Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)'Under The Pink' is the definate mid point in vision between the structured, catchy honest confession of 'Little Earthquakes' and the experimental, often formless cryptic 'Boys For Pele.' I feel that with her debut Tori didn't really show off her lyrical acrobats or experimental fancies as well as she was capable of (great album that 'LE' was.) 'BFP' almost had the opposite problems, Tori was at her creative peak, but at a peak that nobody could understand.
'Under The Pink' however, compromises between pop accessibility and creative progression. The lyrics here are definately more cryptic than Little Earthquakes and although are difficult to understand one can usually catch the general gist of most songs (Space Dog, however still baffles me.)In addition, where Tori's debut is very personal 'UTP' attempts the externalise her scope towards inter relationships in peer groups as well as having a good cheeky jab toward christianity.
Musically the album is at its most schitzophrenic, tempos change drastically, not only from track to track, but also within single tracks themselves. Hence 'Pretty Good Year' 'God' 'Cornflake Girl' and 'Space Dog' switch between fesity rock and soft balladry within a moment's notice. Tori experiements with industrial sounds in 'The Waitress' while in 'Bells For Her' she plays on a deconstructed 'prepared' piano that sounds more like clanging bells than a piano. Of course, it wouldn't be a Tori album without the piano and strings, 'Baker Baker' 'Icicle' and 'Cloud On My Tongue' are brilliant, and to a lesser extent 'Yes Anastasia' (which is technically great but fails to sustain my interest.)
Elsewhere, 'The Wrong Band' sounds like a cut off the Beatle's 'Abbey Road' album (hence its very bouncy and quirky) and Space Dog's upbeart parts sound like Blondie's Rapture. 'Past The Mission' with its impossibly catchy hook line, is perhaps my favorite extract from the album melodic wise. It used to be 'Cornflake Girl', but since I've heard that classic song (that everyone should know by now) so many thousands of times, Im starting to *gasp* tire of it (a year ago I would've considered that last comment impossible.)
Admittedly, I listen to 'Little Earthquakes' more than this one, since its a lot catchier and straight forward its more of an enjoyable listen. However, in terms of artistic vision and creative achievement, Under The Pink is a far superior album. If nothing else, the lyrics to 'God' and 'Icicle' will make you smile (just make sure you're not a god fearing christian.)
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Australian limited edition release combines two albums,Boys for Pele (1996) & Under the Pink (1994), individuallypackaged in standard jewel cases & housed together in aslipcase. 2001 release.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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