In 1995, my world changed. I found myself walking a path I had walked every day to my university, listening on a pair of headphones and planning my weeks work. I was a carefree college kid. I wasn't in the great clicks, being a speech person. I lived in the university halls, planning our networks, working with staff on speeches, preparing plans for class.
In a flash, my world changed.
Walking through a park in a community, even at night isn't uncommon in a college town. I had just picked the wrong night. I'd love to say it ended fantastically; but it did change my life. I was mugged using a baseball bat and a knife; stabbed four times, 64 skull fractures, and left to die. Somehow, I screamed enough that I was found in time.
I had always been a fan of Tori Amos. Long before this event; her album, "Little Earthquakes" was one of those things that drove me through my freshman year of college. For Under the Pink, I saw her 14 times in concert.
But it wasn't until that night that my love of music really rang home. Months of rehab, time to re-learn everything; walking, addressing people.. dealing with pain management, etc. It was difficult. I sat in the hospital and thanks to fellow friends I had known through the concert tours, some word got to the right people, and I received a get well card signed by her with a short, hand written note. I won't share that here, but it really doubled down my determination to get through it.
Sometimes, fans take things too far. An artist is just an artist. They aren't like close family. But it doesn't mean that their work can't influence you, and that there work isn't meaningful in your life.
Years later, my wife and I who were both big fans attended a concert in Norman, Oklahoma, and thanks to both of our work on behalf o RAINN, we were backstage with Tori to talk after the concert. A few hugs and some get well wishes, and we left with a signed Sesame Street muppet "Baby Natasha" to wish us luck on our attempt to have a child.
Two months later, we had succeeded; my wife was finally (after more trying then we'd admit to family) pregnant. A good omen.
Tori moved in a different direction then I did as time went on. While I enjoyed "Scarlett's Walk" much of her worked moved into the pop category and it just didn't resonate with me the same way.
But I would always give it a go.
Today, on pre-order, my copy of "Night of the Hunters" came through. I hadn't listened through the previews. I had heard good things, but again, it's like revisiting an old friend that you've grown away from. As close as we were years ago, Tori just didn't move me in her last few albums the way she did in her earlier work.
I have to say, I was stunned. Stunned. I hopped into my car on the way to work this morning, with the album freshly loaded into my iPod and dialed it up. By the time we were through Fearlessness I was in awe. After Job's Coffin, I was flat out stunned.
This is, frankly, a masterwork. An album that is a stunning work that reached right through me and shook me.. it was as though that old friend I had loved so dearly years ago came and sat down with me again.
I know, how does a lifelong fan really review an album fairly? Aren't we a little biased? I have to say, I was probably more biased against her work then most - my expectations were that this would follow in her semi-techno/pop stuff which I just didn't care to listen to.
But whatever got into Tori on this album, it's good to find an old friend in my radio again.
If you haven't heard "Night of the Hunters", I urge you: take a listen. A brilliant mix of classical and operatic themes to create a single, seamless story from beginning to end.
It's a brilliant return from an old friend who seems to have come home to pay a visit. Tori, this is what I've missed.
If anything brings this kind of beauty into my world, even at an hours length in a day, I have to say: thanks. I will sit her stunned as "Job's Coffin" rotates on my home theater again.
Give the Album a listen in it's entirety here at NPR:
http://www.npr.org/...