30 song in 30 days: day nineteen
A Song From Your Favorite Album
"Space Dog" by Tori Amos
Hey, everybody! Remember when Tori Amos made music that mattered? You have to think really hard, but there was a time when she wasn't concerned about creating concept albums that involved her dressing up as characters and parading around in front of catalog backgrounds. Yes, there was a time that Amos made, arguably, some of the most compelling music that has ever been committed to record. Sure, it could be uncompromising and difficult (Boys For Pele, anyone?), but it was always interesting.
So let's revisit Tori: The Good Years and discuss Under the Pink.
I took the bus to Lakeforest Mall the week this album was released. Sam Goody was not offering the cassette at sale price, but I bought it anyway, despite the price tag being more than ridiculous. I fidgeted in my seat on the bus all the way home, anxious to hear something that wasn't the single "God".
It's a miracle that the tape lasted as long as it did, because I played the holy living shit out of it in that first week. Side One, despite being excellent, did not captivate me as much as side two did: "Cornflake Girl", "Icicle", "Cloud on My Tongue", "Space Dog", and "Yes, Anastasia" - back-to-back, jaw-dropping proof of an artist at the top of her craft. Nearly twenty years later, it still impresses me to no end.
"Space Dog" was the real earworm on the album. The whumpity-whump baseline with that tinny hi-hat and plaintive piano chords that all turn on their side during the solo-piano chorus. Everything eventually erupts in the final minute of the song - a dozen different Toris singing counter-melodies and opposing lyrics. Heaven knows what the words mean (does anyone even bother analyzing what the hell she's talking about?), but it's a truly arresting five minutes of music.
One day Tori might record another masterpiece, but for now we have her output up to 2002 to keep us company.
Listen to "Space Dog" here.
"Space Dog" by Tori Amos
Hey, everybody! Remember when Tori Amos made music that mattered? You have to think really hard, but there was a time when she wasn't concerned about creating concept albums that involved her dressing up as characters and parading around in front of catalog backgrounds. Yes, there was a time that Amos made, arguably, some of the most compelling music that has ever been committed to record. Sure, it could be uncompromising and difficult (Boys For Pele, anyone?), but it was always interesting.
So let's revisit Tori: The Good Years and discuss Under the Pink.
I took the bus to Lakeforest Mall the week this album was released. Sam Goody was not offering the cassette at sale price, but I bought it anyway, despite the price tag being more than ridiculous. I fidgeted in my seat on the bus all the way home, anxious to hear something that wasn't the single "God".
It's a miracle that the tape lasted as long as it did, because I played the holy living shit out of it in that first week. Side One, despite being excellent, did not captivate me as much as side two did: "Cornflake Girl", "Icicle", "Cloud on My Tongue", "Space Dog", and "Yes, Anastasia" - back-to-back, jaw-dropping proof of an artist at the top of her craft. Nearly twenty years later, it still impresses me to no end.
"Space Dog" was the real earworm on the album. The whumpity-whump baseline with that tinny hi-hat and plaintive piano chords that all turn on their side during the solo-piano chorus. Everything eventually erupts in the final minute of the song - a dozen different Toris singing counter-melodies and opposing lyrics. Heaven knows what the words mean (does anyone even bother analyzing what the hell she's talking about?), but it's a truly arresting five minutes of music.
One day Tori might record another masterpiece, but for now we have her output up to 2002 to keep us company.
Listen to "Space Dog" here.