Tori Amos - Midwinter Graces review

I can think of no greater feat than a Christmas/Holiday album helping to get you in the mood for the forthcoming holidays in October.  If ever a modern artist was suited for recording a holiday/seasonal album, it must be Tori Amos.  From “Winter” and her live “Little Drummer Boy” cover from the Little Earthquakes period, her pretty “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” and one of my personal favorites, her original holiday song “Purple People (Christmas In Space)” (both b-sides from the Spark single) not to mention her great live cover of Joni Mitchell’s “The River” (sadly never “officially” released) her love of this genre is more than evident.  But “Midwinter Graces” isn’t your typical holiday album and its deep beauty reveals itself upon repeated listenings.   Which is not to say that initially some songs don’t immediately grab you—they certainly do (this is a Tori Amos album after all)—it is just that this isn’t a “Christmas” specific album and there is nary a Santa or “White Christmas” in sight.  Instead a very angelic-looking Tori (floating in heavenly clouds) is featured on the album’s cover, and in a few booklet shots I’ve been lucky enough to view online let me know immediately this album was going to be different than the standard holiday fare.

When I first learned of this release (announced on my favorite Tori site, www.undented.com) I thought it was going to be a compilation of these previously released tracks, and I was more than fine with that.  I thought it would be great to have  remastered versions of “Little Drummer Boy” or even “Purple People” (as 2006’s great A Piano boxed set included the live soundcheck version from To Venus & Back and not the original studio one) and maybe/hopefully a few new songs.   When the actual title was officially announced alongside the track list (comprised of her interpretations of select holiday carols as well as original compositions) I was even happier.  And now after several listens, I am not disappointed by any means.

One wonders how she has achieved this amazing accomplishment, especially after already releasing one of 2009’s finest albums, Abnormally Attracted To Sin, not to mention taking that out on the road. The press release explains that most of “Graces” was written/recorded during the promotion of Sin, then recording continued during the “Sinful Attraction Tour” mostly on days off and it is to Amos’ credit that she has created an equally listenable and intriguing album.   Working with her loyal collaborators Matt Chamberlain (drums), Jon Evans (bass), Mac Aladdin (guitar), and John Philip Shenale (string arrangements), the recording is lush and crystalline courtesy of husband Mark Hawley and Marcel van Limbeek.  What is always amazing about a Tori Amos album is the amount of research and attention to detail that she brings in as the producer.  One doesn’t have to question her musicianship or artistry--she seems more attuned to her muses than ever--but it is her reworking here of classic songs (“What Child, Nowell,” “Candle: Conventry Carol,” “Star Of Wonder”) that is simply breathtaking—Even their titles are rechristened.

The original compositions get off to a fine start with the beautiful “A Silent Night With You,” and its irresistible opening line “the radio plays/my holiday faves/it takes me back to/when our love was new” and suddenly one is transported to their own Christmastime (and whatever configuration this feeling holds for you, of course).  When the stunning and sure-to-be classic “Snow Angel” starts you will be pulled right into its landscape.  It manages to be incredibly delicate, reverent and gorgeous at the same time. “Pink  And Glitter” with its full big band orchestration lovingly celebrates the birth of a daughter and vocally reminds me of the improv section of her “Welcome To Sunny Florida” DVD, and that is not a bad thing at all, as she suggests we “shower the world...in pink.” The bittersweet, lovely “Our New Year” has rather sad lyrics, as it deals with those that are no longer with us during the holidays, yet somehow manages to be hopeful.  

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Comments on this article

Posted on November 3, 2009 by Robert Schrader

The (Christmas in Space) add-on was actually a misprint as has nothing to do with "Purple People," which is not a Christmas song at all; a single listen to the song should make that much obvious. Just thought you should know.

Posted on November 6, 2009 by Dean O Hillis

Hey Robert Thank you for commenting on my review, it is much appreciated. I've never heard this theory before and am not sure I agree with you, which I hope it OK. While I would completely agree that "Purple People" is not a traditional Christmas song, it does contain the following Christmasy words: snow, angel and gift. Also, since it precedes "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" on the "Spark" UK CD single, that seems like an awfully big typos for the record company to make, don't you think? And to me, she seems to generally perform this live around November/December concerts, especially during the "ADP Tour." Lastly, I think I personally will always associate this song with Christmas. Even if the woman herself told me it wasn't a Christmas song, I couldn't help it. Since its release, it has appeared repeatedly on Christmas compilation I've made over the years and even when it starts playing in iTunes in June, it make me think of Christmas always. Best regards and thanks again for commenting!

Posted on November 12, 2009 by Valentino M.

Everytime I read a review of Tori's work, there is always the expected few with whom I get so exasperated. I really wish those persons would stop pining for the 'old Tori' to return. When will you backward-thinking, boxed-in cavemen get it? Life, motherhood, time, love change us all. You keep wanting the 20-something, me-and-a-gun, harping-on-the-violaton-of-rape Tori. While there's nothing wrong with wanting or missing that sound, that woman no longer exists. Think back on when you were 16 or 21 or 25: For those who have passed those ages, can you imagine eternally being that person who thinks or behaves in the very same manner? I should hope not! None of us is as we were 10, 15, 20 years ago, so what makes Tori different? She is just like us. She moves through life, being altered by the very same things that alter all of us - so let it go already! Appreciate, or not, the brilliant work that she gives us ever more imbued with her blood, sweat and complexity as ever, but just stop with the time traveling; it's gotten very old.

Posted on November 12, 2009 by Josh

I agree with valentino

Posted on November 14, 2009 by Mac Aladdin

Actually, Robert is correct. If you look at this wikipedia entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_and_Bean:_Last_Christmas Tori's version of "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" is simply entitled "Christmas in Space" on the Kevin & Bean compilation it was released on prior to it's inclusion on the "Spark" Part 1 UK single. Also, "Purple People" is the B-Side of the US Atlantic 45 RPM jukebox single of "Spark" and there is no mention of the (Christmas In Space) on that release because indeed EastWest misprinted their CD single.

 

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