I’m not sure if Tori plans to release traditional music videos or singles from this album so live performance videos like this might be all we can expect. As far as potential songs to release off the album as singles, you really can’t go wrong with Pink & Glitter. After the jump, check out the video in full …

Tori Amos is obsessed with a three-letter word: sin. In 2005 she came to Australia with The Original Sinsuality Tour, her new tour is called Sinful Attraction and her 2009 album, which comes with erotic photos of Amos (including one of her posing provocatively in bondage gear), is titled Abnormally Attracted to Sin – a line that was inspired by the 1955 Guys and Dolls musical. “As soon as I heard [the actress] Jean Simmons say that I put the movie on pause and never went back to it, just because my mind as a minister’s daughter went into a completely different place,” Amos says. When asked what kind of place that is, however, Amos becomes shirty. “Well, you have the record,” she says shortly. “That kind of place.” The record creates a dark and troubled terrain filled with power struggles, sadomasochistic imagery and – of course – plenty of sin. “I’m attracted to the idea of what sin is and how it’s been defined for hundreds of years because, frankly, the patriarchal fathers have the power to define us and how women view their bodies, and the fact they have this power is the greatest sin, an abuse of their power,” Amos says. “So, as a minister’s daughter, I’ve been fascinated with how church authorities have been able to influence and control and divide the masses within themselves.” Even though many people know of Amos thanks to her earlier, more radio-friendly songs such as Cornflake Girl and Crucify, the topics behind her songs have always been dark and complex, such as Me and a Gun, which was inspired by Amos’s experience of sexual abuse (she later co-founded the RAINN [Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network] helpline). “Journalists used to ask me years ago, ‘Why don’t you want to write happy pop songs?’ and I felt like saying to them, ‘Why don’t you want to be funny?’” Amos says. “Meaning you have to accept what your strengths are and what kind of writer you are. I do think some people excel at making happy little catchy tunes and then there are writers that are strong when they’re going after multi-levelled subjects and subjects that are hard to talk about – and that’s kind of where I’m most comfortable, in talking about the uncomfortable” … Whereas American Doll Posse was influenced by her unhappiness with George Bush, Amos says her new songs are “very much about what women are going through right now”. For example, the song Ophelia tells the tale of a woman repeatedly choosing to be in abusive relationships, Maybe California is about a mother contemplating jumping off a cliff and Strong Black Vine talks about religious intolerance. “A good musician is a reflector of the times, monitoring the emotions of the masses,” Amos says. “Events determine what songs show up and that I’m able to be a scribe for. “These songs are very much from the perspective of a woman who’s observing people losing their homes and their lives and kids being told they can’t go to college – if you travel now across the States, there are people saying ‘I don’t know what my life is going to be because I was planning on going to university and that’s gone, because my parents have lost everything,’ and they’re working a job to try and save the money to go to a community college and you begin to realise the magnitude of what this crisis has caused,” she says. “So friends and families are being torn apart, there’s great upheaval and there’s always opportunity in upheaval. ‘People are trying to find what their strengths are, what their gold is – not monetarily but what their spiritual gold is – and the record talks about different emotions.”

Gah, reading this interview makes me want to see Tori Amos live again. Even tho I got to see her in concert a few times this past Summer, I can never have enough. I won’t even go into how much IN LOVE I am with Midwinter Graces since I’ve already mentioned it a few times. Tori will play another performance at the Sydney Opera House tonight (which is actually tomorrow for the folks in Oz). Any Aussies out there attend either of these two shows?

[Photo credit: Wireimage; Source]

It’s been a busy year for singer-songwriter Tori Amos: After releasing her tenth studio album, Abnormally Attracted to Sin, in May, she found time during the ensuing tour to record her first holiday-themed record, Midwinter Graces, which arrived in stores yesterday. Her dramatic piano lines are intact, but the album deviates from Amos’s traditional style (most notably, it includes Christmas songs). As the daughter of a Reverend, Amos grew up surrounded by theology, and Graces is steeped in interpretations of old religious hymns. Vulture spoke with Amos about her new album on the phone from her home studio in Cornwall, England.

