Tori Amos Music:

		List Price: $19.98		Label: Universal Republic Salesrank: 119 Released: November 10, 2009
		Our Price: $12.50
		Used Price: $10.50
		Media: Audio CD

Midwinter Graces [CD/DVD Combo] Track Listing:
1. What Child, Nowell
2. Star of Wonder
3. A Silent Night with You
4. Candle: Coventry Carol
5. Holly, Ivy, and Rose
6. Harps of Gold
7. Snow Angel
8. Jeanette, Isabella
9. Pink and Glitter
10. Emmanuel
11. Winter's Carol
12. Our New Year

Editorial Review:
After nearly two decades writing and recording some of her generation's most emotionally powerful music, Tori Amos will release her first seasonal album, Midwinter Graces, on November 10 via Universal Republic Records. A follow up to Tori's critically acclaimed studio album, Abnormally Attracted to Sin, Midwinter Graces will find Tori reworking and expanding on classic carols as well as developing some of her very own seasonal tracks. Midwinter Graces is an album that has been in the making for the past 40 years. Raised in the Baltimore area under the watchful eye of her Methodist minister father, Tori grew up playing holiday carols at Sunday services and Christmas Day celebrations in her father's church. These were the songs that gave a young Tori her first taste of music, and now almost 40 years later Tori gets her own chance to reimagine classics like "What Child, Nowell" and "Star of Wonder." Tori will also add her own bittersweet bliss to the season with original tracks like "Pink and Glitter" and "Our New Year."

Midwinter Graces [CD/DVD Combo] Reviews:
Tori's best album since "Scarlet's Walk"
2009-11-28 - It's been a long, tough decade for Tori fans. After starting off the dcvade with the definitively off-center covers album "Strage Little Girls" in 2001, Tori hit a home run in 2002 with "Scarlet's Walk", an immediate classic. However, since then, it-s been hit-and-miss (mostly miss, unfortunately) with the 3 subsequent albums, 2005's "The Beekeeper", 2007's American Doll Posse" and earlier this year "Abnormally Attracted to Sin". It was a big surprise for me when Tori announced that she would round out the decade with yet another new album, Tori's take on the Christmas album. Hey, if Bob Dylan can do it, then surely Tori should give it a try as well.

From the opening sounds of "Midwinter Graces" (14 tracks, including 2 bonus tracks; 56 min.), it immediately feels right. The opener "What Child, Nowell" features harpsichord prominently and sounds great. It is followed by my favorite track of this collection "Star of Wonder", one of the best band performances in a while of Tori and the reliable-as-usual Matt Chamberlain on drums and Job Evans on bass. "A Silent Night with You" is one of 5 original Tori songs on here, and is equally delightful. Another one of those originals is "Snow Angel" (not to be confused with the identically titled Over The Rhine song and christmas album, equally delightful by the way). There are very few weak moments on here, ok, only one really: "Pink and Glitter", an obvious hommage to the big band sound of the 40s and 50s, as it simply sounds out of place compared to the overage sound of the album. The two bonus tracks, "Comfort and Joy" and "Silent Night, Holy Night" are both just Tori and her piano, and straight covers of the original tunes. The DVD is very short (as has been the case on other recent Tori albums) and basically worthless (unless you want to watch and re-watch Tori talk about the origins of christmas album).

Setting aside for a moment the seasonal theme of the album and strictly considering the musical and artistic value of the album, I think it's quite easy to make the case that this is Tori's best and most satisfying album since "Scarlet's Walk". Even though I didn't care much for the "Abnormally Attracted" album, Tori toured the US this summer in support of it and you betcha that I didn't miss her (I saw her in Detroit). She put on a fascinating show, as usual. Meanwhile, "Midwinter Graces" is a delightful album, whether you are in the mood for christmas music or simply for great music.


As Good as a Holiday Album is Going to Get
2009-11-24 - Overall I think it's an excellent Christmas album. A few of the songs are very seasonal and you may not find yourself playing them all the time; however, there are plenty of year-round gems and every song will make a great addition to your holiday mixed CD. Midwinter Graces is proof that an artist can compose and create a winter/Christmas album without filling it with trite covers and unoriginal garbage.

Highlights:
What Child, Nowell -A wonderful mixture of What Child/Greensleeves and Noèl. The harpsichord comes out and sounds great.
Star of Wonder - The most creative rendition of this song I've heard. It's lively and powerful; it would make a great single for pop stations.
Snow Angel - A tender original with beautiful piano and string arrangements. It's one of those contemplative songs that sort of haunts the listener.
Winter's Carol - This is perhaps the most unique track; it focuses on the Pagan Yule instead of Christmas. Haunting, epic and beautiful.
Our New Year - This song could have been on any of her albums; it's an excellent album closer and a total tear-jerker.

Good Tunes:
Emmanuel - The vocals are stunning in this song; it's very seasonal though, you kind of have to be in the mood.
Holly, Ivy and Rose - It's a very complex song and her daughter joins in for the vocals. It's an excellent arrangement, if only slightly erratic (very slightly).
Candle: Coventry Carol - This is a beautiful song and her niece joins in for the vocals. It's almost medieval sounding, very seasonal.
Jeanette, Isabella - This is an adorable rendition of a French classic. It's not totally true to the original's timing but it's nice. Very Christmas-like, not necessarily something you'll be in the mood for all year.

