Hi all!

Back from concert and just woke up to share this show with you. One of my dreams came through when I finally got Tori´s autograph:) And I also got a photo together. Meet and greet in Helsinki started already at 14.00 so be early if you wanna make it! Over here Tori had time to chat with fans and there were some regular faces from abroad. Eventually m&g was rushed thanks to rain, but everyone got to meet Tori.

Opening act, Mark Hole, has gorgeous voice and he knows how to use it. No problem there. Still all the songs are most ballads and about his lost girlfriend, whom he broke up with 5 months ago, so that was bit boring. And it really got my mood down, since I´m going through a divorce, which turned into war.

As for concert, I can only say it is amazing. The string quartet compliments Tori´s songs just perfectly and opener Shattering Sea was really powerful, even more so than on album. Excellet opener for the night and sets the tone perfectly. Cruel was stunning played with string quartet, really cruel and twisted. In another words killer song. Also heard on that night were Graveyard, Baker Baker, Silent All These Years, Marianne, Star Whisperer and Carry. Those I do remember. I guess I was too excited of the concert to remember all the songs:) Tori will also be playing covers on this tour. During concert she also played solo pieces and that fitted just perfectly. And carry as closing song was logical choice. I just am honestly lost for words to describe that gig, so I gotta wrap it up here:)

Tori Amos in Helsinki this week

Hi all!

Tomorrow is the big day! Night Of Hunters Tour starts here in autumny Helsinki at Ice Hall (worst concert places). To celebrate this historical event, we kick tour off at free party! And best of all, no age limit and posters as giveaways:)

Place: Cafe Helsinki
Urheilukatu 36. Across the street from tram stop, about 150 meters from Ice Hall

Free entry, no age limit

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=245106338861200

No alcohol served, food available

Everybody welcome!

R.E.M. rip

This is really sad news. R.E.M. has called it quits after 31 years in business. Only release left will be compilation and that´s it. To be honest, I am shocked and didn´t expect to hear this in a long time...


"To our Fans and Friends: As R.E.M., and as lifelong friends and co-conspirators, we have decided to call it a day as a band. We walk away with a great sense of gratitude, of finality, and of astonishment at all we have accomplished. To anyone who ever felt touched by our music, our deepest thanks for listening." R.E.M.

In their own words: The guys share their thoughts on why now.

MIKE

"During our last tour, and while making Collapse Into Now and putting together this greatest hits retrospective, we started asking ourselves, 'what next'? Working through our music and memories from over three decades was a hell of a journey. We realized that these songs seemed to draw a natural line under the last 31 years of our working together.

"We have always been a band in the truest sense of the word. Brothers who truly love, and respect, each other. We feel kind of like pioneers in this--there's no disharmony here, no falling-outs, no lawyers squaring-off. We've made this decision together, amicably and with each other's best interests at heart. The time just feels right."

MICHAEL

"A wise man once said--'the skill in attending a party is knowing when it's time to leave.' We built something extraordinary together. We did this thing. And now we're going to walk away from it.

"I hope our fans realize this wasn't an easy decision; but all things must end, and we wanted to do it right, to do it our way.

"We have to thank all the people who helped us be R.E.M. for these 31 years; our deepest gratitude to those who allowed us to do this. It's been amazing."

PETER

"One of the things that was always so great about being in R.E.M. was the fact that the records and the songs we wrote meant as much to our fans as they did to us. It was, and still is, important to us to do right by you. Being a part of your lives has been an unbelievable gift. Thank you.

"Mike, Michael, Bill, Bertis, and I walk away as great friends. I know I will be seeing them in the future, just as I know I will be seeing everyone who has followed us and supported us through the years. Even if it's only in the vinyl aisle of your local record store, or standing at the back of the club: watching a group of 19 year olds trying to change the world."

------------------

READ Warner Bros. Press Release below:

ATHENS, GA--(Marketwire - Sep 21, 2011)

"During our last tour, and while making Collapse Into Now and putting together this greatest hits retrospective; we started to ask ourselves 'what next?'," commented Mike Mills. "Working through our music and memories from over three decades was a hell of a journey. We realized that these songs seemed to draw a natural line under the last 31 years of our working together. The time just feels right."

R.E.M. is unique in that they are very much still the group of friends from Athens, Georgia that they've been since the band formed in 1979. While their career has spanned 15 studio albums and huge global success, the band itself only ever comprised the four original members. The one person to leave this tight-knit group was drummer Bill Berry, who retired two years after suffering a brain aneurysm on-stage during 1995's "Monster" tour. But not before extracting a promise from his band mates that they would continue on as R.E.M.: "Bill insisted he would stay, if his leaving meant breaking the band up," remembers Michael Stipe.