Is writing in this style harder for you?
Well, in order to make this kind of record and to have it work, I needed to know what the carol writers were doing, then you need to know the theology of where it came from in order to change it. I did change it in making it more inclusive rather than exclusive. Because some of these lyrics were written, it was in a very puritanical time. Women had no rights, they couldn’t vote. Some of the music would’ve been fifteenth century.

I love Tori Amos interviews, I always end up learning something new. Did YOU know that Xmas carols were written as drinking songs back in the day? I love that! Even before I heard the album, I knew that Tori would do her research first and then make the traditional songs we thought we knew into something wholly hers. I cannot stress enough how great this album is … I’m very happy to read in the comments that some of y’all agree that Midwinter Graces is one of Tori’s finest albums. If you’ve yet to hear it for yourselves, you can listen to the album in full HERE … and if you love it, I urge you to buy a copy to own. This album actually makes me look forward to Xmas … cuz it reminds me that what we are really celebrating is the Winter Solstice :)

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Having listened to the album quite a few times since it became available online and after purchasing it myself, I feel that I need to insist that any and all Tori Amos fans immediately rush out and buy this album if you have not yet done so. Pay no mind to the fact that the album is a “holiday album”, each of the songs has been reworked or is an original composition that is distinctly Tori Amos. In all honesty, this is one of THE best albums Tori has released in many years. The orchestration and performance on the disc hearkens back to Tori’s early days of music-making while still feeling fresh and new. I’ve been listening to the album almost non-stop since I got my hands on it, and I hate Xmas music. If for nothing else, the album is a must own considering it features Tori’s dauther Natashya Lórien singing with Tori on the song Holly, Ivy and Rose — the song is just so beautiful! After the jump, check out the rest of the promo photos featured in the liner notes of Midwinter Graces …

My fear is that people who do not like Xmas music will overlook this album … and that would be a big mistake. Tori sounds glorious on this album and it is a MUST OWN for even the most casual Tori Amos fan. I’m not sure if this album is a taste of what her next album might sound like but if future Tori albums have this same feel, I think fans will be very, very happy with the results. Do any of y’all have this album yet? What do y’all think?

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Tori Amos’ first ever seasonal album, Midwinter Graces, is an album that has been in the making for the past 40 years. Raised in the Baltimore area under the watchful eye of her Methodist minister father, Tori grew up playing holiday carols at Sunday services and Christmas Day celebrations in her father’s church. These were the songs that gave a young Tori her first taste of music, and now, almost 40 years later, Tori gets her own chance to re-imagine classics like “What Child, Nowell” and “Star of Wonder.” Tori will also add her own bittersweet bliss to the season with original tracks like “Pink and Glitter” and “Our New Year.” Amos has teamed up again with longtime collaborators Matt Chamberlain (drums), Jon Evans (bass), and Mac Aladdin (guitar.) Tori has also enlisted the help of a big band and an orchestra, with stunning John Philip Shenale arrangements to create her new seasonal classics.

You may recall that last month we got to listen to snippets from Midwinter Graces but now we can hear all 12 songs in full. After the jump, enjoy your first listen of Tori’s first ever holiday album …

Okay … I love me some Tori but the promo photos for this album are sooooo over-the-top (including the album artwork). I understand that this red dress was created by designer Bernard Chandran … even still, I am really looking forward to hearing this album in full. Undented is reporting that the disc will be released in a standard version and a deluxe version which will include two extra songs, Comfort And Joy and Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht! (Silent Night! Holy Night!), as well as a bonus DVD. Thus far there is no word on what the DVD will contain but, knowing Tori, it’s bound to be amazing. After the jump, hear a short preview of the album and check out two more promo photos from Midwinter Graces — these next two photos are much less dramatic and are deffo worth checking out …

