Tori Amos has been making music for more than three decades. So why do we still compare every new Tori Amos record to Little Earthquakes, Under the Pink, and Boys for Pele?

For this edition of What’s on the Turntable, Jess brings Tori Amos’s new album In Times of Dragons, a record about power, patriarchy, aging, change, and finding a way forward in a world that can feel increasingly threatening.

We talk about the story behind the album, Jess’s favorite tracks “Shush” and “23 Peaks,” the apparent Courtney Love olive branch hidden in one of the songs, and Tori’s evolution as both a songwriter and live performer.

We also get into Pitchfork’s review of the album and a bigger question: Is it fair to judge an artist in their 60s against the music they made in their 20s? Sometimes being a fan means accepting that the artist you fell in love with isn’t that person anymore. Maybe that’s the point.

💬 What do you want from an artist you’ve followed for decades? Do you want them to evolve, or is there a part of you that still wants another version of the album that made you love them?

Link to the Pitchfork article mentioned: https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/tori-amos-in-times-of-dragons/⏱️

Chapters:

00:36 The story behind In Times of Dragons

02:01 “Shush” & the Courtney Love connection

04:01 Is In Times of Dragons a hopeful album?

05:09 “23 Peaks” & accepting change06:11 The problem with Pitchfork’s review

09:01 Should we compare artists to their earlier work?

10:35 Learning to accept Tori Amos’ evolution12:41 How Tori has changed her live shows

17:21 In Times of Dragons vinyl & artwork

18:32 Still a Tori fan from the ’90s?

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🎤 About Play RecordPlay Record is a music podcast hosted by Jess and Tyler, where every episode starts with music and turns into stories, debates, nostalgia, and the songs that shaped our lives.

Whether we're talking about mixtapes, guilty pleasures, forgotten albums, heartbreak songs, or what's currently spinning on our turntable, every episode celebrates the memories and stories behind the music.

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