completely boring
First half of the album intrigated me since I heard some similarity with Joni Mitchell that I like, but second half was too long and boring.
Bittersweet piano rock from the 90s can be good for a light hearted movie from that era, but not to stand the test of time. Sorry, it was not bad, but long and boring.
I like Tori Amos (I think), but I've never listened to an entire album of hers all the way through. This one sounds like the soundtrack to a really sad and depressing Disney musical. Still, she has a unique, recognizable voice and overall sound. This album is definitely worthy of the list.
Really enjoyable. Had me from the opening track.
Tremor-endous
This album is simply amazing.
Did not enjoy her work when it was released and I still find it hard to penetrate the lyrics or the inane piano riffs
Love Tori, Love this album. All the tracks are winners.
I prefer "From the Choirgirl Hotel", albums-wise, but this is still pretty great. Love the melodrama. Skipped "Me and A Gun" on the second listen because it's too powerful of a gut punch to enjoy, really. Fave tracks - "Precious Things", for sure. "Little Earthquakes" is also great....
pathetic shitshow
Really good, will definitely listen again
melodramatic Kate Bush style theatrical singing, but a bit more hokey. Not bad, but kinda feels like hold music. 3.25/5
I’ve looooved this album since I was like 16 a masterpiece. So personal
It made me long for the days when albums were approximately 35 minutes long.
decent debut
So much melodrama. 90s kids know the score.
Not really my taste in music. I can see the appeal but I didn’t really like it. 4/10
Something really powerful and confident in the strangeness of this music. Despite having heard her name many times this is my first time giving her a serious listen. I like what I'm hearing.
Sounds like she was picking up where Kate Bush was leaving off in the early 90s.
First off, recommend watching is the 1991/92 live performances at Montreux Jazz Festival. Captivating and passionate, she's got the "I fuckin' dare you" energy directed at the crowd and I'm all for it. My understanding is the 1991 festival she was pretty unknown. Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeSj8SnUgUI&list=PL_TOoo0i6bTnIRgto-WfF8dN5Y3dHK_qr Tori Amos had a LOT to say in this album. It's pretty dark, has a bit of venom, with some little tongue in cheek chuckles. I definitely prefer this album to many other singer-songwriter 90s albums, she is really bearing everything here. It's clearly very autobiographical processing of childhood traumas, puberty, and adulthood navigating it all. Tracks like Me and a Gun are haunting, it's pretty obvious the subject-matter and you feel like you must respectfully listen it, but it's definitely not light. Again, I prefer the live versions where it's even more blunt and plain in your face, especially Precious & Winter. I had a phase where I was really into early Tori Amos but I kind of can't really listen to it much anymore, I was much more angry and moody then. Still, it's a damn good debut. Unfortunately I liked less and less the more she put out. Best tracks are Crucify, Silent all These Years, Precious, Winter.
Fantastic, not my first listen.
Well nothing about cornflakes, all felt a bit limp
Found this a bit dull to be honest
What an album! I love this. It's got emotional depth, gothy vibes, virtuosity, literary references.
I may have had a slight crush on Tori Amos back in the mid-90s.
White lady piano stuff.
Absolutely horrible. What even are these lyrics?
I would like to listen more, very 90s
Never heard this album before. I enjoyed it quite a bit. Etremely intimate production fits the intimacy of the songs. Tori seems to have no problem wearing her heart on her sleeve even whn=en the subject matter is difficult and anger is the emotion that is laid bare - Me and a Gun, Crucify The arrangements make me want to re visit the album and each listen reveals more lyrically than the previous listen. Her voice and style is in the Kate Bush style, though not quite is high in register. I enjoyed listening to this fine album. 4 stars
A true classic imho.
Still a pretty perfect album (voice, piano, song writing etc) apart from the lyrics and some misfires.
Very mixed feelings about this artist. Great voice, great piano playing, but the songs somehow make me feel somewhat uncomfortable.
Beautiful and intense
Definitely a hard listen. I ran through it twice, but had already heard some of these songs before. I liked the reviewer that said this is Music with a capital M. It’s certainly not something enjoyable, but I can appreciate the artistry and complexity of these songs and the emotions they articulate that I’m sure have been meaningful for so many people. Personally I am not a fan of the vocals, which are a bit like nails on a chalkboard, but the songwriting and lyrics are very good. Would I seek this out again? Probably not. Do I hold Tori Amos in high regard after listening to this? Yes I do.
A little too mellow
Ugh. No.
At the time, I found I could never truly relate to Amos’ music, despite it ticking most checkboxes. Fast forward to today, and not much has changed.
