Tori Amos
From The Choirgirl Hotel
(Atlantic)
Tori Amos is one of the most confusing and fascinating singers around, primarily because she gets away with so much: Who else could dedicate an album to "the faeries," publicly fantasize about having sex with God, and allow herself to be pictured nursing a pig without being, well, laughed at? Amos gets away with it, of course, because her albums have occasionally been as compelling as much of From The Choirgirl Hotel, a dense, ghostly web of haunting ballads and obtuse poetry. For every "Pandora's Aquarium," a lyrical journey into Amos' insufferably twee faerie-land--and for every "She's Your Cocaine," a shrill experiment that doesn't work--there's a handful of gently lovely, piano- and string-driven songs like "Jackie's Strength" and "Northern Lad." Coming on the heels of 1996's uneven, excess-driven Boys For Pele, From The Choirgirl Hotel is a welcome arrival: a focused, accessible Tori Amos record that's quirky enough to please her hardcore fans, yet poppy enough to draw in the curious but cynical. Naturally, Amos' most ardent followers have bought it already--and her detractors have already decided not to go near it--but those in the middle would do well to give it a try. --Stephen Thompson

A free local newspaper in Jacksonville, FL called Folio Weekly had a Best of Jax special in their December 22, 1998 issue. Tori was listed as the Best Concert of 98. Thanks to SwrrlGirly for telling me about this. They said:

If you missed Tori Amos' concert, then you missed one of the best ever to hit the area. On Oct. 13, Amos performed at the Moran Theater to a wide variety of fans--from guys with pink hair (possibly imitating the little boy with dyed-pink hair in Amos' "Raspberry Swirl" video) to girls with wings attatched to their backs. Amos opened with "Precious Things" to an incredible light show. Unique to this tour for Amos was the full band that accompanied her. Before launching into one of her songs , during one of her many stories, a frantic fan yelled "Love you, Tori." Interactive as always, Amos responded, "I love you back". Folio Weekly readers simply loved the entire evening.

NeilQuinn informs me that the December 18, 1999 (Volume 12, Issue 624) issue of Hits Magazine did an end of year special and had top albums and song lists. Tori recieved in the Post Modern '98 category a ranking of 38 for Choirgirl. In the Adult Post Modern '98 category she grabbed a ranking of 42 for Choirgirl.

Billboard Magazine in their traditional double end-of-the-year issue for 1998 published several top 10 lists from their editors and staff and Tori showed up on 5 lists. You can read those 5 lists below. They also posted this information on the Billboard Web Site.

KEITH CAULFIELD - Chart Assistant/ "Ask Billboard" Columnist

1. Madonna, "Ray Of Light" (Maverick/Warner Bros.)
2. Lauryn Hill, "The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill" (Ruffhouse/Columbia)
3. Marilyn Manson, "Mechanical Animals" (Nothing/Interscope)
4. Semisonic, "Feeling Strangely Fine" (MCA)
5. Sheryl Crow, "The Globe Sessions" (A&M)
6. Hole, "Celebrity Skin" (DGC/Geffen)
7. Beastie Boys, "Hello Nasty" (Grand Royal/Capitol)
8. TORI AMOS, "from the choirgirl hotel" (Atlantic)
9. Garbage, "Version 2.0" (Almo Sounds)
10. Singles: Stardust, "Music Sounds Better With You," (Roule/Virgin); The Tamperer Featuring Maya, "Feel It" (Battery/Jive); Ultra Nate, "Found A Cure" (Strictly Rhythm); The Crystal Method, "Comin' Back" (Outpost/Universal); Backstreet Boys, "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)," (Jive)

AMANDA CHIN - Web Designer

1. TORI AMOS, "from the choirgirl hotel" (Atlantic)
2. Various Artists, "Chef Aid: The South Park Album" (Columbia)
3. Soundtrack, "City Of Angels" (Warner Sunset/Reprise/Warner Bros.)
4. Hole, "Celebrity Skin" (Geffen/DGC)
5. George Michael, "Ladies And Gentlemen -- The Best Of George Michael" (Epic)
6. Jonny Lang, "Wander This World" (A&M)
7. Jerry Seinfeld, "I'm Telling You For The Last Time" (Universal)
8. Jewel, "Spirit" (Atlantic)
9. Goo Goo Dolls, "Dizzy Up The Girl" (Warner Bros.)
10. Shania Twain, "Come On Over" (Mercury)

