Popmatters Midwinter Graces Review

On Midwinter Graces, Amos Transcends Her Own Ghosts

Tori Amos
Midwinter Graces
(Universal Republic)

US release date: 10 November 2009
UK release date: 9 November 2009

By Erin Lyndal Martin

Whenever an artist releases a Christmas album, it is understandably received with more than a bit of trepidation. Will it be a diluted version of that artist’s talent buried under tinsel and sentimentality? Will a rock star suddenly sound like a Jesus freak in the spirit of the holiday season?

Those fears—and more—were certainly in effect upon first listen to Tori Amos’ Midwinter Graces. Imagine, then, the surprise to find that a holiday album is Amos’ best work in years. For some reason, it took a holiday album for her to transcend the pitfalls that have marked her last few albums—releasing over-long albums with uneven song quality and splotchy production has been a familiar refrain with critics and fans of her work alike. But Midwinter Graces is 12 tracks long, a perfect length, and most of the production is spot-on. Gone is the dreaded AutoTune that botched some of the songs on Amos’ last original album, Abnormally Attracted to Sin. Gone, for the most part, are the overly-layered backing vocals that cluttered the sonic landscapes of many a song on Amos’ past four releases.

As for the Jesus Freak bit, that’s an especially intriguing question given Amos’ career-long unraveling of Christianity. Refreshingly, she opted to remove most of the Jesus references even from the traditional carols on the album, and the five originals are served well by staying secular (aside from the decidedly pagan “Winter’s Carol”). While this is a holiday album that’s hard not to love, it is also very much a Tori Amos album. Take, for instance, the album opener “What Child, Nowell”. In typical Amos fashion, carols’ histories were researched and a song combining “What Child Is This?” and “The First Noel” (as it was spelled originally) was born. This song also features Amos’ first use of the harpsichord in quite some time, and fans should rejoice over that, whatever their opinion of the chorus’s sleigh bells.

The other traditional carols face similar reimagining at Amos’s hands. “Star of Wonder” is a Middle Eastern-inflected “We Three Kings” with a soaring chorus. In fact, the only clunker is “Harps of Gold”, namely based on “Hark! the Herald Angels Sing”. It is definitely a cringe-able offense that Amos chose to have her nine-year-old daughter sing on “Holly, Ivy, and Rose”, but that moment is fortunately brief and actually cute.

Midwinter Graces also contains five originals. While “A Silent Night With You” is far from Amos’ best work, the others more than make up for it. Take, for example, the all-out big band “Pink and Glitter”. It’s a spot-on retro hit that will charm both young listeners and those old enough to remember big band’s first pass through pop culture. Other songs, like “Snow Angel”, are more typical of Amos’s standards: “Snow angel, snow angel, snow angel / She’ll make her way / And she’ll stay for a time, for a time.”

Enough praise, however, cannot be heaped on the Amos original “Winter’s Carol”. Featuring her trademark piano, poetic lyrics, and expressive vocals, this song is a masterpiece among her oeuvre, especially when considering only her post-2002 work. Though Amos invites another relative—her niece—onto guest vocals, her niece can sing, and her voice sounds fantastic harmonizing with Amos’s. “Winter’s Carol” is the penultimate song on the album, and it bleeds into the lovely original closer “Our New Year”. In this song, Amos seemingly picks up where “Toast”, a 2005 song dedicated to her departed brother, left off. The gently building symphonic arrangements (skillfully done by John Philip Shenale, who deserves special recognition for the whole album) complement Amos’s lament “You’re not here / You’re not there”, turning Christmas into a typically Tori Amos bittersweet affair.

Ultimately, only the biggest Scrooge or Amos cynic could fail to be moved by such an album, which is hopefully a harbinger of all things musical to come from Amos.

Indianapolis Star/Metromix MWG Review

Tori Amos, ‘Midwinter Graces’

The priestess of piano puts her own spin on holiday music

By Adam McKibbin
Metromix
November 9, 2009

Release date: November 10, 2009
Record label: Universal Republic
Official Web site: http://www.toriamos.com/

The buzz: Bob Dylan may be called the unlikeliest person to release a holiday album in 2009, but Dylan never speculated that a flaky God needed a woman to look after him, and Dylan (mercifully) never wrote a song about masturbating in bed while his family prayed and sang hymns downstairs. Who wrote those songs? That would be Tori Amos, a troublemaking minister’s daughter who has “said much to mock both her Creator, Jesus Christ, as well as Christianity,” according to one online ministry. Well, guess who’s singing about silent nights and stars of wonder?

