Album of the day (#594): Little Earthquakes by Tori Amos

[albummaster]

Today's album of the day

Little Earthquakes by Tori Amos (View album)

Year: 1992.
Overall rank: 321.
Average rating: 78/100 (from 117 votes).

Thumbnail. Click to enlarge.

Tracks:
1. Crucify
2. Girl
3. Silent All These Years
4. Precious Things
5. Winter
6. Happy Phantom
7. China
8. Leather
9. Mother
10. Tear In Your Hand
11. Me And A Gun
12. Little Earthquakes

About album of the day: The BestEverAlbums.com album of the day is the album appearing most prominently in member charts in the previous 24 hours. If an album has previously been selected within a x day period, the next highest album is picked instead (and so on) to ensure a bit of variety.

[Applerill]

This album changed my life forever. Sure, there were albums (even critically legitimate ones) that I loved to death before this (I was a huge NIN fan, and adored Jethro Tull, Pink Floyd, and Rush, among many others); but when I first heard Tori's majestic, smoldering voice on April 20, 2009, my whole idea of what music was changed entirely.

I remember the day perfectly. It was the ten year anniversary of Columbine, but leave that alone for now. I had just broken up with one of the most amazing women I've ever met, who happened to be four years older than me, and would later win Miss Wisconsin several years in a row. While I at first was able to handle it with a straight face, I was quickly becoming more and more depressed about it, and I needed a way out.

Because of a wedding shower a family friend of ours was holding at our spacious home, my ex-girlfriend (named Hannah) visited. And being a guy at this wedding shower, she and all her lady friends would have lots of fun together, while I was essentially locked in my room without her. I was absolutely devastated. But then I remembered her telling me about an album called Little Earthquakes, so I looked it up on iTunes, and fell in love instantly. It was almost like I didn't need a girlfriend anymore; this girl's voice was enough to keep me sane.

While the confessions that Tori makes are what this album is mostly known for, I've found that the other perfect element here is the stark minimalism. Aside from the piano obviously, every backing instrument and sound effect is there for a very poignant reason, and therefore, the sounds they make are almost lyrics in and of themselves! This ranges from the DSOTM-esque drum-machine heartbeats throughout the record, to the screeching guitar that accompanies Tori's nightmare in "Leather", to the mystic chants that end the record on the title track. I've surely listened to this album over a hundred times, and it seems like every one of those times, I thought it was better than the last.

Yes, there is a teensy bit of filler in the 55 minutes (for "Mother" goes on for about a minute too long, as does "China"). But everything else is so remarkably pristine that I wouldn't want it any other way.

[thejoj96]

SEOCND!!!!!
This album is an album.

[Mexes87]

One of the greatest album by a female artist ever. Crucify and Winter are classics.
_________________
"Mamma ain't raise no fool"

[Bach]

Great Album!

Best tracks: "Winter", "Crucify", "Girl", "Silent All These Years", "China", "Precious Things".

[Wombi]

[Applerill]

[ProfessorSquid]

Apple's got some skills. Nice work, young man.

The Swizz

[Hayden]

@ Applerill's story.

As for the album, I like it

[Xavygravy]

Haven't listened to this for a couple of years. I'll give it another listen soon-ish, because Applerill raves about it (which is also the reason I listened to it in the first place).