In an era of digital downloads and singles, Tori Amos embraces the concept album in a sprawling 23-song oratorio. Firing across the American psychological, social, and political landscape, she takes on the state of the world, war, and feminism. To help her, she adopts five personas--her American Doll Posse--who take their characteristics from Greek gods, but not their names: Clyde, Pip, Isabel, Santa, and Tori. You need a scorecard to keep track, but don't worry. It's still Tori Amos, bending syllables in improbable pretzels with rippling piano themes and choruses that threaten to go Broadway at any moment. Amos vents her political spleen through "Isabel," leaving no doubt as to her targets on tracks like "Yo George," and comments on our impersonal age and computer addiction with "Digital Ghost." That's sung by the character "Tori," who is reputedly based on Demeter and Dionysus, representing the split between Amos's earth-mother side and her wilder, more libertine tendencies. Anti-war and pro-feminist themes are plastered across American Doll Posse like sloganeering posters. "Dark Side of the Sun" laments both sides of the war, including the Islamists who lay down their lives "for some sick promise of heaven." Amos adopts a big '80s rock sound on many tracks, with guitarist Mac Aladdin pealing off Brian May-style guitar licks over an arena-rock beat. It's where Amos details a more personal sound that American Doll Posse leaves a lasting impression. "Girl Disappearing," sung by "Clyde," holds echoes of the Beatles' "Eleanor Rigby," not only because of the string quartet and nostalgic tone, but the updated tale of a woman losing herself. "Smokey Joe" brims with dark atmospheres, Robert Fripp-like guitar sustains, and Amos's most elaborate vocal arrangements, interweaving two sets of lyrics for "Pip." More than a concept album, American Doll Posse is a convergence experience, mixing online blogs from each character, videos, MySpace sites, and more.

1. To George
2. Big Wheel
3. Bouncing off Clouds
4. Teenage Hustling
5. Digital Ghost
6. You Can Bring Your Dog
7. Mr. Bad Man
8. Fat Slut
9. Girl Disappearing
10. Secret Spell
11. Devils and Gods
12. Body and Soul
13. Father's Son
14. Programmable Soda
15. Code Red
16. Roosterspur Bridge
17. Beauty of Speed
18. Almost Rosey
19. Velvet Revolution
20. Dark Side of the Sun
21. Posse Bonus
22. Smokey Joe
23. Dragon

Audio samples of all the tracks are available at Amazon ...

Standard Edition (CD only):
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000NVLJR4/?tag=imwan-20

Special Edition (CD+DVD):
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000OCZ9XM/?tag=imwan-20

Does anyone know what the unnamed "bonus material" is on the dvd?

there's 1 extra song My Posse Can Do 3:39

and a promo/making of/introduction video 5:18

Thats all Folks!!!!

oh yeah, and a nice thick booklet and some postcards

Circuit City is advertising a "2 cd version". NOT the cd & dvd limited. I went in there today. There signage says 2 cd. The generic cc price tag on the disc says 2 cd. The package only lists the same 23 songs as the standard edition. The employees were clueless (surprise). They also refused to open one to see if there was a second cd inside.

If anyone purchases this from CC, could you please post as to whether it's a typo or if there is a 2nd cd?

I have read on a forum that Borders does have an exclusive version with a bonus song called Miracles. Neither of Borders websites confirms this.

Actually, the regular version at Borders comes with a bonus digital download of a song which is called either "Drive All Night" (based on what she sings) or "Drive By Night" (according to the Undented Tori fan site). Initially it was stated it wouldn't work with Macs; now they've said that the Borders tech team (?) will give you a new download code for Mac. However, if you buy the more expensive CD/DVD edition, you don't get the bonus download code. So, if you're a diehard Tori fan and go to Borders, you'll have to buy the regular CD (to get the bonus track) and the CD/DVD combo (to get the other bonus track and the DVD material).

But wait...there's more! "Miracles" is the iTunes exclusive bonus track.

This is almost as bad as the America- Here & Now situation, which had a bonus DVD at Target and unique bonus tracks at Best Buy, Borders and iTunes. Line up fans, and bend right over.

Anyway, I went to Circuit City on the day of release, where I was told they'd sold out of Tori but then the clerk remembered there was one copy left of the CD/DVD combo in her regular section. It was priced $19.99, but I assumed the weekly ad's "2 CD" notation referred to the CD/DVD combo, i.e. 2-discs, so when it rang up at $19.99, I showed the cashier the ad and he re-rang it at the $11.99 sale price. In hindsight, this may have been a mistake, but...

I have nothing against Tori Amos, but I just lost interest in her a while ago. I've purchased everything up through the "Beekeeper" release, but I passed on the box and I'm passing on this. I just found that I have no interest in listening to her anymore. I just don't find her that compelling. I guess that saves me from having to worry about all of the variations!

I haven't sprung for the box (even though yourmusic.com has it for $40 or so)

I did get ADP and first couple listens seem pretty good, more pep than Beekeeper. Scarlets Walk is the last one I really loved.

in a weird way the last 3 (scarlet, beekeeper & ADP) remind me of David Bowie's - Outside in that it's clear she put a lot of thought and effort into these albums, maybe too much.

I had them backwards, I thought Miracle was Borders & Drive was I-tunes, sorry!

From my first listen, I'd say that Miracles is better then anything on the actual cd.......

I obviously still like her & I own her entire catalog (including most of the b sides), but the last one I REALLY like was Boys For Pele. The last one I can imagine listening to again at all is Choirgirl.or maybe the covers cd

I also thought the box set was a huge missed oppurtunity. I apparantly don't agree with her on song selection. I would have like to have seen more of the hard to find b sides like if 6 was 9, less of the junk like Mr Toodles; I would have liked to have seen the horribly underrated Y Kan't Tori Read, & remasters of the 1st 3 East West cd's. Probably the best song on Pele is Hey Jupiter & she used a mediocre remix rather then the superior original; I could go on & on. It's rare that I've disagreed with this many choices on any box set.

As long as Tori has any say in it, I don't think that's going to happen... she does not look upon that time in her life with fondness.