And here is a You Tube vid that features short clips of each of the songs included on the standard version of the album:

After nearly two decades writing and recording some of her generation’s most emotionally powerful music, Tori Amos will release her first seasonal album, Midwinter Graces, on November 10 via Universal Republic. A follow up to Tori’s critically acclaimed studio album, Abnormally Attracted to Sin, Midwinter Graces will find Tori reworking and expanding on classic carols as well as developing some of her very own seasonal tracks. Midwinter Graces is an album that has been in the making for the past 40 years. Raised in the Baltimore area under the watchful eye of her Methodist minister father, Tori grew up playing holiday carols at Sunday services and Christmas Day celebrations in her father’s church. These were the songs that gave a young Tori her first taste of music, and now almost 40 years later Tori gets her own chance to reimagine the classics. For Midwinter Graces, Amos has again teamed up with long time collaborators Matt Chamberlain on drums, Jon Evans on bass, and Mac Aladdin on guitars. Tori has enlisted the help of a Big Band and an Orchestra with stunning John Philip Shenale arrangements to create Tori’s new seasonal classics.

After the jump, check out our first look at the album artwork for Tori Amos’s Midwinter Graces and see the album’s full tracklist …

Midwinter Graces Tracklist:

What Child, Nowell
Star of Wonder
A Silent Night with You
Candle: Coventry Carol
Holly, Ivy, and Rose
Harps of Gold
Snow Angel
Jeanette, Isabella
Pink and Glitter
Emmanuel
Winter’s Carol
Our New Year

Oh man, this is such exciting news. I am not a big Xmas music fan but I am terribly anxious to hear Tori’s take on holiday songs. Previously, Tori recorded her own versions of the Xmas classic songs Have Yourself a Merry Little Xmas and Little Drummer Boy but this collection appears to be an almost completely original undertaking. While there are many artists who are capable of recording inventive and unique holiday songs, I can’t think of one artist who has been able to release an entire collection of holiday music that suits my liking. I have every confidence that Midwinter Graces will be not only a most excellent holiday album but a must own album of amazing new Tori Amos music. Ho ho ho!!!

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TORI AMOS fears LADY GAGA has a limited shelf life, hinting fans will soon tire of the quirky New Yorker’s novelty pop act. The Cornflake Girl songstress – who’s been selling out venues since 1991 – struggles to visualise GaGa playing on the same bill as veteran rocker NEIL YOUNG two decades from now. However, she admits the Poker Face singer’s unique brand of “entertaining” performance art is a welcome antidote to the global economic crisis. She told The Sun: “She’s what I call a meteor – singers who entertain people for a while. Hey, there’s nothing wrong with that. But then there are people like Neil Young who show up at Glastonbury 40 years into their career. And that’s a very different kind of artist. Neil Young doesn’t have to get his bum out on stage! The question is, will Lady GaGa be playing alongside Neil Young at Glastonbury in 20 years time? She wants to entertain people. Right now, half the world is depressed and they need to be entertained. So her timing’s perfect” … As a result of her own traumatic beginnings, Amos can empathise with the likes of BRITNEY SPEARS, whose rapid rise to prominence as a teen triggered a series of very public meltdowns. “For me, the best thing that happened is that I didn’t have success like my father wanted me to when I was 14-years-old and I was playing clubs,” she said. Thank God it didn’t happen for me at that time. I probably wouldn’t be talking to you if it had. I think it’s really tough on teenagers when they have that kind of success. But you have to acknowledge Britney’s discipline right now – being a mum and being out on the road. When you do that year-in, year-out since you were a teenager, it can become overwhelming.” Outspoken Amos has also sent out a warning shot to young female upstarts eyeing a career in the music industry. The 46-year-old singer claims record companies are rife with power-hungry money-makers who exploit new stars for their own greedy means. She said: “A lot of times you have a producer who will say, ‘You’re lucky to be having this opportunity.’ Sure, there are a lot of other talented people out there, but you have to fight for your freedom. There’s a side to this industry that nurtures divas who can’t write. It’s a big business. I produce the records. I don’t hand over control to some really expensive producer who then talks to the record company and then tries to bend me to their will – for commercial purposes. But there are a lot of producers/co-writers who the only way they can make a living is if the divas are not producing themselves and not writing their songs.”

