Cover story: In the Loop with Matt Chamberlain by Liz Garlinge "[S]ometimes [Tori] will play me a finished vocal and piano take that was not done to a click track because she might have just made it up on the spot; and it works as a piece of music. The challenge there is to try and follow her and still make it feel good and not get in the way. She is so amazing by herself that the hard part is to add something to the mood of the music without taking anything away." Birthday for Pele by Angela Reid Under the Pink had hinted at Tori's progressive tendencies, particularly with the trippy "Space Dog," but Boys for Pele put them front and center. The "girl with a piano" was abandoning traditional song structure and pulling eclectic instruments into her mix. Reassessing Boys for Pele by W.H. Marshall It has been some time since Boys for Pele has been in the CD player here, and listening again has been a nostalgia trip. A pleasant nostalgia trip. Pele Point by Liz Garlinge All of these factors pale into insignificance for me when considering the most important quality of the album: there is genuine human emotion here, played out in the outstanding lyrics. Counterpoint by Nadyne Mielke My biggest complaint about Pele is the production. I know Tori did it, and I know that I am probably not supposed to criticize Tori like that (and in a fanzine devoted to her, no less!), but it sounds like someone's first attempt at producing a record. Most of the songs sound like demos, not like a finished product.

Feature articles: Changing So Fast: Tori's Fashions Through the Years: Part 1 by Becky Darter The video for "The Big Picture" is perhaps the single best (or worst!) example of Tori's fashion sense during this time period. The two key outfits Tori wears in this video present two inconsistent images: innocence in a skimpy white dress and power in parachute pants, bustier and big sword. When the harsh review of YKTR came out in Billboard Magazine, Tori shed her rock chick image and promptly tossed the wardrobe. Anatomy of a Harpsichord: Part 1 by Lydia Simon While the casual observer may notice that the harpsichord has a smaller keyboard (four to four and a half octaves, to the modern piano's six or more), it may be less obvious that the keys themselves are slimmer. An octave on a piano is approximately a ninth on a harpsichord. When Tori plays a phrase on the piano, then switches to harpsichord and plays the same phrase on it, she makes subtly different movements to accommodate the different dimensions of the keyboards.

Ask the Expert: Ask the Expert by Nadyne Mielke Our Expert addresses burning pianos, subscription information, and more.

Multimedia: Reviews: The Tori Amos Songbook Buyer's Guide: Boys for Pele by Lydia Simon The album Boys for Pele marked a significant shift in Tori Amos's music. No longer produced by someone else, her songs -- as written and as recorded -- more fearlessly explored the wilder places in her mind. You can buy the Boys for Pele sheet music book online from Amazon. The Return of the Queen by John Higdon In the beginning, there was Kate... Okay, maybe not. Except, according to some critics, with regards to certain adventurous female musicians. And perhaps it is true for me, in that it was through the work of Kate Bush that I finally came to love music and to develop my musical tastes -- and to first hear about Tori. You can buy Aerial by Kate Bush online from Amazon. Moving Picture Show by John Higdon Matt Chamberlain's album is not one to inspire tears of joy or sadness. It is a provoker of imagination, randomly conjuring images from late-night B-movies into a fever dream in which they almost seem to make sense. You can buy Matt Chamberlain's self-titled album online from Amazon. Oh Baby ... The Talent You Could Discover by Amber Lea Klink Founded in 1997 by independent musician Derek Sivers, CDBaby.com has become the largest seller of Indie music on the web, currently representing about 150,000 artists. CD Baby only sells merchandise that comes directly from its musicians and pays its artists $6-$12 per CD sold, keeping only $4 each to cover expenses. Even more impressive, musicians are paid by CD Baby on a weekly basis.

Ears with Feet: The Summer of Original Sinsuality, part one by Katharina Eberhardt Every night, I listened to Tori in my room after having made a fool out of myself all day long. These moments were my only refuge. I had never perceived music so intensely; I literally dived into it. Weakened as I was, my mind was totally blank and accessible to the beauty of her voice and the piano. It was only then when the pain of the day broke free.