I am too drunk to write a coherent review of this album, so I'll just say that thsi was pretty long and kind of boring by the end, but enjoyable enough.
Before listening my colleague said Tori Amos reminded her of Fiona Apple and I definitely see the similarities as did many other reviewers Dynamic female vocals with understated piano accompaniments that shine at just the right moments I respect the diversion from the typical pop sounds of the 90's and the road that was paved for many indie artists today 4/5
Still as exceptional 30 years later.
like it, reminds of kate bush
Emotional, kinda brooding. I don't dislike it but I don't particularly enjoy it either. 3.5
I admire but cant enjoy it. One of my partners favourite albums, it highlights a difference betwen men and women tastes and also emotional range. All I can hear is a voice achingly shrill with too much emotionality and soaring drama (other reviewers mention Kate Bush etc). This is a thing. In her own words, Tori Amos "I’m too raw for straight men. They are tortured by my shows" (2015, The Guardian)
pretty wack, would not listen again. not my style and not a vibe
Impressive. Not super my cup of tea. But a little bit my cup of tea! 3 stars
Country correct
I’m surprised that I enjoy this. It also reminds me of a period of time in music. Reading the liner notes on Apple Music, adding guitar would have killed these songs. Trust the artist.
Excellent. Bold, delicate, really the full gammut.
I appreciate and respect Tori’s ability to convey many different emotions so well in this record. Most are very somber and brutal while still being energetic in some way. It very much feels like the soundtrack to a musical in how grand the instrumentation is and how anecdotal or specific the lyrics are. Definitely surprised by this! 7/10
very dramatic female vocalist similar to Kate bush
Pretty generic singer/songwriter stuff. This record aged pretty well I must say, but just not my style.
Wunderbare Stimme. Sehr gute Singer-Songwriterin. Hört sich gut an ohne langweilig zu werden.
Pretty good:))
Fantastic album. No bad tracks, some great ones The album flows well and is a pleasure to listen to Still not bored after the 4th or 5th repeat
Maybe a little less rock-forward than her sophomore album. Classic Tori of piano dominant, with some intentional jangle-almost-off-note accents. Lineage of Bush and Mitchell.
Meh
Great album really well recorded piano and vocals.
First track starts really strong with “Crucify”, followed by “Girl”, falls off for me for the next two tracks, with “Winter” being solid. Kinda slows down for me after that.
quite compelling, liked more the more I listened. ethereal feminine energy
incredibly impressive and emotional album. the kate bush influences are obvious, but in the best way.
Probably would benefit from another listen - I like Tori Amos but I'd probably go for the more poppy stuff I am ashamed to admit!
This is a great album. I loved it when it came out - it just seemed to tap into some feeling at the time. Probably more among women, but I was a mid-20s guy at the time and I could also relate to the feelings of isolation and childhood trauma. It felt so personal, like going to a therapist but more enjoyable. 4 stars.
Beautiful and iconic music.
Good for a few songs, very similar throughout though, liked the last song the most
Boring but not offensive
This album commands one's attention. Initially I was at 3, by the en ofthe album a 4.
kinda listened need to revisit
Ok, interesting
Not bad
Winter 👏
Outstanding album
They speak of the label wanting to move to guitars in place of Tori’s piano and I very much agree. This was boring. I couldn’t hum the tune or recite a line from any of the songs and I just finished listening to it.
Love. So angsty. Listened on repeat all day.
Torch songs by a very good singer/songwriter. Like Kate Bush but less eccentric.
4/5. Honestly a great collection of soft pop songs. Each one filled with great vocals and lyrics. A moving album for a debut.
Tosi hyvä!!! Raiskataanko se tässä? Heh.. Oma vika.. jos paljastavat vaattteet TURHA VOIVOTELLA NEITI... "A survey of thousands of Amos listeners revealed that only about 6% of the Amos listeners believed this myth as compared to 26% of the general population.."... MIKÄ VITUN MYYTTI.. laitetaanko myytin murtajiin.. heh..EI VOI KUN EI TYKÄNNY VASEMMISTO RÄJÄHDYKSISTÄ....kancellattu.... meikällekkin tultu sanomana.. paukuttelusta.. KYSYTTÄISKÖ PF:faneilta.. MILTÄ TUNTUU OLLA... Kiveksistö vedettänä... dragged down by the stone... STONE... STONEE..... SIINÄ KOSKETTAVA RAISKAUS LYRIIKKA.. AI PERKULE KU SATTUIS... "And the idea was to take me to his friends and cut me up, and he kept telling me that, for hours. And if he hadn't needed more drugs I would have been just one more news report, where you see the parents grieving for their daughter." Ei itsesäälin määrää ei mittaa järki, eikä Kärki määrää......... Heh.. oliko Tori Amos suomalainen... Torille... heh... "And I was singing hymns, as I say in the song, because he told me to. I sang to stay alive. Yet I survived that torture, which left me urinating all over myself and left me paralyzed for years" Paralyysi olympialaisten mestari suomalainen Leo Pekka Tähti.. Olisi ylpeä... Rullaaja lajiltaan.. ei kusija.........
