Out and About with Tori and Out

The interview on Out.com that we — and they, for that matter — warned you about was posted on Out’s Popnography blog today and lo! It turned out to be a two-part video interview! In this first part, Tori addresses the subject of songs she no longer wants to perform live, the reason why doesn’t talk about the music she’s listening to and the ice cream flavor she and Charles Manson both like. Part two will be posted tomorrow.

And while we’re on the subject of Out, we should also note that they’ve declared Pink and Glitter as one of the ten Gayest Christmas Songs.

Thanks to Noah, Tati and Sirasion for the tips!

Here Lies Love Release Announced

After much waiting and anticipation, Todomundo / Nonesuch Records have announced that the David Byrne / Fat Boy Slim collaboration Here Lies Love, on which Tori provides guest vocals, will be released on February 23rd!

For those who may have forgotten or did not know of this project, it is a song cycle that deals with the life of the Philippines’ former first lady Imelda Marcos, with an eye to her relationship to Estrella Cumpas, the woman who raised her.

The release will include the 22-track double-album, a DVD and a 100-page book detailing the project — from its original Carnegie Hall stage production in 2007 to the recorded form arriving next year.

The original stage release featured the vocals of Dana Diaz-Tutaan and Ganda Suthivarakom but on the album release, Byrne opted to enlist the aid of several guest vocalists. Tori sings on two songs: “You’ll Be Taken Care Of” and, along with Cyndi Lauper, “Why Don’t You Love Me?” The full track list, with each song’s vocalist, can be found at Nonesuch.com.

Look for more details from Nonesuch in January.

Thanks to Imagoro for being the first to let us know that these details had been announced.

New York Post PopWrap Interview (December 14, 2009)

I certainly go through different phases, from electronic to acoustic piano, most composers would die if they didn’t. However, as a true songwriter, I don’t write “just tunes.” Each work needs a narrative. It’s about the overall body of work, not just being a singer.

Ryan Brockington, whose photos and twitvids from last week’s SPINHouse show were some of the early indicators about that wee event, spoke with Tori after the show and the resulting interview went up on the New York Post’s PopWrap blog today. In it, they talk about Midwinter Graces (of course!) but also hit on reinvention, commercial appeal and what’s catching her musical attention lately.

Thanks to Mark-Alexis for sending in this link!

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Little Earthquakes in the News

For an album that is coming up on its 18th birthday — still not old enough to drink in the States at least — Little Earthquakes remains a landmark record that continues to be definitive and singular listen even to this day.

Out magazine has recognized that by naming it one of their 100 Greatest. Gayest Albums (Of All Time). Coming in at #54 (just like last time), Perez Hilton has this to say about the album: “A song has the ability to convey so many emotions, and that’s exactly what this exquisite album does. It takes you on a very powerful journey.” (And while we’re on the topic of Out, keep an eye on their site for a new interview with Tori sometime soon!)

Meanwhile, the latest issue of Rolling Stone mentions an online-only article in which Tori goes through Little Earthquakes track by track. The article does not appear to have been posted yet but we’ll link you to it soon as it shows up — assuming you don’t link yourself there first.

Thanks to Matthew, “Mark-Alexis* and Colleen for catching these!

Ye Olde Midwinter Graces Reviews

Apparently there was an unspoken embargo on reviews of Midwinter Graces in the UK press as The Guardian, The Independent and The London Evening Standard all didn’t get around to reviewing the album until this past weekend.

None of the three reviews are particularly long — and The Evening Standard’s is just a paragraph in David Smyth’s article addressing this year’s batch of holiday records — so we’ll just plop them all up here for you at once.

Thanks to Mark-Alexis and Mike for the links!

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The Line of Best Fit Midwinter Graces Review

Tori Amos – Midwinter Graces

Posted on 03 December 2009 by Lauren Mayberry

The main thing which is paradoxical about Midwinter Graces, Tori Amos’ first collection of “holiday music”, is how decidedly unparadoxical it is. For those expecting these twelve songs- festive standards as well as five original compositions- to be deliberately self-aware and tentatively obscure, this record will be a disappointment; for the rest, it is a pleasant, tinselled surprise.

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Electric Lady Welcomes an Electric Lady

On Friday afternoon, Tori capped off a week of promoting the release of Midwinter Graces in New York City by performing live at Electric Lady Studios. The hour-long performance was webcast on Facebook via Livestream and was followed by a live chat with Spinner’s Jessica Robertson who asked Tori a few questions of her own and then posed several fan-submitted questions collected on Facebook.

The following songs were played during the concert portion of the show: Lady in Blue, Beauty of Speed, Leather, Snow Angel, Girl, Cooling, Cool on Your Island, Star of Wonder, Bells for Her, A Silent Night With You, Wednesday, Ophelia, and Pink and Glitter. Unfortunately, the performance has not been archived, though the possibility exists that some or all of the show will be made available later. However, some of the interview is currently available for streaming on Livestream:

Fortunately for those who missed the live webcast, some intrepid Toriphiles were able to record most of the songs and have shared them on YouTube. Thanks to marckarlock for getting nearly all of the webcast! Jump the cut to check it out!

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Our Next Guest Is A Talented Singer-Songwriter...

Accompanied by a horn section and that big band sound, Tori performed “Pink and Glitter” on The Late Show with David Letterman on Thursday, December 10th. Video of the appearance has not been posted on The Late Show’s website yet, but you-know-who has it for those of us who missed it (or ahem fell asleep on the couch):

Musicradar Interview (December 8, 2009)

My mother is very close to my heart. If you met her, she would sit you down with some fried chicken and she’d become your mother. She’s everybody’s mother. Anytime people meet Mary, they want her to adopt them.

Tori spoke with Musicradar’s Joe Bosso and the interview was posted on their website earlier this week. In addition to discussing the concept behind and several songs from Midwinter Graces, they also touch on Tori’s relationship with her mother, her relationship with Bösendorfers and her reaction to the PS22 Children’s Choir performing “A Winter’s Carol.”

Musicradar has kindly provided a mp3 of the interview as well.

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The First No-elle

Candace Rainey spoke to Tori about Midwinter Graces for Elle magazine and a short video with clips from the interview has been posted on elle.com.

Thanks to Danelle for catching this one!