LOL! I love how Tori thinks that Gaga is only popular right now because of tough economic times. As I’ve said before, I’m not particularly entertained by anything that Gaga does (save for her catchy first single Just Dance) but I can appreciate that there are others that are entertained by her. Just like many people don’t like some of the artist that I enjoy, there is room enough for everyone to like what they like. BUT, I do agree with Tori that acts like Gaga or Katy Perry will not stand the test of time. Even if you don’t agree with her, you really cannot fault Tori for being honest about her opinions. She has been an incredible artist for many, many years and she shows no signs of slowing down. I think an artist like Tori who has stood and will continue to stand the test of time has the pedigree to made judgments like this. She is 100% right that young artists should hang on to their integrity and fight for the freedom to make the art that they are most proud of … flash in the pans may make money in the short term but longevity comes from carefully managing your career. It seems to me that young artists looking for someone to emulate would be better served if they followed Tori Amos’s example rather than that of the here today/gone tomorrow pop star du jour.

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Afterward, Sarah and I got ready and made our way to downtown Detroit to see Tori Amos play a show at the Detroit Opera House. Last night’s show was the third of her Sinful Attraction Tour that Sarah and I got to see … and Tori did NOT disappoint! She looked and sounded AMAZING:

I took A LOT of photos so — after the jump, check out more pics from last night’s Tori Amos concert along with the show’s setlist, a short vid of Raspberry Swirl that I recorded and see some pics of some of the Pink readers I got to meet last night …

Of the 3 shows that Sarah and I got to see, this was deffo my fave. Not only did we get to see Tori at home in Detroit but the crowd and the atmosphere really made for a magical night. Tori shows in Detroit are always extra special, she just comes alive here. Here is the full set list from last night’s show:

Give
Body and Soul
Cornflake Girl
Icicle
Pancake
Flavor
Martha’s Foolish Ginger
Marys of the Sea
Concertina
Pandora’s Aquarium

Caught A Lite Sneeze
Raspberry Swirl
Big Wheel

Pancake, Seaside, Winter, Sugar and Talula were highlights for me … what a great show. Here is a short video of Tori performing Raspberry Swirl … it was filmed with my iPhone so the sound quality ain’t great … but you can get a taste of how much fun the show was:

So as not to spoil the show for any of y’all who have yet to see the Sinful Attraction Tour, I’ll keep the photos of the show behind the cut. For those of you so inclined, you can see some of the pics I snapped along with the full show setlist after the jump …

Give
Siren
Graveyard
Cornflake Girl
Icicle
Sugar
Marys Of The Sea
Bells For Her
Carbon
Liquid Diamonds

Police Me
Big Wheel
Tear In Your Hand

Another beautiful show … I was very impressed that the Greek Theater employed a sign linguist to transcribe Tori’s entire show in sign language. I added a couple photos of her because she was fantastic. The setlist was wonderful … and the fact that Tori played Tear In Your Hand, which is Sarah’s and my Tori song together, really made the night special. Click HERE to see a few videos at Undented.com from last night’s concert. We had a blast … ’twas a great show. Sarah and I will see Tori one more time in a couple weeks back home in Detroit when she plays the Opera House on August 8.

I was fortunate to meet Pink readers Amanda, Monica and Jamie last night, too! It was my pleasure meeting you all :)

Tonight, David is taking me to the ballet to see Romeo & Juliet! It’s part of my birthday present and we are both very excited. It’s also Sarah’s last night in town so we’ll be hanging with her after the ballet so we can send her off right. It’s been a fun weekend thus far! Woot!!