I mean ultimately surely we have to blame Tori for Amanda Palmer, don't we? Good job this album's good enough to let me forget about that for a while.
Being only passingly familiar with Tori Amos, I didn't expect this album to have quite such an interesting and literate pop sound, its more closely aligned with Kate Bush and Bjork than Katie B. Hawkins (not that there's anything wrong with Ms Hawkins, she's written some bangers.) It was a pleasant surprise. Some of the sounds on the album err a bit to close to Casio keyboard territory for comfort. Admittedly it was the early 90's but the DX-7 had been in production for almost a decade, its not like they didn't know what good synth sounds were. It becomes a lot more palatable if you chalk it up to a low fi artistic choice on the part of Amos rather than a symptom of the cynicism and "progress over quality" attitude they had in the 90's but I suspect that wasn't the case. Either way that's just the Synth Nerd in me talking, it doesn't actually affect the songs which are strange, beautiful and charming. The album is a touch on the longer side but doesn't outstay its welcome. Very good 4/5
Excellent album. Reminds me of Kate Bush sometimes. Thought it was going to be boring because of the size, but I was thankfully wrong.
What would turn into a hugely inspiring piece for future artists, Tori Amos finds herself with an all-around solid outing. While there isn't anything terribly ground-breaking, it is easy to see her composition, singing and other stylistic choices emulated by other artists notably in Fiona Apple's latest offering.
3.5
This album defined the 90s for me.
never listened to this back in the day. a couple of times I thought I was listening to Kate Bush. 3
Sounds a lot like Kate Bush and sometimes sounds like Alanis Morissette. Think my fav track is Mother ~ long, kind of haunting, loved the piano. Good, not great, 4/5
“So you met a girl who thinks really deep thoughts. What’s so amazing about really deep thoughts?” This cracked me UP. The majority of this album is not for me but a couple songs were more interesting so i’ll give a 2 (Leather/Happy Phantom)
Her closest analogues are probably Kate Bush and Siouxsie Sioux, but I like Tori better. I think there's an authenticity there that isn't always present with the others. Sandman reference in Track 10. Best track: Silent All These Years
Beautiful, haunting and poetic from start to finish
I love this album.
really pretty songs, definitely something special even if it doesn't have that many streams on spotify.
Tori Amos’ debut is incredible. It is symphonic, melodic, and experimental. Her musical instincts are spot on and it creates an album that is confessional, surreal, and intimate. I hear a lot of influence from Kate Bush, another phenomenal songwriter who wasn’t afraid to takes risks. Tori Amos’ sound itself had become very influential and can be heard in similarly phenomenal artists like Fiona Apple.
December 19 2022 Another new discovery for me; beautiful, sometimes harrowing. HL: "Crucify", "Girl", "Leather", "Winter", "Tear in Your Hand"
Pleasant art-pop, singer-songwriter type album. The piano playing is pretty phenomenal throughout. Vocals took some warming up too but she sings very well obviously. Lyrically unique, visceral and surreal. “Me and a Gun” is just harrowing. Most of this album doesn’t really do much for me but I understand why this would knock some people’s socks off.
Tori Amos has an impressive voice, but I just cannot get into what she chooses to use it for. The lyrics are interesting and the compositions likewise, but I just cannot shake the feeling that Little Earthquakes is trapped in the 90s. Side note: it probably does not help that every single Disney tune since 'Let It Go' seems to be heavily inspired by Amos…
I never really known Tori Amos for anything but her name and a few songs. But if any of her other albums are just remotely like Little Earthquakes that’s a mistake. Amos possesses an incredible vocal and an ability to write complex, intriguing and almost theatrical songs. Just listen to the breathtaking “Crucify” and “Precious Things”.
How have I never heard of Tori Amos before. That piano playing is sublime, not complex but full of emotion that lets it sing. Speaking of which, Amos' vocals are very good too. The tracks with those two elements or just the voice for Me and the Gun, were so powerful.