CARRIE BELL - Editorial Assistant

1. Ani DiFranco, "Little Plastic Castles" (Righteous Babe).
2. Lauryn Hill, "The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill" (Ruffhouse/Columbia).
3. R.E.M., "Up" (Warner Bros.).
4. Tie: Heather Nova, "Siren" (Big Cat/Work); PJ Harvey, "Is This Desire?" (Island); TORI AMOS, "From The Choirgirl Hotel" (Atlantic); Kristen Hersh, "Strange Angels" (Rykodisc).
5. Tie: Bran Van 3000, "Glee" (Capitol); Reiss, "Vibe Of Life" (Mercury).
6. Tie: Steve Poltz, "One Left Shoe" (Mercury); Chris Isaak, "Speak Of The Devil" (Reprise/Warner Bros.).
7. Tie: Remy Zero, "Villa Elaine" (DGC/Geffen); Snowpony, "The Slowmotion World Of Snowpony" (Radioactive/MCA).
8. Tie: Craig Armstrong, "The Space Between Us" (Melankolic/Astralwerks); Baxter, "Baxter" (Maverick/Warner Bros.).
9. Tie: Rancid, "Life Won't Wait" (Epitaph); Dave Matthews Band, "Before These Crowded Streets" (RCA).
10. Tie: Rasputunia, "How We Quit The Forest" (Columbia); Medeski, Martin & Wood, "Combustication" (Blue Note).

CARLA HAY - Music Video Editor

1. Josh Wink, "Simple Man" (Ovum/ Ruffhouse/Columbia). An excellent parody of rock stardom.
2. Marilyn Manson, "The Dope Show" (Nothing/Interscope). Love or hate Marilyn Manson, this was the kind of video that people couldn't help talking about once they saw it.
3. TORI AMOS, "Spark" (Atlantic). An underrated video that draws the viewer into a haunting sense of desperation, and the ending avoids the usual cliches.
4. Garbage, "Push It" (Almo Sounds/ Interscope). Another underrated video.
5. Beastie Boys, "Intergalactic" (Grand Royal/Capitol). A spoof of Japanese sci-fi flicks with the Beastie Boys' own twisted humor.
6. Natalie Imbruglia, "Torn" (RCA). This was one of 1998's few debut-artist videos that made an unforgettable first impression.
7. Black Eyed Peas, "Joints & Jams" (Interscope). A simple concept taken to a unique level.
8. Will Smith, "Just The Two Of Us" (Columbia). A moving tribute from a father to a son, and a visual treat celebrating love among families.
9. Madonna, "Ray Of Light" (Maverick/Warner Bros.). The editing alone makes this video a keeper.
10. Reba/Brooks & Dunn, "If You See Him/If You See Her" (MCA Nashville/Arista Nashville). This clip perfectly captures the heartache that comes after a romantic breakup, and the artists' acting is believable.

PAUL VERNA - Reviews/Pro Audio/Technology Editor

1. Lucinda Williams, "Car Wheels On A Gravel Road" (Mercury). If those who can write hold the keys to the kingdom, Lucinda's got it locked up.
2. Sheryl Crow, "The Globe Sessions" (A&M). The same can be said for those who can rock.
3. Sinead Lohan, "No Mermaid" (Interscope). Don't believe the title.
4. Billy Bragg & Wilco, "Mermaid Avenue" (Elektra). Proof that we really are divided by a common language.
5. Jennifer Kimball, "Veering From The Wave"(Imaginary Road). A whole new story.
6. Compay Segundo, "Lo Mejor De La Vida" (Nonesuch). From Cuba, with love.
7. Olu Dara, "In The World From Natchez To New York"(Atlantic). An old-timer who knows about blues, folk, Afro-pop, hip-hop and all that jazz.
8. John Lennon, "The John Lennon Anthology" (Capitol). Keeping the Lennon legacy alive.
9. Jeff Buckley, "Sketches (For My Sweetheart, The Drunk)" (Columbia). A bittersweet sampling of what could have been.
10. Tie: Madonna, "Ray Of Light" (Maverick/Warner Bros.); Bonnie Raitt, "Fundamental" (Capitol); TORI AMOS, "from the choirgirl hotel" (Atlantic). Embodying the elements of style.

