News: American Doll Posse: Making the List

Collected here are all the times that American Doll Posse has made a music critic’s or newspaper’s best-of-the-year release list. As they occur, we’ll update the article, post the new instances on the front page and move the older ones beyond the fold.

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While it didn’t make The Buffalo News’ Jeff Miers’ Top 10 albums of 2007, American Doll Posse did rank an honorable mention in a follow-up article listing notable releases by women that didn’t make his Top 10, saying:

Tori Amos, “American Doll Posse” (Sony): An incredibly ambitious and overtly dense album, but worth the investment of time required to unravel it. Classic Tori, then.

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While not exactly album-related, PopMatters’ Best (and Worst) in Show of 2007 included Tori twice. First, she’s at #5 on their Anti-Rock list:

Don’t interrupt Tori Amos when she’s playing. Security guards, fans, and even Miss Massachusetts were all addressed at various tour stops by La Amos from her perch onstage with phrases such as: “Get the fuck out of my show”; “you can sit down now”; “it’s a privilege to sit in the front row”; and, sometimes, just the simple, direct throwing of high heels.

Second, she’s #3 on the Hecklers and Other Interruptions list:

When Tori sang the lyric “virgins always get back stage” (from “Jackie’s Strength”) during a solo piano set, you could hear a pin drop in the theater. Except for the drunk woman in the front row who screamed back, “I’ll get back there!” Tori, with a look that could decimate, stopped mid-song and whispered, “You are not a fucking virgin,” into the mic.

We’re a bit surprised she also didn’t show up on the Best and Worst Dressed list for the shimmery jumpsuits she wore during the tour. (Whether they would be on the best or worst list is left as an exercise for the reader!)

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In addition to making some best-of-2007 lists from the critics, American Doll Posse has also made some year-end polls runs by radio stations. Mock Tofu pointed out that the Posse placed at #55 for The Current’s Top 89 of 2007 and that they played “Big Wheel” during their New Year’s Day countdown of the list.

Meanwhile, Kimberley noted that the album reached 8th in WYEP’s Listener’s Poll (apparently, Pittsburgh loves Tori more than Minneapolis!). The WYEP staff, however, ranked the album #33 out of 50 in their Top Artists of the year, adding the following about the record:

Tori Amos proves she still has edge with American Doll Posse. Not only are the topics in line with her usual feminist p.o.v., she’s gotten that old spark back. This album rocks harder than her previous album, The Beekeeper. For this one, Tori developed five unique female personas (based on Greek gods and goddesses) that “collaborate” with her on this 23 track album. Tori’s writing less about herself and more about the state of the world. With rockers like “Teenage Hustler” and “Big Wheel,” (that bass line is so good!), this album marks a return to a classic Tori sound. (Epic)

Finally, CD Times ranked the album #6 on his Best of 2007 list saying:

While her contemporaries were swapping guitars for piano-embracing self-reflection, Tori Amos did exactly the opposite. Adopting four alter-egos, not to mention her self-styled ‘M.I.L.F’ Tori persona, Amos created the ultimate girl group in her ‘doll posse’. Martini-sipping Santa did sensuous on You Can Bring Your Dog, while politically-charged Isabel sounded off about the current administration on the biting Yo George. It was angsty rock chick Pip who shook fans from their comfort zone, though; while Tori’s body of work has always been feisty, Pip’s ranting on Teenage Hustling and Fat Slut traded in ivories for feedback and big guitars. Still finding time to deliver some of her more recognisable piano ballads via the persona of Clyde, including string-soaked highlight Girl Disappearing, Amos proved why she has one of the most loyal fanbases in the world; challenging and varied, American Doll Posse was her fiercest record in a decade.

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Kimberley caught The Chicago Tribune’s Greg Kot putting American Doll Posse on his best-of-2007 list:

15. Tori Amos, “American Doll Posse” (Epic): The piano-playing maverick channels her glam-rock obsession through five voices, and makes her friskiest, earthiest album. Download: “Big Wheel.”

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Brian Smith points out that American Doll Posse has made Washington, D.C. television station NBC4’s Best Albums of 2007 list. It’s #6 out of 20, to be specific! This is what they have to say about it:

#6. Tori Amos – “American Doll Posse” Veteran performer Tori Amos revitalized her career in 2007 with her finest album of the decade. Sprawling and adventurous, “American Doll Posse” has some misfires, but when it’s on, it’s stunning. The record veers from melodic pop to ragged rock tracks and lovely ballads, and although it’s occasionally frustrating, it’s never boring. Key tracks: “Bouncing Off Clouds,” “Big Wheel,” “Almost Rosey.”

Interesting that their key tracks are the singles, hmm?