Started really strongly, and there’s some absolutely belting tracks on here. Doesn’t quite hold it together for me over the length of the album though.
Ugh, no. I thought Tori Amos was somewhat quirky but this was just melancholy and depressing.
Good record, not really my thing but I liked the variety of songs and the vocal talent she has. Not a lot of singers can pull off an entirely acapella song but "Me and a Gun" is mesmerizing!
Absolutely stunning. I need to listen to more by her.
In the early 90s, I was waiting tables at a wine bar and cafe in Chicago when Ms. Amos and her manager sat at one of my tables. They were there to promote this album and she had spent the afternoon at a nearby record store, signing copies of this CD, that sort of thing. She had brought in some candy apples and I said to her that the cafe's policy was no outside food allowed but because she's Tori Amos, I've brought her a plate and knife so she can enjoy them. Towards the end of her visit, I thanked her for this album and especially 'Silent All These Years' really spoke to me. I meant it, too. I added that to show my gratitude for her singing to me, I'd like to serenade her. So I did. I knelt beside her, sang 'Love Is All Around', then she gave me a kiss on the cheek (and, yes, I very much had a Marcia-Brady-kissed-on-the-cheek-by-Davy-Jones "I'll never wash this cheek again!" moment), and left behind a signed CD with a sweet note thanking me for the candy apple indulgence. After that, her career continued to shine. I think we all know it's all becaause of me.
Not a big fan of this style of music, but Tori is such an amazing songwriter and musician. Solid debut album
This is amazing. Love.
I just love love love this album! Have I really been singing along to this for 30 years?!? I suppose that is why it felt like coming home as "every finger in the room is pointing at me".
An old favorite. Still excellent.
Here’s another album I have loved it since its release. Tori Amos’ piano work is exquisite, the songs perfectly crafted, the arrangements beautiful. I love every song on this which is why it has been and will remain one of my favorite albums of all time. Little Earthquakes is perfection and every bit as compelling 30 years after I first heard it.
Pretty good debut album. Many different sounds. Not too memorable.
It's okay, one or two songs reminded me a bit of Kate Bush. But I haven't really taken to this, even after multiple plays
It’s really good the same strong and powerful female solo vocalist Kate Bush, Bjork, Alanis Morrisette kinda stuff. This album is slightly weaker than those 3’s “peak albums” ( hounds of love, debut, jagged little pill) but this is still a very worthy listen the lyrics all over are amazing high 4/5. (Also I realise that this album is before 2 of the artists I mentioned really blew up its just a comparative point as those 3 are much more popular than this person)
Good music, just didn't click with me.
really fantastic and also amazing kate bush sounding a bit at points!! Heartbreaking and also invigorating best songs: me and a gun, little earthquakes, crucify
OH MY GOSSSSH LOVE IT.
The Kate Bush influence is very apparent, in a sense blending her avant-garde style with more alternative rock leanings. I love how forward the piano is in the mix, I think it adds a lot to the music. It's very 90s, lots of angst, very heavy, both topically and musically. Favorite tracks: "Precious Things", "Mother", "Leather"
Ihan kiva. Tulee mieleen kaupallisempi Kate Bush. Hyviä hetkiä, tylsiä hetkiä.
Olin onnellinen kun tämä levy loppui, en vain koska kokonaisuus oli hieman puuduttava, vaan koska kaksi viimeistä biisiä olivat sen parhaat.
5/10 some cool songs, but I found the lyrics really overwrought and at times the singing style was just too much.
9/10. This was excellent, enjoyed every song, maybe even worth a 10.
I genuinely do not want to hear any of the songs on this album ever again. 2/10
I could see how the sort of people who like this music could like this but I would not trust anyone's music taste who likes this music. 'silent all these years' - and indeed the entire album - sounds like the Frozen soundtrack. After looking at the other reviews it seems that the main factor for people liking this is nostalgia, which is fair considering ill listen to 'I'll Get You What You Want (Cockatoo in Malibu)' off the Muppets Most Wanted soundtrack for the nostalgia of it.
ugh. i just couldn't.
Cant say i thought it to be too interesting
I like it but don't love it. Solid but missing something.
