[standaman]

Night of Hunters is a great good album for what it is, but it's not an album that I go to when I want to listen to Tori Amos.

That pretty much sums up my feelings about NOH. There are parts of it that are really wonderful and I am glad we have as part of her catalogue - Star Whisperer, Fearlessness, Shattering Sea, Seven Sisters. But, imo, most of it is nice without being necessary. Your Ghost is the only song on it I absolutely have no time for, which is an improvement on the last few albums for sure! I still think it is lacking in the lyrics department, and her voice is only so-so. So it really sits in the middle of the pack for me, which isn't bad considering I was *this close* to losing all hope. I would be happy if she continues exploring this more classical pathway, because I do think there is a lot of scope for interesting and evocative music to come out of it.

And going back to the artwork talk, I have to say that by-and-large, the artwork for this album was as abysmal as it was for AATS and MG. It was really horrible. I think if all she has is this 'staring into space like a blank doll' expression/pose, do an album with artwork that doesn't feature you. Please.

[kristloken]

NOH is far and away the best thing Tori's done since SW. It's got her best piano playing in over a decade, and although the lyrics can get cringe-worthy at moments (usually when things get too direct regarding the story/concept), there are plenty of songs here that have beautiful lyrics I connect with. There was no Mac bullshit, and none of the performances felt half-assed. (hi Midwinter Graces vocals!) Judging from the tour as well, Star Whisperer, Fearlessness, Edge of the Moon, and Shattering Sea can hold up to some of the best in Tori's catalog as well. I never rolled my eyes when she pulled from the new album like I did on the last few tours, even when it was one of the lesser songs like Your Ghost/Carry.

I also never expected 2011 Tori to have an instrumental piece on an album that would be as beautiful and moving as Seven Sisters. A surprising highlight of the album for me.

I do still wish someone besides Tash was on the album or there was no 2nd vocal at all. The only time I felt she added anything was on Job's Coffin, and otherwise her tracks are just not as impressive as the solo Tori tracks.

[Zvmwissq]

I like Seven Sisters too. Although partly I think that's precisely because it's instrumental. It's not just Tori's baby-voice or the cringey lyrics that ruin the songs she sings on. For me at this point, I just feel that Tori's big bag of bullshit is just weighing down the songs. The only place where that's not the case is when it's just her piano playing. Her vocal presence and words just comes across so phoney baloney to me now. It's like she used to say - she doesn't know how to be a woman when she's not behind the piano. And that's true here too. Her hands on the keyboard = still authentic and powerful. Her schizoid, mid-life crisis voice and trite lyrical cliches and desperate narratives = not so much.

[Suvaxal]

If you're going to do a song cycle, then create a story that can carry the concept.

She breaks up with her husband/partner, they get back together, she saves some children's souls, she remembers the dead.

Welp.

HOWEVER, there's some lovely songs and if I disconnect from my angry confusion (and my posts here around the release were obvious of this) of the "story" I'm alright with Night of Hunters. It's made me hopeful and optimistic at whatever she will release now, and interested to see what she will do with the musical and the structure of working on something like that.

[clorkergo]

i dont think they do get back together. its left quite open ended. and im more inclined to think they split

[BokerokyBan]

I prefer the instrumental version. It's slowly becoming my favorite 21st century Tori release.
It sounds a lot more like one coherent piece compared to the vocal version. I really like the instrumentation, it was a refreshing turn from the old tired band sound that didn't really get her anywhere anymore. I'd like to see if they can develop the Tori & Shenale collaboration further. It would be a shame if it were just a one-off project and she'd return to making the same plastic music as before.
One criticism I have is that it's maybe a bit too heavy and same-ish with all the songs basically being the same (piano + strings + woods), it could have used something else inbetween (like for example a piano solo) to make it a bit more lighter and modern, but I guess it's supposed to be like that, it being a song cycle.

[vulikox]

I think it's brilliant, moving and beautiful. I still listen to it constantly. And I prefer it with words. I think the mixing in SP is horrible and has no life in it. The story isn't so much what's important because it's a clusterfuck of ideas that never gel into a solid narrative, but I think it's one of her most daring works and the musicianship and arrangements are astounding.

I wholeheartedly agree. I listen to it constantly as well. Not all of the songs are on the same level, some are genius and some are just good, but overall it's great. And comparing to the low expectations beforehand, well, wow.

