PS22 Choir Featured In NYT

“The first time I heard them I thought this director had a very imaginative arranging sense,” she said. “The fact that the children are so versatile — I didn’t expect this level of ability from a children’s choir and was really blown away, touched, thrilled and inspired all at once.”

As promised! Check out the article on the PS22 choir in Dec. 25’s NYT. The full article is also beyond the jump.

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PS22 Coming To a New York Times Near You

We have word that the fabulous PS22 Choir will be featured sometime very soon — probably this week — in the Metro section of the New York Times. The article will include quotes from Tori, who was interviewed by the Times’ reporter. We don’t quite know which day, yet, but keep your eyes peeled, both in the five boroughs and online, to catch the article.

While we wait, check out the choir’s recent cover of “1,000 Oceans.”

Is anyone else getting goosebumps from that solo? Wow.

(UPDATE: We’re told the article will appear on Friday, December 26th.)

Little Blue World's Final Issue

The final issue of the Tori Amos fanzine Little Blue World will reach subscribers in January. Here’s what’s included in the issue:

• Interviews: Our final exclusive interview with Tori.

• Feature articles: In two articles, we look at Tori’s influences: the Beatles in “The Gospel Changes Meaning” and her personal relationships in “The Songs, They Are A Changing.” We trace history in “And the Winner Is…”, documenting her performance at awards, and in “Talking Tori,” investigating the ways that fans have come together in print, in person and online. In “Time to Wave Goodbye,” we reflect on how Tori has evolved in the eight years of our existence.

• Special focus on To Venus and Back, with “Wearing it Well: Venus Turning 10” and “Tourguides: Views of To Venus and Back.” Also, in “My Man Is Moistening”, we talk to Toriphiles about their takes on “Riot Poof.”

• PLUS regular features like news and expert, a music review of Sarah Fimm and Elsianne, and our collective Tori story.

For more information about ordering this issue or back issues, or to enter our December/January drawing, visit Little-Blue-World.org.

Spinner Article (December 4, 2008)

Things are changing and there are real breaks in the road. If you can see them coming, you can say, “Alright, I’m going to be more of a designer in my life.”

Tori talks to Spinner.com about her new partnership with Universal Republic Records and broadly hints at the shortened format a “tour” would likely take. Thanks to Darrell for sending this in.

Tori Amos Inks New Deal, Eyes Spring/Summer Release

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Tori Signs With Universal Republic Records For Upcoming 2009 Album

Hot off the presses, a press release for you. Yay! While it doesn’t contain a ton of new information, it does confirm that Tori has signed with a new record company for the upcoming album and has vague details about the project.

The photograph, courtesy of Universal Republic, shows Mel Lewinter, Chairman & CEO of Universal Motown Republic Group, Tori, Doug Morris (Chairman & CEO of Universal Music Group), and Monte Lipman (President & CEO of Universal Republic Records).

December 2, 2008

TORI AMOS PARTNERS UP WITH UNIVERSAL REPUBLIC RECORDS

NEW ALBUM ACCOMPANIED BY GROUNDBREAKING NEW VISUAL
COMPONENT DUE IN SPRING/SUMMER OF ’09

(New York, NY) Innovative; influential; poetic; bombastic – indefinable
multiple Grammy nominee, Tori Amos, has teamed up with Universal Republic
Records, it was announced today by Monte Lipman, Co-President and COO of
Universal Republic Records.

Jump the cut to read the rest…

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Revolver Interview (October 2008)

Dennis reports on an interview that appeared in the October issue of the Dutch magazine Revolver. The article, titled TORI AMOS: Schizofreen? Wij? (TORI AMOS: Schizophrenic? We?), is mentioned on the magazine’s website but, unfortunately, the text of the article has not been posted.

Since we don’t have a scan or translation of the article, we can’t be sure of the exact details but Dennis tells us that Tori discusses the Live at Montreux release, says that Pip’s performance of “Me And A Gun” from The Vic in Chicago last year will be on the American Doll Posse tour DVD, indicates that the tour DVD will be released next year and describes a project she is planning on doing that will be called The Road Chronicles.

This project is supposed to address how the members of the Doll Posse changed as the tour progressed and what happened afterwards. Dennis points out that Tori does not say what form this project will take but it sure does sound like what Tori said the American Doll Posse DVD has turned into in an interview with Spinner earlier this year so perhaps The Road Chronicles is the title for the long-awaited tour DVD?