The verdict: While portions of “Midwinter Graces” will sound very familiar to Christians, Amos took a typically odd and ambitious approach, blending traditional (albeit edited) carols with original songs, and deriving inspiration not just from the Christmas narrative but various mythologies and solstice celebrations—from which Christianity heavily borrowed, in some cases. She’s backed by her usual band and a full array of ‘tis-the-season orchestral arrangements featuring strings, timpani and even sleigh bells, while “Pink and Glitter” swings with a full New Year’s Eve-style brass band. The spirit and smarts are in place, but “Midwinter Graces” is mostly a mild pleasure—which still may make it a welcome addition to your family’s holiday playlist.

Did you know? Emphasizing that holidays are a family affair, Amos’ daughter and niece each make an appearance on vocals.

Special Midwinter Graces Showcase in London Announced!

According to Gigwise (via WENN.com), Tori will be playing a special one-off show at The Jazz Cafe in Camden on December 2nd. Entry to the concert will require a wristband that will be handed out at HMV at 150 Oxford Street starting at 8:00 AM on the day of the performance that reportedly will showcase songs from Midwinter Graces as well as some older songs.

One assume this is the special announcement we were to be expecting from HMV. No details on their site yet but now that the beans have been spilled, one suspects it won’t be long…

Update: As expected. HMV has added the details about the Jazz Cafe show to their events page:

Tori Amos will be supporting the release of her brand new album ‘Midwinter Graces’ by playing an intimate free show at The Jazz Cafe in London on Wednesday 2 December.

Fans can pick up free wristbands which allow them access to the event. Wristbands will be available only from hmv, 150 Oxford Street, London, W1D 1DJ from 8.00am on Wednesday 2 December onwards. One wristband per customer maximum, in person only, while stocks last, subject to availability, at participating store only.

Pandora's Project Needs Your Vote!

We’re happy and proud to report that Shannon Lambert, long-time Toriphile and founder of Pandora’s Project, an online resource and support forum for survivors of rape and sexual abuse, has been named a 2009 L’Oreal Woman of Worth!

Shannon is one of ten honorees chosen for their contributions to their communities through volunteerism and service. As a direct result of her selection, L’Oreal Paris will make a donation of $5,000 to Pandora’s Project.

Additionally, one of the ten women honored will be selected via online voting as the National Woman of Worth and L’Oreal will make a donation for $25,000 to her selected charity.

And this is where we can help!

Voting is easy and fast and doesn’t require registration. Just head over to the Shannon’s bio page on WomenofWorth.com, enter your e-mail address (only one vote per address) in the ballot and submit. Easy-peasy and it benefits a great cause that is near and dear to many a Toriphile’s heart as well as Tori’s.

Congratulations again to Shannon and Pandora’s Project, good luck to her in the voting and thanks to all of you for supporting her!

Tori To Return To The Late Show in December

Girlie Action, the firm currently doing public relations for Tori, has announced that Tori will be appearing on the Late Show with David Letterman on December 10th. Neither the Late Show website nor the timeless Late Night TV Page have scheduled guests that far out yet so we’ll just have to keep an eye out for final confirmation on this.

Thanks again to Mark-Alexis and onscarletswalk for the tip!

Southern Star Interview (November 4, 2009)

[The media] want what I won’t give them, so I reject them on that front — and everybody gets seduced by rejection. I don’t mean for them to get seduced, because I wish they would get distracted and talk about something else.

Lest we forget in the Midwinter Graces release hub-bub, the Australian leg of the Sinful Attraction tour kicks off in Melbourne on Thursday. Promoting the tour, Tori spoke to Melbourne’s Southern Star, a weekly newspaper for the local gay and lesbian community, and the interview, which focuses on Abnormally Attracted to Sin and Tori’s relationship to the music industry and the public eye, was posted on their website on November 4th.

Thanks to onscarletswalk for the link!

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Mother Jones Midwinter Graces Review

Venerable magazine Mother Jones is the final flake in the flurry of Midwinter Graces reviews for tonight. Nikki Gloudeman’s positive review, despite initial misgivings, appeared on November 9th in their music blog, The Riff.

Thanks to Jerry for the link!

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Huffington Post Midwinter Graces Review

Midwinter Graces is one of several new releases that Mike Ragogna reviewed for the Huffington Post today (scroll down a bit to find the review, right after Ragogna’s review of Sting’s seasonal album). The record gets good marks in this short but sweet piece.

Thanks to Mark-Alexis Gabriel for the link!

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Consequence of Sound Midwinter Graces Review

Consequence of Sound’s Anthony Balderrama turns his eyes towards Midwinter Graces and doesn’t find it wanting. Giving it 4 of 5 stars, he describes it as, “an impressive holiday-inspired album,” despite, “a few production missteps.” Check out the full review on their website or below.

Thanks to Matt for catching this one!

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Metro Midwinter Graces Review

Claire Allfree’s Midwinter Graces review for Metro.co.uk was posted on the web yesteday, November 9th. As with many opinions on the album so far, some songs she likes, some songs she doesn’t like, resulting in a 3 star (out of 5) grade.

Thanks to Mark-Alexis Gabriel for the tip!

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