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Tori Amos

Live at Montreux 1991 - 1992 DVD

Review by Gary Hill

I’ve always been a huge fan of Tori Amos from the day I first heard her when her debut disc was released. There is something about both her lyrical and musical presentation that is both beautiful and jarring, catchy and quirky. She has a great musical ear and understanding of composition. This DVD showcases her two appearances at the Montreux Jazz Festival. The show is available on CD, as well, and I’ve reviewed that release (with track by track) separately in this issue. So, you might want to check that review out for more specifics in regard to the songs covered here. The music is the same on both DVD and CD.

The first performance on this DVD is from the time before her debut disc was released. In the performance you can hear a certain timidity and uncertainty. It is audible on the CD when you compare the two shows, but the video makes this even more apparent. It is obvious that by the time of the second showing Amos has played in front of big crowds enough to be more comfortable and take more chances. The thing is, both sides of her are brilliant. This DVD is well filmed and has great sound. It’s a release that is certain to please Amos’ throng of fans, but it would also make a great first introduction to her live presence for those who haven’t really heard that much of her. Tori Amos is one of the greatest musical talents of the 20th Century and this release is an excellent document of her early live performances. The only complaint I have is that there isn’t any bonus material here.

This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2008  Volume 5 at lulu.com/strangesound.

 
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