I actually quite like her deeper huskier voice on this.
Reminds me how Joni and Marianne's voices became huskier and world wearied on their later albums.
Reminds me how Joni and Marianne's voices became huskier and world wearied on their later albums.
he/him
Saw Tori's Q&A in the Chicago suburbs last ight. Got a lovely photo with her, and dropped of a card & letter. I drew the card the night before - a preying mantis wearing ballet slippers with "Calling Calling" written on it, because I'm obsessed with that song.
During the talk, someone randomly asked what her favorite insect is - Preying Mantis! Cosmic stuff always happens with Tori.
The talk itself was lovely. Some emotional moments when she was asked what her mom would think of the book. "I think she'd read it to the grandkids. And I think she'd read it to me." Lots of sniffles after that. She retold the story about how she was writing until the very last minute for the latest album, even having to reach back into the archives to see if anything could work.
Apparently she confirmed to a few fans that she'll be touring in 2026. I think we can expect an album this fall or early 2026.
During the talk, someone randomly asked what her favorite insect is - Preying Mantis! Cosmic stuff always happens with Tori.
The talk itself was lovely. Some emotional moments when she was asked what her mom would think of the book. "I think she'd read it to the grandkids. And I think she'd read it to me." Lots of sniffles after that. She retold the story about how she was writing until the very last minute for the latest album, even having to reach back into the archives to see if anything could work.
Apparently she confirmed to a few fans that she'll be touring in 2026. I think we can expect an album this fall or early 2026.
he/him
I still think, especially after O2O's tour jam sessions, that an instrumental piano album would be a nice addition to her discography at this point in her career. Her playing has absolutely never been better and I could frankly use at least one post-Scarlet Tori album cycle that doesn't invite commentary about how her voice doesn't sound like 1996 Tori anymore
I really, really like this mini album. I knew I'd like it as soon I pressed play, the warmth of Knocking grabbed me instantly. And @JakeXo is right, it's actually a very interesting album that just "sounds" good. The whole vibe of it is my cup of tea - it's cutesy in a way you'd expect from an album that accompanies a children's book, but it's also consistently interesting and instrumentally beautiful. I'm really quite obsessed with S'Magic Day , what a lovely, positive song. I love it in all it's ridiculousness. It's exactly what I want from a song from Tori for a kid's book!
One of the things that I particularly like about it is how naturally I feel it fits into her career. As has been said by @JakeXo too, a lot of these topics have come up before! Especially all the talk of the Muses, welcoming them in etc. It really does feel like a natural step - which I don't think could be said of a lot of artists had they realised an album to accompany a children's book. It's interesting because I re-read Piece by Piece recently, and obviously a lot of that book is about the role of "the muses" in her life and so this album feels like a really nice companion to that book, never mind the book it actually accompanies!
And another link to that book - in the final chapter she talks about the Native American Medicine Wheel and how that encourages moving with grace and acceptance through the various stages of life (which, it's fair to say, really hit me in a way it didn't when I first read that book 15ish years ago in my early 20s! It made me think about my own life and where I'm at now as I'm approaching 40). But it also made me think about Tori , about how everyone (including me) is always holding her up this impossibly high bar she set for herself with that incredible series of albums in the 90s. And then listening to this album with the undeniable changes in her voice, but she's clearly working with the changes and accepting them. Like, of course she has a different voice - she's 33 years older than when she released Little Earthquakes! There's an acceptance from her going on that I find personally quite inspiring.
One of the things that I particularly like about it is how naturally I feel it fits into her career. As has been said by @JakeXo too, a lot of these topics have come up before! Especially all the talk of the Muses, welcoming them in etc. It really does feel like a natural step - which I don't think could be said of a lot of artists had they realised an album to accompany a children's book. It's interesting because I re-read Piece by Piece recently, and obviously a lot of that book is about the role of "the muses" in her life and so this album feels like a really nice companion to that book, never mind the book it actually accompanies!
And another link to that book - in the final chapter she talks about the Native American Medicine Wheel and how that encourages moving with grace and acceptance through the various stages of life (which, it's fair to say, really hit me in a way it didn't when I first read that book 15ish years ago in my early 20s! It made me think about my own life and where I'm at now as I'm approaching 40). But it also made me think about Tori , about how everyone (including me) is always holding her up this impossibly high bar she set for herself with that incredible series of albums in the 90s. And then listening to this album with the undeniable changes in her voice, but she's clearly working with the changes and accepting them. Like, of course she has a different voice - she's 33 years older than when she released Little Earthquakes! There's an acceptance from her going on that I find personally quite inspiring.
I've banged on about her lower range being her strength and I think that's my favourite thing about the new music, I don't want her straining to reach high parts when she could convey what she needs to with the piano. I hope for a physical release of this soundtrack soon.
About a tour, do we think it'll be Jon and Ash again? She seemed to be in her element being able to jam with them and let the songs just flow.
About a tour, do we think it'll be Jon and Ash again? She seemed to be in her element being able to jam with them and let the songs just flow.
Oh look who I ran into tonight:
I swear if I run into her I will ask about 'Berlin Wall' and why it's not been released. She claims it "spooked" a record exec at the time. But fuck sake girl - that's a good thing!
Still very annoyed they didn't at least make it through the 90's. Her albums actually look hideous on my shelves, all such different packaging!
I got my unopened copy in 2020 for $110 on eBay. But I couldn’t tell you ‘bout the DVD.
he/him
When I was a freshman in college in 2006, the university gave us all a free book - something about making the most of your first year or some shit. Nobody read it.
I took it to Barnes and Nobles, said I didn't have a receipt, and was able to return it for store credit. I used it to promptly by the A Piano box set. Still one of my favorite releases from her.
Sorry @Verandi I have zero idea what's on the DVD and don't have a player to get it. However! It's a great set and worth what you can pay.
I took it to Barnes and Nobles, said I didn't have a receipt, and was able to return it for store credit. I used it to promptly by the A Piano box set. Still one of my favorite releases from her.
Sorry @Verandi I have zero idea what's on the DVD and don't have a player to get it. However! It's a great set and worth what you can pay.
I caved in and bought a still sealed copy that was bought from Barnes and Nobles and ironicallyis located in italy. Bday present sorted! It looks great, hopefully not a scam. The deluxe editions being impossible to find shook me a bitsy kii.
Myra Ellen...
I've noticed that a lot of CDs from the 2010s in general seem to have vanished or are hard to to track down for some reason, especially a lot of "special edition" releases. Maybe it's a combination of declining music sales/increase of streaming/fewer copies being made of newer releases?
We since know that this is absolute rubbish and she only remixed the tracks because she had to