GROUND SHAKING

While I was reading about Tori Amos and her debut album I came across regular comparisons to Kate Bush. It seemed a lazy attempt at finding superficial similarities . Was it because they both sing and write songs? Play the piano? Write about sex? True, all of the above, but as revealing as saying Elton John is the same as Tim Minchin. In fact it reminded me of when the Finnish and New Zealand Prime Ministers met last year; some inarticulate drongo in the press pack asked whether they were getting together because of having "stuff in common". You know, like being women and, like, being younger than most heads of state. You half-expected him to ask whether they were having a pyjama party. Jacinda Ardern cut the ignoramus off and patiently dismantled his patronising assumptions. So let’s begin with this. Tori Amos is a unique and powerful voice in contemporary music. Her work is brave, confronting, and relentlessly authentic. Her first album is widely considered a landmark in alternate, feminist music.

Born in North Carolina in 1963, Tori Amos began playing piano at the age of two and was a child prodigy who quickly developed a passion for classical music. As a teenager, she attended the Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore but was eventually expelled for her rebelliousness and refusal to conform to the institution's strict standards.

Amos began her career in the music industry as a keyboardist and backing vocalist for the synth-pop band Y Kant Tori Read in the late 1980s. However, it wasn't until she embarked on a solo career in the early 1990s that she truly came into her own as an artist. Her debut album, Little Earthquakes, was released in 1992 and marked the beginning of a long and successful career that has produced over a dozen studio albums to date.

What sets Tori Amos apart from other artists is her unique blend of classical piano technique, emotive and introspective lyrics, and a fearless approach to exploring taboo topics such as religion, sexuality, and mental illness. Her songs often feature unconventional time signatures, complex chord progressions, and a range of vocal styles that include everything from operatic vibrato to guttural growls.

Thematically, Little Earthquakes is deeply personal, exploring the above issues… as well as the search for self-acceptance. The album's lyrics are often confessional and raw, with Amos never shying away from examining her own vulnerabilities. This emotional honesty resonated with many listeners, who found in Amos's music a powerful expression of their own experiences and struggles.

One of the album's highlights is opening track, "Crucify," which became a hit single and established Amos as a force to be reckoned with. The song's haunting melody and intense lyrics capture the album's themes of pain, betrayal, and redemption while showcasing Amos's skilful piano playing and distinctive vocal style.

Other standout tracks include "Silent All These Years," a compelling ballad about a woman coming to terms with feeling powerless and silenced while "Me and a Gun," is a harrowing a cappella track that recounts Amos's own experience of being sexually assaulted.

Little Earthquakes is a deeply personal and emotionally resonant album that positioned Tori Amos as one of the most innovative and influential artists of her generation. Its mix of musical styles and searingly honest lyrics continue to inspire and captivate listeners. And not just 'the public'. Amos has been cited as an important influence by many artists, including Fiona Apple, Regina Spektor, Alanis Morissette and Bjork. Now that would be some slumber party, wouldn't it?

© Bruce Jenkins—March 2023