[u2ZQGC6b]

There is very little that I listen to on NOH. I like Shattering Sea, Battle Of Trees, Fearlessness and Edge Of The Moon. The rest I hardly even remember. I just find myself largely indifferent to this album. I've probably only listened to it once or twice all the way through. It's boring. I don't even know what the story is about. Something about a marriage, a fox, a bird perhaps? I don't know. It all sounds very Mother Goose to me. Whenever she talked about the album my eyes glazed over and I magically went deaf. I just can't take these concepts anymore. It's exhausting trying to figure out what the hell she's going on about. Her voice is not enjoyable at all either. Her voice sounds so thin. And she's got mushmouth. The videos are a joke and the photos are bizarre. Why is she so fashion obsessed? And BAD fashion at that. Why is she wearing this shit? I understand and adore haute couture in general but it makes no sense in the context of her music and concepts. Oh well. I'm not even angry at this point. I just don't get it.

[Azzi_Kahlila]

The story is definitely the least interesting aspect of the album for me. I get that she was asked to do a "song cycle" and decided that that meant including all this narrative element, but hearing her in interviews with a straight face talking about a mythical shape-shifting fox-cum-goose who brings her into an Irish forest, having travelled across the Atlantic on a sailboat, was a little off-putting. I'm fine with her using mythical themes and drawing on a certain geographical area, but I think I'd rather it was suggested and hinted at and used thematically - I think it was the extreme level of detail to this supposed story that made it less appealing. The music itself is perhaps her most focused and sophisticated work since SW.

[provigil]

I tried to ignore the story as much as possible. That ridiculous page long synopsis was really off-putting and didn't make me look forward to the album at all. But I've found that totally ignoring Tori's 'concepts' helps a bit. Listening to the interviews where she mentions Annabeth the Shapeshifting Fox-Goose is embarrassing plain and simple.

Also, I still can't stand the Tash songs, but I've deleted them from iTunes and have a decent album from the songs that remain (and I'm very glad about the songs from the album that were played on tour!) I love love love the music, but find it hard to get past the fact that Tori didn't write it, especially considering this is the most enjoyable album for me she's done in over a decade.

[uneniaPhenits]

I love love love the music, but find it hard to get past the fact that Tori didn't write it, especially considering this is the most enjoyable album for me she's done in over a decade.

I think you're discrediting valid (in my opinion, obviously) avenues of borrowing whilst maintaining originality. While the songs lift bits of melodies and other elements from various tunes, etc. the music on record is far from being simply lifted off the page. Don't you think that knowing the music from which she "sampled" only increases one's appreciation of the reworkings? Generally I do (with exception if I really don't like the song)... not to attack your comment - it just reminded me of how I felt about it!

[ziIReIGS]

What's the cheapest place for the UK selling Sin Palabras?

I've still not got round to getting it (have a habit of not counting download releases as "a proper release" - i'm old and i still only buy cds!!), but i know i should get this sooner or later

[sueplydup]

As far as I know, it never got a physical release.

[Kryfamid]

Yeah, the images weren't all terrible.

This should have been the album cover. It's a gorgeous shot.

[ziIReIGS]

As far as I know, it never got a physical release.

Yeah i know, i meant as a download.

[ROYMANgo]

I guess I'm strange, but I haven't made it through Sin Palabras yet. I keep hearing Tori's voice where it would be on Night of Hunters echoing in my head, so I have to stop it and put NoH on.

[Zvmwissq]

It's funny this thread doesn't have more comments in it, but I guess most of the talk went on in the various reactions threads upon the release. I was reading through this thread to see what people enjoy about NOH. I understand why people are more excited about it as compared to AATS and MG - it's got a number of obvious positives, no awful guitar, unobtrusive production, focus on the piano. But the album is pretty snoozy for me. And most importantly, though there are some pretty moments ("Carry"), I feel there's no emotion behind the songs. So anyway, those of you who like NOH, what specifically do you like about it, I'm trying to get into the album a bit. What albums would you compare it to if you had to? It all comes across kind of sappy and "Broadway" to me, which I think is my own ignorance, (I'm not opposed to musical theatre, but is that what this is?) I guess I'm saying what musical context would you place NOH in? A lot of times - like with Shattering Sea, say - I feel like this should be awesome, with the piano pounding and the frenetic strings, but it comes across more like "something dramatic is happening here," as opposed to real emotion. Anyway, just wondering what others are thinking now that you've lived with the album for awhile.

[FsQGF1Mp]

I find Star Whisperer really rousing, one of the most passionate and dynamic bits of music Tori's made in years. For me it's the highlight. Fearlessness too I find pretty moving. For me though, the album could do without all the Tash songs.

[Figelac]

I've said it before and I'll say it again...snowblind! those opening chords, tash's voice, the lyrics...and the instrumental is phenom. I think I could listen to it all day in a trance.

[VodsNittats]

This album is seriously my favorite thing she's done since SW. I'm kind of in love with it. Sin Palabras, too .