Search - Tori Amos :: Scarlet's Walk

Tori Amos Journeys Across America on `Scarlet's Walk'

E. Allen | Nashville, TN United States | 08/14/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Vivid use of American imagery is the key thread on Tori Amos' Scarlet's Walk. The album is the latest and first release for Amos on her new label, Epic/Sony, after ending her successful 11-year relationship with Atlantic Records. The conceptual album is a musical journey across the United States for the fictional character Scarlet, whose adventures are told musically in the 18 songs presented here.



The 74-minute opus comes in two versions: the standard jewel box package and a deluxe edition, which includes a DVD, a sheet of stickers, a stack of Polaroid snapshots, a road map that traces all of Scarlet's treks. It also includes a color-coded lyric sheet that corresponds with each song's geographic location. Last but not least, it includes a charm that represents some part of the adventure that is uniquely different in every package, which is designed to look like a cardboard box of Polaroid film. All this is included to make the listening experience a more interactive one. The CD is also used to gain access to Tori's Web site exclusive area, Scarlet's Web, which will chronicle Amos' North American tour and give exclusive footage and bonus tracks. But enough about the packaging and bonus goodies, let's talk about the music.

Scarlet's Walk is produced by Amos herself, and she is accompanied on drums by Matt Chamberlain, on bass by Jon Evans and electric guitar by Robbie McIntosh. The rhythm section of Evans and Chamberlain weaves seamlessly around Tori's vocals and keyboards, blending together perfectly in a musical give-and-take executed to make each song sound elegantly simply, yet lushly produced. Every song describes a different circumstance. However, each sound is intertwined with one other - almost as if handing off the Olympic torch to the next to continue the journey forward.



The set opens with "Amber Waves," the tale of a friend who has been turned into a porn star and is trapped within the confines of that world and longs to escape. We then segue to "A Sorta Fairytale," which describes a day exploring Scarlet's Native American ancestry in an almost dreamlike state. While there is not a drastic change in the musical landscape that Amos paints here, every story song is individual and unique in its own way. Tempos change like the weather throughout, yet go together well, as if pieces of a musical tapestry stitched together.



As usual, lyrics and song titles have more than one meaning, such as "I Can't See New York," which refers to the city's forever changed skyline since the events of September 11, 2001 as Scarlet searches in vain to find her acquaintance in the big apple.



This emotional and beautiful work is a must for any Tori Amos fan, as this is by far her most cohesive and consistent work of her career. The focus here isn't one individual song or single, instead its power and strength lies in the album's entirety, which allows it to work successfully as a well thought out and complete concept. The theme is bigger and more important as a whole than any one particular track by itself. This album is highly recommended to any fan of intelligent piano-based pop music. It is a well-crafted piece of work that repeatedly rewards its audience with new subtleties upon each and every listen.

"