TORI AMOS
TO VENUS AND BACK
DOUBLE ALBUM ATLANTIC, WARNER RELEASE: SEPTEMBER 24, 1999 REVIEW: DECEMBER 17, 1999


She never runs out of songs, this very talented and productive American woman. And it's no average songs she delivers. Her compositions really matter - both to her and her audience.
"To Venus and Back" is recorded in English Cornwall and is similar to Amos' last album “From the Choirgirl Hotel”. Her modern sound is more varied and easier to listen to in the long run than her early work. Rhythms and technology are given more space besides her basic tools, piano and voice. You don't have to be absorbed by the songs if you don't want to. All these female solo artists who write songs about their painful youth and other miserable issues use to be very focused on just their lyrics, singing and their guitar or piano. They often don't care much about the rest. But Tori Amos builds really cool songs full of activity and complexity.
The single song "Glory of the 80's" is a good example of this terrific work and the rest of "To Venus and Back" is in the same school.
This is a double CD with disc two being a live CD with old hits and other songs. I rather listen to the original albums, though.

MIKAEL KAHRLE