7
Universal/Fontana
Producer: Tori Amos
Tori Amos’ 18th album sees the alt-pop veteran in full myth-maker mode, spinning political dread into fire-breathing allegory, where tyrants lurk like serpentine villains and hope flickers stubbornly underneath. It’s a sprawling 76-minute velvet coup that demands total surrender to its intricate, moss-covered melodies and, despite the record’s sheer density and occasional self-indulgence, it impressively navigates that tension between ancient folklore and modern chaos. In essence, it’s shadowy and just unhinged enough to remind us why she remains a high priestess of the avant-garde. Few artists could craft a campfire story for the end of the world that feels quite this essential.
