Track Listing

1. Yo George
2. Big Wheel
3. Bouncing Off Clouds
4. Teenage Hustling
5. Digital Ghost
6. You Can Bring Your Dog
7. Mr Bad Man
8. Fat Slut
9. Girl Disappearing
10. Secret Spell
11. Devils And Gods
12. Body And Soul
13. Father's Son
14. Programmable Soda
15. Code Red
16. Roosterspur Bridge
17. Beauty Of Speed
18. Almost Rosey
19. Velvet Revolution
20. Dark Side Of The Sun
21. Posse Bonus
22. Smokey Joe
23. Dragon

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #26606 in Music
• Released on: 2007-04-30
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .24 pounds

Amazon.co.uk Review
In an era of digital downloads and singles, Tori Amos embraces the concept album in a sprawling 23-song oratorio. Firing across the American psychological, social, and political landscape, she takes on the state of the world, war, and feminism. To help her, she adopts five personas--her American Doll Posse--who take their characteristics from Greek gods, but not their names: Clyde, Pip, Isabel, Santa, and Tori. You need a scorecard to keep track, but don't worry. It's still Tori Amos, bending syllables in improbable pretzels with rippling piano themes and choruses that threaten to go Broadway at any moment. Amos vents her political spleen through "Isabel," leaving no doubt as to her targets on tracks like "Yo George," and comments on our impersonal age and computer addiction with "Digital Ghost." That's sung by the character "Tori," who is reputedly based on Demeter and Dionysus, representing the split between Amos's earth-mother side and her wilder, more libertine tendencies. Anti-war and pro-feminist themes are plastered across American Doll Posse like sloganeering posters. "Dark Side of the Sun" laments both sides of the war, including the Islamic extremists who lay down their lives "for some sick promise of heaven." Amos adopts a big '80s rock sound on many tracks, with guitarist Mac Aladdin pealing off Brian May-style guitar licks over an arena-rock beat. It's where Amos details a more personal sound that American Doll Posse leaves a lasting impression. "Girl Disappearing," sung by "Clyde," holds echoes of the Beatles' "Eleanor Rigby," not only because of the string quartet and nostalgic tone, but the updated tale of a woman losing herself. "Smokey Joe" brims with dark atmospheres, Robert Fripp-like guitar sustains, and Amos's most elaborate vocal arrangements, interweaving two sets of lyrics for "Pip." More than a concept album, American Doll Posse is a convergence experience, mixing online blogs from each character, videos, MySpace sites, and more. --John Diliberto

CD Description
America's idiosyncratic queen of grown-up pop follows up 2005's 'The Beekeeper' with an album that is being hailed as areturn to the dark, harrowing feel of her early 90s work. Performed by a "posse" of five unique characters, all played by Amos and representing different facets of her personality, the album's subject matter flits from the outspokenly political to the deeply personal. Produced by Amos herself and recorded at Martian Engineering in Cornwall, it includes the single 'Big Wheel'.

Customer Reviews

Fantastic
Introducing Pip, Santa, Isabel, Clyde and Tori, the 'American Doll Posse'. This album is a concept album of sorts, with the stories of the songs being told by the different characters.

Sounds complicated? It's fantastic! The use of 'characters' brings a mix of sounds to the album, from Pip's rocking 'Teenage Hustling' to a more poppy sound from Santa, and a melancholic one from Clyde. Tori's characters are incredibly well thought-out and convincing; each has her own interest and personality - Santa, for example, is interested in beauty. Tori's been writing blogs under the pseudonyms of the 'dolls' for the past few months to coincide with the release of the album. They're strewn across the internet, but all of the links can be found on Tori's site.

The album is produced by Tori herself (in Cornwall!), and the sound is really good. All of the instruments sound clear and Tori shows her songwriting skills throughout. Not having heard 'The Beekeeper', I can't compare, but this album harks back to a darker, earlier Tori. The first single, 'Big Wheel' is brilliant too. There is something raw, almost primal, to the rockier songs (particularly the Santa/ Pip song 'Body and Soul'), whereas the slower one ooze emotion and melancholy feeling.

If you enjoy Tori's vocal gymnastics, her weird blend of rock, pop and piano-led ballads and her ability to write songs that will stick in your head then you will love this album.

Tori rocks!
This is great - Tori mixing that incredible voice with her quirky style and some good rock tracks. Witty, intelligent, enjoyable. Don't listen to the moaners - listen to the album...

Firing On All Cylinders
A total knock out of an album. Tori, in her 'doll posse' disguises, leaps from genre to genre, touching on all her best previous moments but also taking everything that little bit further. From profound pop (remember that?) to cocky glam rock to Eleanor Rigby-ish fragility, via a bit of sultry darkness and some heartbreaking & heartwarming ballads... I'd honestly say there isn't a better album to find out both the breadth and quality what Tori's got to offer than this one - her wry sense of humour, in particular, shines out on Programmable Soda and Posse Bonus.

If you just want catchy, elegant songs, it's got plenty. If you want something richer - a story behind every character, five contrasting outlooks on life - it's all there if you want more. Some of the lyrics are fascinatingly cryptic, many of them are beautifully direct ("Chin up, a happy mask was never your best diguise", on Almost Rosey). Those five characters arent just a box of wigs - Tori's even given each of them a distinctive style of singing.

The 23 track count may seem a little daunting before you listen, but let yourself in, it's worth every minute.

This lady's in her prime.

Essential Tracks: Bouncing Off Clouds, Teenage Hustling, Almost Rosey, Dragon.