If anyone can send us a copy and/or translation of the article, that would be greatly appreciated!

Comic Book Tattoo Special Edition Published...We Hope

After some confusion about the actual publication date of the Comic Book Tattoo Special Edition, we’re told that copies should have reached stores during this past week. Diamond Comics confirms that the book should have shipped during the week of November 26th. Still, if you’re looking for some assurance that the bleeding thing actually exists, editor Rantz Hoseley has posted a couple photos of it on Flickr, reproduced here for your viewing pleasure:

However, Amazon still has some issues with regards to the special edition. Amazon.com lists it as not yet released and has sent out delivery delay notices as recently as last week. Amazon.ca shows it as released but with a 1-2 month estimated delivery date. Meanwhile, Amazon.co.uk is slightly more optimistic, indicating that orders will be shipped within 1-3 week.

Given the listing on Diamond though, one hopes Amazon will get this straightened out and start shipping copies this week.

Update: DavidMackGuide.com has some handy links to comics stores where you can order the Special Edition from as well.

Live at Montreux Odds and Sods

Several items of interest about Live at Montreux have popped up in the past few weeks.

First, courtesy of a licensing agreement between Eagle Rock Entertainment and FreemantleMedia Enterprises, all of Eagle Rock’s new music DVD offerings will now be available in Australia and New Zealand and the second release to be born from this deal is Tori’s Live at Montreux. According to Shock Entertainment, the company handling sales and distribution for these licensed releases, it was released on November 15th. Dylo and Benjamin have pointed out JB Hi-Fi’s listing for the DVD but it does not appear to be in stock there currently. No doubt, other stores should be carrying the title as well.

Second, several reviews of the Blu-ray edition of Live at Montreux have been posted in various Blu-ray/High-Definition websites. Blu-ray.com, High-Def Digest and DVD Talk have all weighed in. If you’ve been considering the Blu-ray edition, they address much of the technical aspects of the release which may (or may not) tip the balance for you. Thanks to Chris Johnson, Jack, and Jimmy for the links!

Finally, CrystallineColey let us know that some of Live at Montreux can be found on Comcast’s On Demand channel, available to Comcast’s digital cable subscribers. The program is in the Music section and is listed simply as “Tori Amos.” The program description pumps Comic Book Tattoo but the video is actually the first seven songs from the 1992 Montreux concert. The program does not appear to be listed on the On Demand website any longer, but we’re not sure if that means it’s no longer available for viewing or not.

These Kids Have Sung, Have Sung 1,000 Oceans

Last year, Mr. B and the PS22 Choir hit the big-time when they wowed Tori and got to sing “Father’s Son” with her. Well, the 2009 edition of the chorus has proved itself a force to be reckoned with as well with their rendition of "1,000 Oceans". They posted the video on YouTube earlier this month and, with Perez Hilton’s help, it’s already garnered over 150,000 views! Congratulations to Mr. B and the choir!

Thanks to Joshua W, Devin and Natasha for letting us know!

Here A Tori, There A Tori - Comic Book Tattoo Edition (November 2, 2008)

It’s been a while since we mentioned Comic Book Tattoo and there have been a few newsy items of interest since we last did.

First, several collectible items, including Rantz Hoseley’s personal copy of the Comic Book Tattoo Limited Edition (#4 of 1000), are being auctioned off to benefit the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. The other items include an Under The Pink tour program, a Boys For Pele tour program, a BEA CBT print and a San Diego Comic-con CBT print, all signed by Tori. The auctions run for another week.

Second, Globecat interviewed Rantz, Kelly Sue DeConnick, Tom Williams and Ming Doyle about Comic Book Tattoo. It’s good readin’! Check it out!

Third, in what hopefully will not become a repeat of the Limited Edition Amazon stress-fest, at least one person has reported receiving a delay notice for the special edition CBT hardcover. We suspect this could be related to an misunderstanding about the publication date — Amazon shows a publication date of October 29th but the actual date, according to the information we were given, is November 19th — but we don’t know for sure. If anyone has troubles with the special edition from any retailer, please let us know.

Finally, Rantz signed several paperback and hardcover copies of Comic Book Tattoo and left them for sale at the Image Comics booth at the Alternative Press Expo at the Concourse Exhibition Center in San Francisco. APE’s ends at 6:00 PM PST today so this is probably too late notice for most people, but if you’re in the area and you need a copy, that’s one place to pick ‘em up. Thanks to Michele for that tip!