David Arkenstone: In the Wake of the Wind

Hurtling Between the Earth and the Moon Edition

When I lived with Mark Jaeschke right out of High School, there was a D&D culture that sometimes spilled over into my life, even though I largely stayed away from the Role Playing Games that were played in the garage on a fairly regular basis. The Grammy nominated In the Wake of the Wind was one of the carry-overs, recommended by one of the roommates; I forget who. A soundtrack to a fantasy idea of Arkenstone's, the album plays like a videogame score, and in fact Arkenstone has gone on to make music for videogames, notably World of Warcraft, aka "America and Korea's Number One Addiction".

It's a fine album, though mostly lifeless. There is no movement; no drive to the all-instrumental songs, but it's a good album to have on as background during a rousing game of tabletop role-playing, I'd wager. Maybe in the nursery to put baby to sleep with dreams of adventure and keyboards. Speaking of which, David Arkenstone (Say it out load: ARKENSTONE! Magical!) has three kids. Their names are - Quillon, Dashiell and Valinor. I'd have gone for Thundarr, Ookla and Ariel myself, but that's just me...

Fiona Apple: When the Pawn...

Former Guinness World Record Album Title Edition

When the pawn hits the conflicts he thinks like a king
What he knows throws the blows when he goes to the fight
And he'll win the whole thing 'fore he enters the ring
There's no body to batter when your mind is your might
So when you go solo, you hold your own hand
And remember that depth is the greatest of heights
And if you know where you stand, then you know where to land
And if you fall it won't matter, cuz you'll know that you're right

I say "former" because some other jackasses saw an easy way into Guinness and trumped it. Very clever.

I got this for free through a cd-of-the-month club, remembering that I liked the first album. It's very much like the first album, though quite a bit more mature musically. I enjoy it, but I don't love it. I think I will enjoy it more when the songs come up on shuffle when I get an iPod again.

Oh, Fiona, where art though? I know she released a third album, but I never got it. She also sang a "duet" with Johnny Cash, "Bridge Over Troubled Water". It seems as if she did it after he was gone, though. It's jarring, and frankly not very enjoyable. Is Ms. Apple past her expiration date? I hope not.

Fiona Apple: Tidal

Of Your Eye Edition

Confession: I bought this first Fiona Apple CD because I thought she was pretty. Well, that and I liked the "Shadowboxer" song they were playing on the radio. The record company thought she was pretty too, I guess, as they made the album cover an extreme close-up of her face, then riddled the CD booklet with more photos of her very model-like visage.

As a girl with a piano and a funny name, she got a lot of comparisons to a certain artist whose last name also starts with "A". This is unfair, as Fiona's songs are quite different. Her husky, dirty voice is much more "come-hither" than "don't try it", though her lyrics tell of a girl who is wary. Fiona was indeed a girl here, while Tori seemed more the woman on her debut, for better or worse. There are hints of lounge, blues, jazz, show-tunes and an homage to Sade, but the similar instrumentation across all the songs and her distinctive voice hold it together. Good job, producer Andrew Slater! Also unlike Tori's albums, Tidal clocks a mere ten songs, which is just enough.

Shandree and I saw Apple in San Diego. She seemed enthusiastic, if a little green. The "finale" saw her dancing around with angel wings strapped to her back and a huge grin on her pretty face. I am less inclined to enjoy Tidal these days, but it's good for a rainy afternoon.

Tori Amos: Scarlet's Walk

Room Temperature Edition

Shandree described this album as "homogenized". I can do nothing but agree. This is the last Tori album in the docket, apart from quite a few singles and B-sides, but I'll let you listen to her cover of "Smells Like Teen Spirit" below and decide for yourself if it's a joke or an homage. I've chosen not to cover them for my pleasure and yours.

The reason this is the last Tori album Shandree bought is as stated above: It has no guts. Nothing but mid-tempo 4/4 gravy here. At 18 tracks, with every track after the tenth sounding like it could be the last, this is sleepy-time tea. No bite, nothing to chide or praise. Just lukewarm drivel. There is nothing else to say. Goodnight.

Tori Amos: To Venus and Back

Dionaea Muscipula Edition

We've got TWO discs worth of Tori here, folks. Because more is better...?

Disc one is made up of original songs, and the direction here is sorta ambient-techno. It's alright. Honestly, I think the strange shift in this "side" of the album lead to the inclusion of disc two, which is a live set of material from her first four albums, catering to the fans.

I enjoy disc two much more as well. The band is great, and the energy of the songs is readily apparent. And...she speaks! Tori cutely introduces a song as a "friend", one who never made it on any of the albums despite her best intentions. In fact, her song told her to "F*** Off" at some point. Fascinating. "Jesus" is a lyric in this song, too. Which interests me, as he is often referred to metaphorically, but I have to wonder if she thinks saying his name enough will get him to answer in the way she deems fit? I wonder if he hasn't answered her already? Does she know it?

This is more amusing...

Tori Amos: From the Choirgirl Hotel

The Other Famous Amos Edition

After the sinister lullabies found on Boys for Pele, Tori found The Rock again, and I'm pleased. While I'm less familiar with these songs than I would be if doing a review proper, I can say that I gladly listened through the album twice and a half today on my drive to and from OB. I even turned up the volume a couple times. That's right.

This just goes to show that I have an ear for percussion, and the lack of it makes me crazy. Tori, I think, benefits greatly from having multiple instruments on her songs because her style is so distinct. Because of that, anytime she goes minimalist, the songs run together like warm goo.

I was surprised to hear the musical similarities in the tunes "She's Your Cocaine" and Live's "They Stood up For Love", especially in the intro's. As in, I wouldn't be surprised if the two were written concurrently as a songwriting challenge with each other. Well, probably not, but that would be cool, right?

Tori Amos: Boys for Pele

Hyperventilation Edition

"Mary had a Little Lamb" ala Tori Amos circa Boys for Pele, where "lamb" is a euphemism:
(breathe in) ...mMaaaayaaaRaaaaaiiiiiiiiiiiyaaaaahhh.....
Hayaaad a little...(pregnant pause) Laiyaaahhhhhh.....yesssss....

Shandree took me to see Tori in San Diego when she was touring for this album. Like the record, her sound was stripped down. Way down. Just her and a piano on stage for two hours. I might have enjoyed seeing her regular drummer Matt Chamberlain, but alas... The seat was comfy. I was able to relax (read:nap), and I'm pretty sure I was the only guy in the joint. NOT an exaggeration, friends. Honestly, apart from maybe two songs, Boys for Pele has no hook, and sounds an awful lot like meandering whimsy. If you enjoy meandering whimsy, look no further. At eighteen tracks, it's seven too long.

Am I giving you the impression that I don't like Tori Amos? That's not true. There are times when I really enjoy a song or two, but for the most part, her work is a trifle melodramatic, and not different enough, song to song, to hold my interest for extended periods. Which is inconsistent, I know, for a guy who really, REALLY likes Dream Theater.

Maybe I should have saved these albums until "T", like the iPod does.

"Day-yes-perado" (I'm not making this up, am I?)