Under the Pink

Tori Amos emerged in the '90s as part of a movement of female singer/songwriters, one who wrote very personal, typically confessional lyrics. Quickly she rose to prominence in that field, and when we listen to her debut album, "Under the Pink," we can certainly hear why. She possesses many talents that are evident here. Her piano playing is widely ranged, and she can play anything from pieces more classically arranged to jazz and rock. Her singing complements the music, and she uses her voice expressively.

The first song on the album, "Pretty Good Year," opens with a piano line that rises and falls like a leaf in the wind, and it seems as though Amos is singing out to those who are disappointed, or have missed their chance. Understandably, the songs on this album are semi-autobiographical, so I don't see a reason to try and analyze the songs' meanings. The song, "Past the Mission," plays a singsong melody during the verses, only to change to a different key with a more mysterious feel in the chorus. For the record, the man singing the chorus with Tori is Nine Inch Nails' Trent Reznor. "Cornflake Girl" is a weird song, using a musical reference to old westerns, and was the big hit on the album. This is an accomplished album, and it feels as though there is a unifying concept behind the album.