Cover story: Lord of the Strings: Interviewing John Philip Shenale. by Robert Schrader Shenale says, "Take for example "Girl Disappearing." [The opening is] almost like a camera panning from outside into a dimly lit room; then the first verse. I had originally scored it arco (bowed strings), but it had to be vestigial or "thoughts just forming" as though we heard them from Tori for the first time. A bit frantic maybe; just waking in the early morning. So I used the pizzicato for their "incompleteness.""

Feature articles: Guys and Dolls: The male influences on ADP. by Alex Ramon and Maureen Paley Given that the primary concern of [American Doll Posse] is the exploration of femininity in all its diverse aspects, Tori's admission that she went to "male rock Gods" such as The Beatles, Queen, Led Zeppelin, The Damned, Elton John, Leonard Cohen, The Doors, The Sex Pistols and Jimi Hendrix for inspiration may seem somewhat surprising. But her decision to do so can perhaps be best understood as an attempt to fuse male and female essences on ADP, and to bring the influence of rock's "male Gods" into sonic balance with that of the "female Gods"--Artemis, Athena, Aphrodite, Persephone, Demeter--who provided the inspiration for the five personas employed throughout the album. A Whole Lotta Love: Led Zeppelin knows what we need. by Missy Smith As her ears were seduced by Plant's androgynous wails and Jimmy Page's intricate blues-based guitar playing, Tori knew Zeppelin was the savior she was looking for. After that first, life-altering listen, Tori began studying Page's playing and phrasing and started bringing his fusion of classical and contemporary music to the piano. Around the World in 44 Years: Tori's Amos and the Impact of Place, Part 1. by Elyssa Pachico Tori's muse may thrive on a change of scenery, but when examining her journey from D.C. piano bar girl to current M.I.L.F., it's clear she has never underestimated the impact that geographical location has on her work. Whether it comes to creating a city's set list or recording an album, local color has consistently provided Tori with artistic inspiration, while also informing her own sense of herself as a chronicler of history. Concert Photography by Jennie Alibasic Some lights are better than others in helping you get a good shot. For instance, blue, purple and white lights often help bring great clarity to the faces of the people on stage while still letting them have some natural colors left. Running through the Garden of "Butterfly": Interpreting lyrics with Tori's fans. by Renee Roberson "Butterfly" is a gorgeous ballad, but, per Tori's unique style, it contains some unsettling images and lyrics that evoke strong emotions in those who listen to it. Porn Stars and Poetry: A Close-Up on "Amber Waves." by Lynne Stahl Scarlet's Amber is [like the Boogie Nights character] benumbed and helpless to effectively change. The song's "healing machine," presumably a director's video camera, turns out to be an empty promise, and Amber resignedly admits that "there's not a lot/of me/left anymore" and acknowledges her inability to escape her shell of a life with the phrase "just leave it alone."

Multimedia: Review: A Collage Course in Politics: Rasputin and My Brightest Diamond by John Higdon "Whenever Rasputina come to town, I am sure to attend. For a band composed of two cellists and a drummer, they rock!"

Ears with Feet: Focus on Photographer Aaron Alper by Beth Nelsen Alper says, "I always thought [Tori] was one of those artists that only the poseur-art kids listened to, and since I was so cool, I decided to have nothing to do with her. Idiotic, right? Eventually a girl named Jackie, who was a big fan, implored me to bring Choirgirl home after a night of hanging out together. She promised me it would be something I would love. She seemed so passionate about it that, out of politeness, I took the album and promised her I would give it a listen. I did. The rest is history."

PLUS: Ask the Expert by Nadyne Mielke, Oliver Stone, Song Interpretation & Tori in film. News by Woj. Information on touring, radio & songbook, plus Tori's new musical. Tori Stories: our quarterly comic by Martin Eden.