News: Out In Toronto Tackles A Piano

Fear not fearless readers! This is the last review of A Piano ... for now! Swing by Out In Toronto to see what they have to say about the boxed set. Or read it below. Thanks to Armen for the link!

A Little Toy Piano
OIA Staff
Thursday, November 02, 2006

A Little Toy Piano
for all the Tori Gays

A new boxed set called A Piano: The Collection was released this past September. The anthology is from Tori Amos and includes five discs covering different periods of her career. The set includes a collection of album cuts, B-sides, unedited and alternate versions, demos, and seven previously unreleased cuts. It is sprinkled with an eclectic mix of versions including studio, live, dance and alternate mixes. The music feels different this time, like it was the right time for Tori. I think it helped that she wasn’t forced into producing this set. The final disc includes a collection of B-sides and previously unreleased demos. These were a nice touch and a final, professional place for them.

The collection’s box is fun! What can I say? I have always wanted a Bösendorfer of my own. An anthology is a trip through the past that often results in a new vision of the future. The voyage usually includes a lot of pain and love. The book that comes with this set is a great timepiece and journal of all the songs selected for the collection. It is filled with colorful and very Tori images of her throughout her solo career. It gives us a personal perspective from each song of that little bit crazy, little bit fun, Tori we all know.

There’s such a sense of finality with this collection. Maybe it’s all the different pieces blended together in such an abstract way. It’s just such an interesting mix of music that is included this time – not just standard versions. It feels like a different perspective. Like someone older looking back instead of just a collection of hits. The collection takes you on a journey. Cheesy, I know, but we are talking about Rhino Records, greatest hits collection, and all.

Tori has been placed so high on a pedestal, by so many gay boys, lesbian girls, and their straight tag alongs that this collection really feel like a gift for them. Now they can remember the dramatic times and when they finally started to grow up. Tori, quirky, fun, cool, and now older, is still a crazy/strange girl. She’s a mother now, and all grown up and you get to see that with this collection. This is the right collection for fans.