Tori has “Many Faces”
An Undented fan wrote into the website with a transcript of an interview T did with the Canberra Times…here is a summary of the interview:
The article begins by introducing the concept behind the American Doll Posse album. The interviewer, Dave Curry, goes on to discuss how Tori’s song “Big Wheel” was banned in the U.S. for using the acronym “M.I.L.F.” This, of course, struck a nerve with Tori (who ended up recording a more radio-friendly version of the song), who views the banning of this particular lyric as yet another insult to all things feminine in our culture.
Tori says:
“The fact that it was being banned, when you can step-by-step go through how you’re going to butcher somebody and say, ‘I’m a maneater’, on radio,” Amos says. “To use a little – I don’t even say the words – that was enough, because it is taboo and it’s a threat, if the spiritual side of woman claims the sexual side.”
This prompted a further discussion of the “faces” of the feminine on the ADP album. Tori explains that she wanted to show America what it is really like to be a whole woman, not simply the part of the woman that society thinks is the safest, the most polite, the most entertaining, or the most alluring. She chose to do this by synthesizing 5 Greek goddesses who represent all aspects of feminine personality: Justice, Creation, Darkness, Sexuality, and Vulnerability…and she uses these personas to intimidate those who seek to destroy parts of the feminine archetype.
The author, Mr. Curry, is not convinced that album needs the whole “doll posse” thing for this concept to shine through…he sounds a bit annoyed with it along with the color-coded lyrics. Getting annoyed at the tiny lyrics is understandable, but c’mon! It is just plain cool to watch Tori play dress up.
The music, though…Tori’s music is very rarely criticized and this time is no exception. The interviewer refers to the music on ADP as “dazzling” “sublime” and “rich.” And, with the exception of calling Tori “pretentious” this was an all-around decent review. (I won’t argue that pretentious might be an apt descriptor…but its what she does with pretentiousness that keeps us coming back for more.
I agree with the author of this review: Long live art rock.
Click here to read the full article.
Filed under: Press/Articles on September 18th, 2007
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