Allstar Daily News

1. Tori Amos, From the Choirgirl Hotel
2. Clutch, The Elephant Riders
3. Slayer, Diabolus in Musica
4. Deftones, Around the Fur
5. NothingFace

MeMail "Entertainment Today"

TOP-10 BOOSTERS OF WOMEN'S HEALTH ISSUES

Tori Amos, Katie Couric and Ellen Degeneres are among those on the Iris Cantor-UCLA Women's Health Education and Resource Center's first annual top-10 list of celebrity women who've been boosters of women's health issues in 1998.

Amos was named for co-founding the Rape, Abuse, and Incest Network hotline...Couric, for raising awareness about colon cancer which claimed her husband's life this year...and Degeneres, for raising awareness of lesbian issues through her TV sitcom.

The list also names athlete Peggy Fleming and talk show host Rosie O'Donnell for their work on breast cancer awareness...actress Cybill Shepherd for tackling menopause issues...singer Shania Twain for domestic violence awareness...actress Mary Tyler Moore for juvenile diabetes...and musician Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins for being the first celebrity spokesperson for sickle cell disease.

(Thanks to UPI's Tracy Venegas in Los Angeles)

Copyright 1998 by United Press International.
All rights reserved.

The L.A. Times printed the following. I am not sure of the exact date of the issue, it was in mid-January 1998:

Iris Cantor-UCLA Women's Health Education & Resource Center has named its first annual Top 10 list of high-profile women who have made significant efforts towards women's health education in 1998. The finalists and their areas of concentration are Singer Tori Amos, sexual assault; television anchor Katie Couric, colon cancer; actress Ellen DeGeneres, lesbian and gay rights; Olympic ice skater Peggy Fleming and actress and talk show host Rosie O'Donnell, both breast cancer; actress Cybill Shepherd, menopause; singer Shania Twain, domestic abuse; actress Mary Tyler Moore, diabetes; singer Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins, sickle cell anemia; and actress and talk show host Oprah Winfrey, hysterectomy and breast cancer. The awards are scheduled for presentation in April.

Read the INsite article.

Tori is on the cover of Magical Blend Magazine, Issue #63. The Magical Blend web site says the magazine "documents the most exciting adventure of our time, the Cultural Creatives' quest for meaning in contemporary times." In additon to the cover photo there are some enhanced photos inside along with a 4 page article where Tori talks about spirituality. The interview is by John Patrick Gatta. The Magical Blend web site summarizes the article by saying, "Tori Amos has established herself as one of the brightest stars on the music scene. Her secret? Talent, insight, and a unique spiritual vision."

Read the Magical Blend Article & See The Photos

Tori is on the cover of the Winter 1998 issue of Student Advantage Magazine, which is sent free to college students with a Student Advantage card. Inside the magazine you will find a full page photo of Tori and a 1 page "pop quiz" interview.

Read the article & see the photos in Student Avantage.

"Tori Amos: From the Choirgirl Hotel #26

'I think there are a lot of great female writers, but I don't think there are a lot of great female musicians,' Tori Amos told A.P. with some resignation just before *From the Choirgirl Hotel* was completed. What's always been interesting about Amos is that during the fight to define herself as a *musician*, not a female musician, she's endeared herself to a legion of fans who insist on deification over simple musical appreciation. With *Choirgirl*, Amos' fifth album, Tori the musician left everyone else in the dust, taking her poetic lyrics and clever sense of melody to a new level. She also gave her ever-present piano a new voice by experimenting with acoustics and fuzzboxes, and by playing the often underappreciated instrument the way a guitarist manipulates an axe. While *Little Earthquakes* gave Tori shock value, *Choirgirl* proved that she's an enduring talent with her feet firmly on the ground. (Atlantic, 1998) [RD--Randee Dawn]"