I think that I was not necessarily in the mood to listen to this album as I wanted it. She has a great voice and the songs are catchy. It does seems a bit classic but yeah ! 3.5 / 5
Just too good of an album. Incredible voice in all aspect, used so well in different songs that are all very very good. Transcendant songs. 4.5/5
I don't think I'm ever going to be a gigantic Tori Amos fan (probably because I was a contemporary fan of a lot of the performers of the next generation that were influenced by her), but this a very good album. Part of why the college rock into alternative rock transition era is so interesting to me is because an album like this was heard as an "alternative" album, but also in the brief window that "alternative" rock culture was being made most accessible to the general public (which the Deluxe Edition's bonus track of her B-side cover of Smells Like Teen Spirit really illustrates). I'm still coming up with my grand theory of the era, but no matter what I think it is really cool that this was a time period where Tori Amos was an "Important Artist" (with capital I and A) in the music culture. This album is a heavy listen, but it is still real powerful. The transition between the last two tracks, Me and a Gun into the title tracker, is an incredible way to end an album.
Pass
надо еще что раз послушать осознать
This was very good! A lot of songs sounded surprisingly familiar, and there was enough really good stuff on here that I'm happy to round up to 5
Really enjoyed this - she has a beautiful voice.
Pop como de cantautora, suave. Ni fu ni fa.
Pretty dated. Pretty mid.
Boring
hun er forelskende
Signer/songwriter, velkomponeret, stærk vokal, lidt kedeligt
After a false start in the 80's with the synthpop album "Y Kant Tori Read", Tori Amos releases her debut Little Earthquakes with a sound that is more her own. Amos wields the piano with a commanding presence, singing beautiful songs of personal strife adorned in poetry. She's very good at this. That's what I was thinking for a lot of this runtime. Just "wow, she's very good at this". It's the kind of singer/songwriter song that I don't ever want to listen to again. It's a sin to be boring in music but I also feel like it would be a sin to call Tori Amos' impressive debut album "boring". It's an album that passed me by. Impressive? Sure. Wish I could say more.
Tori kinda snapped but not enough, eh Nolan? Nolan: Yuh
a less good version of alanis morisette - still some saves tho
Great
Boring version of Kate Bush. Not bad at all, great voice, but struggled to pay attention
Not for me, whole album was stuck in one gear, very repetitive. Graeme described it as 'boring Kate Bush' and I can't beat that
Not bad at all - didn't know what to expect and was pleasantly surprised.
Had not heard of her before but I ended up liking it a lot. "Crucify", "Precious Things" and "Leather" were my highlights.
She has a great voice and quite enjoyed the sound of the album. Not a patch on Kate Bush, which I think she is going for. I don't think I am the target audience for this! My mum used to really like Tori Amos so it's kinda nostalgic
It's good, but From the Choirgirl Hotel is the album that should represent Tori Amos's discography on an essentials list.
Great themes and music
There were bits in this that I liked a lot, but in my opinion, most of the instrumentation on the album feels really dated. It has that '80-'90s pop vibe that I'm not all that fond of, and that bothered me more than I would have hoped. However, the songs that were a bit more stripped-down were great. A good example of such a song is Leather, which I thought was brilliant. I would have loved to give this a higher rating, but in all honesty, I found that the negatives outweighed the positives quite strongly on this.
Kate Bush inspired, no doubt. Tori Amos should be prepared to be featured in a Stranger Things episode when the show gets into the 1990s! This is moody, dream-like album. Lots of fun sound mixing, great piano riffs, and her voice is incredible. Amos is a talented singer-songwriter, and a visionary artist. These songs are quite powerful at times. Precious Things is a poem and an entire experience. She's the anti-Sophie B. Hawkins in that all the same pieces are in place, but Amos is a minor key version of Hawkins. So dark, so intense, and in my opinion much more interesting - Aimee Mann type of vibe. I wish I could play the piano...and write songs...and sing...
Tori Amos is someone who's rarely talked about anymore, which is quite a shame, as her music is amazing. Songs like "Winter", "Crucify", "Precious Things" and "Silent All These Years" prove my point on why she's so amazing. Her vocals are beautiful, and every instrument played on this album make me transcend. This is teetering on a five for me.
The first real masterpiece I’ve discovered on this list.
Strong lyrics, good to finally hear her work. Interesting song lyrics, but not very moving musically. Solid 3
A bit Kate Bush, a lovely collection of songs. Her voice is sweet but strong.
Prior to this the only Tori Amos that I knew I heard was Cornflake Girl (meh) and a snicker inducing cover of Raining Blood. My expectations were not high and in thatvregard I wasn't disappointed. Boring stuff. She's talented enough that I cam understand why others might like it, but this was a boring chore for me.
Better than expected
So good, still, after all these years.
Keep going back and forth on this one, started bad, until I started really listening to the words and the emotions trying to be conveyed here. On second listen, it turns out that I really dislike the first two songs. The rest of the album is good. Not great, but good. Let's call it a 4, with two really bad songs weighing it down a star