Every Mrs T work is always like travelling. Not physically. Tori Amos likes to take voyages into the deepest places of the mind, heart and soul, both in a personal yet social and politcal way.
Her point of view varies and yet stays the same, looking within herself and at the whole world and people as they both constitute the same being, with different aspects, thoughts, actions and essences.
Even if there's a constant, some kind of signature, in what she talks about, this time she let herself explore more, both on the musical and meaning side.
To do this, she dropped herself into five different alter-egos, each of them with their perspective and view of the world, inspired to the Greek Olympo Goddesses.

The album opens the path into this journey with Isabel (HisTORIcal), inspired to Artemis. This "doll", as she calls them, gives the view about actuality and politics, she's the one who looks around at the outside world and points her metaphorical camera (she's a photographer) on social and political aspects of contemporaneity.
The most characterizing songs of her are the little "Yo George" and the bitter-sweet "Almost Rosey".

The second doll to appear is Tori (TerraTORIes), herself and yet not her. Tori Amos plays Tori Amos enphasyzing some of her own aspects in some kind of caricature, just like as she were in front of a mirror looking at what the woman she sees has made and still wishes for herself.
Tori represents herself as Demeter and Dyonisus and gives voice to the U.S. single "Big Wheel".

Following up, we find Clyde (CliTORIdes), representing the underworld Goddess Persephone, and voice toe the European single "Bouncing Off Clouds". Clyde's the most inward looking doll, as Tori declares "She is trying to figure out what she believes in and she is dealing with having been disappointed in her life". The maybe most characterizing Clyde's songs are the rocambolesque "Beauty Of Speed" and the sad but hopeful "Girl Disappearing".

The journey, then, break into the strenght of Pip (ExpiraTORIal), inspired to the goddess of war, wisdom and strategy Athena. She's the strong one, the wise and the rebel all in one, she looks for justice, she sounds rageous and yet reasonable. She's the one who looks at the painful moments of life and finds courage in them. Her most evoking songs are "Teenage Hustling" and "Smokey Joe".

The last, but not leat, doll is Santa (SanaTORIum), representing the Greek Goddes Aphrodite. Santa makes her sexuality her business card, intending it as a natural part of all women, not a weapong against men, but one of the ways in which a woman can be a whole complete being. Her best representative songs are "Dragon", "Programmable Soda" and the b-side (available on the bonus DVD) "My posse can do".

"American Doll Posse" is far to be the best Tori Amos's work, mainly due to the much elevate number of tracks that can cause the listener to lose the goal of it sometimes. However this album has many excellent shots and, like good wine, it grows with time. It needs to be raised and to be read, not only listened to.
It encloses a world in which everyone's involved and taken into, addressing to both the youngest and eldest.

Musically it sprites into a various set of sounds, inspired to different genres but with the unique and recognizable touch of Tori onto her Bösendorfer along with Fender-Rhodes, electric, piano, Wurlitzer, a clavichord and a mellotron.

For those who still know Tori Amos is a must have, for those who never listened to something of her's is a good chance to have a chance.

"And when I hear of one more bomb
Yes, we have all been robbed of song
And nightingales who throw their arms up
When is enough enough?"

Almost Rosey

Have to say I quite liked the Beekeeper - wasn't too thrilled with Scarlet's Walk (none of the tracks really stand out). ADP re-affirms (as if I was in any doubt!) the genius of Tori Amos. It is a fabulous showcase of Tori's talents and is seriously competing with Boys for Pele as my favourite Tori album! Some fantastic tracks - Teenage Hustling, You Can Bring Your Dog, Body and Soul, Devils and Gods (oh why isn't this longer?!) really define Tori for me and she remains for me one of the most talented artists of all time.

after a disappointing last album 'the beekeeper' i was dubious of ADP. myself & friends really felt that she had lost her way so i listened to this album by skipping thru the first few seconds of every song and decided it was another beekeeper. it went on the shelf. oh what a mistake! then last week i decided to go to the gig to see her in london as i always do, so thought id give the new album another go and im glad i did. not only did the songs really start coming thru on the second/third listen, they do more so with each play and are amazingly beautiful and indepth. her backing vocals are stunning, like i enjoyed so much with her earlier stuff, and they make this album for me. she's defo back on form. this is some of her best work. dont be put off by the amount of tracks cos some are little short songs, infact it feels like its not long enough! I can honestly say there is only 1 bad song on this album 'posse bonus' is lame and 'fat slut' isnt great but its only a few seconds long! its good to hear the harpsicord back on 'devils & gods', big wheel reminds me of cornflake girl, the raunchy 'you can bring your dog', the mezmerising 'dark side of the sun', the quirky kate bushesq 'mr.bad man', sultry 'smokey joe' and my fave 'roosterspur bridge' is just simply beautiful. this is a fun & uplifting album from start to finish guys. you wont regret investing in it. enjoy x

I actually (unlike most) LOVED her last two albums. This one actually has taken me a few listens but its thumbs up Tori. Excellent work. I love Almost Rosey and Dark Side of the Sun (both are stand out tracks (for me). The album finishes like her earlier work leaving the big guns till the end...smokey joe and dragon...wow. Avante Gard / Pop / Rock...this album has it all. You will not be dissapointed if you buy this. Glass of wine, open fire and tori playing as i drift off .....this album fits the recipe perfectly.

WOW!! This album was not what i was expecting from Tori one bit. When i found out Tori was releasing a new album i was as always over the moon but on seeing how many tracks we're on the new album i was slightly worried. Her last few Cd's contained a large track list and for me lacked depth and most importantly quality. There are times i just wish Tori would go back to the days of Little Earthquakes in album length wise. Her new album has surprised me a lot. Her sound has changed on this one. Much more pop has crept into this album, its great and i loved it. Stand out tracks for me are 'Big Wheel' - 'Bouncing of Clouds' - ' Teenager Hustling'.

American Doll Posse is going to get a lot more plays than her past few albums have. Tho shes not playing so many piano tracks on this one its not a bad thing. Diversity is what i wanted for Tori's new album and for me she's delivered all the way. A welcome return for Tori Amos. Brilliant stuff!!