The Original Bootlegs [Box] by Tori Amos (CD, Dec-2005, 12 Discs, Epic USA)

Yes, it's not a 5/5 review. 4/5, though, is a very good review, in my opinion: but it's not perfect.

I will have to agree, in most part, with all other reviewers on this boxed-set collection: it is a bit like heaven in a box!

Those who are fans have really no choice but to add this to their library of Tori cds. And the package itself is immaculate, a lesson in taste and simplicity, looking quite like a stand-out among all other cds in my house.

But here's what bugs me. All of the cds have tracks that repeat themselves on all editions. As a completist, sure, this might not bother someone, but as a music lover, I would have prefered tracklisting to have been a bit more varied. Yes, the shows recorded here have a fixed line-up, but Tori Amos is a genius artist that can do whatever she pleases on a piano and before an audience, and she knew she would be releasing 6 live cds of this tour of hers... I am sure she could have been more prolific and varied things a little. How many times do I have to listen to Original Sinsuality and The Beekeeper? Not 6 times, I think..

That said, it is an essential purchase for any Tori fan, and unfortunately very rare to come by in a record store here in Europe. I as lucky enough to find it here on eBay from an american seller who sent it perfectly packaged and quite fast. To all other fans of piano and that enjoy Tori, I advise, check the track listing on each CD and opt for the one you like best, and get it instead (you can buy them seperately).

Cheers!!
T.

I love this set. I have a lot of her music, ranging from early singles to live shows, to every studio album.
But this is pure heaven in a box.
Tori Amos puts on an amazing show. Her passion for her music comes through loud and clear - not just in the music but in the stories she tells between songs. And it's evident on every track on all twelve discs in this set.
And she doesn't just stick to her tried-and-true classics here. Cover songs like Jim Croce's "Operator" and Bonnie Raitt's "Total Eclipse of the Heart", songs from her days in Y Kant Tori Read like "Cool on Your Island" make appearances in between lesser-known gems like "Apollo's Frock" and "Take to the Sky".
Whether you're a long-time fan or just interested in exploring a bit of her newer work - this set has something to offer everyone. Heartfelt lyrics, breathtaking vocals, and talented piano-playing that nobody can top all with a bit of humor in between songs and a great deal of love for her craft and her fans.