String Quartet Tribute To Tori Amos: Vol. 2 CD

The companion to Precious Things, the electronica-influenced string tribute to Tori Amos, Pieces follows in the same vein as the former, but eschews any kind of programming in favor of a four-piece string group instead. (Actually, "four-piece" is a bit misleading, as the two violins are played by the same person -- not simultaneously, one would assume.) As individual compositions, the tracks on Pieces work well enough, but none of them come close to capturing the raw emotion Amos has in her piano and polished, powerful voice. That doesn't mean there aren't some pretty moments here: "Snow Cherries from France" and "Spark" are both well performed and affecting, as is "Professional Widow," one of the artist's most famous songs, and one that has been redone numerous times. Nearly all of Amos' albums are covered here, from Little Earthquakes to The Beekeeper, and even Tales of a Librarian (only Under the Pink is skipped completely), but this still doesn't make the record more than a novelty, and most likely of little interest to any real Amos fan. ~ Marisa Brown

Composer: Tori Amos.

Tributee: Tori Amos.

Personnel: Nicholas Patrikios (viola); Peggy Baldwin (cello); Jean Sudbury (violin).

Recording information: Xact Sound Productions.

Arranger: Sasha Ivanov.