2007 TOP-20 Countdown - No.15

Best Albums of 2007 - No.15

Tori Amos - American Doll Posse


I would very much liked to have seen the faces of Epic executives when Tori presented them with her idea for her 2007 release: a concept album with 23 songs (OK, some are mere interludes), a five-persona Tori, touching on America: politics, psychology, society. I can almost feel the cold sweat running down their backs seeing her presentation.
Did she do it: absolutely. Tori managed to deliver an album of excellent music, songs that pack a punch and at the same time, manage to sound fresh and new, without veering too much off her characteristic style, although the guitars are heavier here, and the whole production seems to have 80's overtones and a "rockier" style. Still her amazing and personal delivery of strange lyrics (Velvet Revolution), piano acrobatics (Almost Rosey), dark themes (Girl Disappearing) and show-tune melodies (listen to Mr. Bad Man), all characteristics loved by her fans, are very much present here. Bouncing Off Clouds is probably the most accessible and loved song of the album, its melody and vocals reminding very much of older - style Tori. The five personae do not always work well, but the concept is fun. I always love my divas playing parts - makes the whole shenanigans so much more interesting. And Tori seems to have fun too. With us - and that says a lot! And Velvet Revolution sounds so Greek!

Bouncing Off Clouds:



You Can Bring Your Dog (live in Rome)



Code Red live in Athens (pity I missed her).



Worst Albums of 2007 - No. 15

Carrie Underwood - Carnival Ride


A product of the American Idol reality show, she was singled out for being the most promising vocally of all that show's alumnae. Unfortunately, although she has written four of the album's tracks, she cannot seem to be able to get away from the packaging that her company has made for her. You can even tell from the cover - the most perfect set of blond feathered hair seen since Farrah Fawcett back in Charlie's Angels. She has a good voice but nothing else to back it up. Plus she suffers from the Celine/Mariah disease: overdoing it. And what an unfortunate choice of title for the album.

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