Okay Tunes:
A Silent Night with You -It's a cute song but it's a bit more mainstream sounding than the rest. This could be good or bad, depending on what you're into.
Harps of Gold - This is a very poppy song; it sounds like something off a kid's Christian music album. It's good but it's kind of hit or miss; either you like it or you don't. You could consider this the 500 Miles of Midwinter Graces (There's a lot of love AND hate for it).
Pink and Glitter - This is COMPLETELY hit or miss. Some people will like it because of the Big Band sound but the beginning is horrifically loud and annoying. I think it's the weakest track on the album but it's still great for what it is.

Overall I'm extremely happy with the album. I think it's an A+ as far as Chistmas/Winter albums go and it's the most creative thing Tori's done in years. I would have liked to see a more refined Harps of Gold and a more subtle Pink and Glitter though. It's hard to rate because it's largely a Holiday album but the fact that a lot of the songs are neutral in that respect is a major plus. Our New Year, Winter's Carol, Star of Wonder and Snow Angel make the album worth buying just by themselves.


Conclusion:

8/10 - The album is at the absolute top of it's class; unfortunately it's in a slightly unpopular and esoteric class (Holiday albums, that is).


excellent...simply Tori all the way through
2009-11-22 - I was hesitant at first, Christmas Carols and Tori's style? But alas, she is a true artist and transforms these old time carols into fourteen beautiful melodies. Listening to Star of Wonder first, made me realize I wanted more..so the entire album is worth it. My favorite tracks are 2, 4, 6, 7 and 11.

Do you hear what I hear?
2009-11-21 - As a long time Amos fan since 1992's "Little Earthquakes", I have been disappointed with everything she has done post 1999's "To Venus And Back". I was apprehensive about buying a seasonal/holiday album from Amos thinking that she would shred the classics. I had no need to be so concerned as she did a really good job, better than Sting's "If On A Winters Night..." to be sure. In fact, Amos managed to add her own take on these songs making them her own. She even found songs that I was not that familiar with like "Star Of Wonder", "Holly, Ivy & Rose", "Harps Of Gold" and "Jeanette, Isabella".

The album starts of with the engaging mash up of "What Child, Nowell", but this is followed by one of the best tracks on the disc, "Star Of Wonder", where she hits dizzying heights with the combination of orchestration and vocals. Here first single, "A Silent Night With You" is also very good, perfect for a time of reflection and taking stock. "Candle: Coventry Carol" is okay, one of the weaker tracks on the album. "Holly, Ivy & Rose" is a great duet with Amos's daughter--one of the best tracks here. "Harps Of Gold" and "Snow Angel" are great. "Jeanette, Isabella" is good.

Original song "Pink And Glitter" sticks out as the perfect New Year's Eve track, something we haven't really heard from Amos musically. "Our New Year" is also good. "Emmanuel" is by far the weakest track on this disc. "Winter's Carol" is good. Now, although it's not yet listed on Amazon here, this disc comes with two bonus tracks: "Comfort And Joy" and "Still Nacht, Heilige Nacht (Silent Night, Holy Night)" which are both good as well.

The dvd is a rather boring rambling from Amos about the origins of holiday music and the transformation of holiday songs throughout the centuries.

So here's how "Midwinter Graces" compares to Amos's other works:

1992 Little Earthquakes: Five Stars
1994 Under The Pink: Five Stars
1996 Boys For Pele: Five Stars
1998 From The Choirgirl Hotel: Five Stars
1999 To Venus And Back: Four Stars
2001 Strange Little Girls: Two Stars
2002 Scarlet's Walk: Three Stars
2005 The Beekeeper: Three and a Half Stars
2007 American Doll Posse: Three and a Half Stars
2009 Abnormally Attracted To Sin: Three Stars
2009 Midwinter Graces: Four Stars

Midwinter graces our ears in a new way.
2009-11-21 - First off, as far as Amazon is concerned, this is the first review of ANY product. EVER. I felt compelled to "review" this album because a lot of Tori Amos fans who recall the trilogy of "Little Earthquakes", "Under The Pink", and "Boys For Pele" as her *only* heyday or prolific material. NOT TRUE.

As a fan of 17 years, I've managed to brave the tides of Tori's ups-n-downs. She's had hits and misses, according to the masses. She's done this/done that/done it all/done nothing. I am an impartial to that, though, because I have managed to make it all the way from the first song I ever heard, "Smells Like Teen Spirit", the melancholy Nirvana cover, up through "Oscar's Theme," the sole B-side to her recent release, "Abnormally Attracted To Sin." I've braved my way through the likes of "Sister Names Desire," "Ribbons Undone," and "Secret Spell." I thought AAtS (Tori fans make acronyms of EVERYTHING!) was a brilliant album; yet, when I first listened to this new Midwinter Graces collection, I thought I had heard it all...

... I was so wrong.

Every single song holds its place so "grace"fully. From the warm-welcome return of the harpsichord of the first track "What Childs, Nowell?" to the orchestral anthem of longing and loss of "Our New Year," I was gripped in a mesmerizer-bind. I ws whisked away, musically, to the "Under The Pink" album. This is the most vivid and lush album Tori has produced since that 1994 gem. How could this occur, 15 years later? Simple: it. just. had. to.

"Winter's Carol" is non-arguably the most triumphant and climactic composition she has created since "Yes, Anastasia." And kudos to Ms. Amos for pulling God, Christmas, Church, and Christ aside to give homage to the pagan origins of the Winter Solstice.

Others here have rightfully and tactfully give song-by-song reviews; I won't do that. All I *will* do at this point, is tell you that if you're still flashbacking the catalogue, expecting another trilogy like the 1992 - 1996 era, this will help you pick up in your memories where you left off.