Mills adds: "We have always been a band in the truest sense of the word. Brothers who truly love and respect each other. We feel kind of like pioneers in this -- there's no disharmony here, no falling-outs, no lawyers squaring off. We've made this decision together, amicably and with each other's best interests at heart."

"A wise man once said -- 'the skill in attending a party is knowing when it's time to leave," agrees Michael Stipe. "We built something extraordinary together. We did this thing. And now we're going to walk away from it. I hope our fans realize this wasn't an easy decision; but all things must end; and we wanted to do it right, to do it our way. We have to thank all the people who helped us be R.E.M. for these 31 years, our deepest gratitude to those who allowed us to do this. It's been amazing."

Buck picks up on his thoughts: "One of the things that was always so great about being in R.E.M., was the fact that the records we made and the songs we wrote, meant as much to our fans as they did to us. It was, and still is, important to us to do right by them. Being a part of their lives has been an unbelievable gift.

"Mike, Michael, Bill, Bertis, and I walk away as great friends. I know I will be seeing them in the future, just as I know I will be seeing everyone that has followed and supported us through the years. Even if it's only in the vinyl aisle of your local record store, or standing at the back of a club; watching a group of 19-year-olds trying to change the world."

R.E.M. will release a career-spanning Greatest Hits album through Warner Brothers in November. More information to follow.

Night Of The Hunters review!!

Hi all!

I am more than honoured to have the honour of being first finn to review Night Of The Hunters cd. Big thank you goes out to Universal Music for trusting me enough to send the cd in advance!

I first have to be honest, I don´t like classical music at all. To me it´s too difficult and art for art´s sake. So I was bit sceptical of this album when I heard it has influences from classical music. And another thing to get out of the way is that I absolutely love the booklet! The photos are stunning and beautiful! They have same theme as the album which is just perfect. All the styling on both Tori and Tash si really cool and the photos would make perfect pictures to hang on the wall.

As for the album, Anabelle is second person on the record, whom Tori meets and teams with. Anabelle´s parts are sung by Tash who sounds really like Emiliana Torrini. These dialogues between these two women work like charm. I just also love the flute and the string arrangements, they are really strong. Battle Of Trees opened up bit too close to classical to my liking but moved onto Tori realm and blew me away. It is not easy pop album, so don´t even expect that. It might take couple of listenings to get into but it is worth it. I dare to say this is the closest album Tori has made to Pele and Under The Pink. Some songs reminded me a bit of Not The Red Baron and other slower songs from those records. There isn´t that same anger here, but melodies, strings and structurually it reminds of those two. And atmospherically also. I´d say this is one of the records that will divide fans to those who like it and to those who don´t.

Most radio friendly song on the album has to be Job´s Coffin which is sang by Tash. That song wouldn´t even be out of place on Emiliana Torrini´s album Fisherman´s Woman. Also from Tash´s voice comes Adele to mind. I know some fans are sceptical of her singing on this album, but give it a go, she does bloody good job!

Only minus thing on Night Of The Hunters is that, it´s not much varied album. All the songs remind eachother, but are enough different from eachother to keep things evolving and interesting.

The melodies, ah the melodies are strong and string arrangements compliment the piano and Tori´s voice perfectly. Whole album is at best midtempo cd, so gone is anger from American Doll Posse. As for Tash singing, I think she´s doing really well, she´s got beautiful voice. It was quite bold move to let her sing on this album and it pays off.

Overall absolutey beautiful, eventhough quite heavy album with really beautiful booklet:) Can´t wait for the Helsinki concert! And as reminder, remember there´s a tour opening party at Cafe Helsinki starting at 15.30. Urheilukatu 36, across the street from tram stop.

New Kate Bush album!!

New Kate Bush album is on it´s way called 50 Words For Snow! Now this is a fast follow-up to Aerial which I loved. This album is 65 minutes long and contains these songs:

• 1. Snowflakes
• 2. Lake Tahoe
• 3. Misty
• 4. Wild Man
• 5. Snowed In At Wheeler Street
• 6. 50 Words For Snow
• 7. Among Angels

Yay! Now this is good news! Already availabe for pre-order from HMV and Itunes

Record fair in Helsinki

Hi all!

This weekend there will be international record fair at Tavastia Club on saturday. Starts at 11 and closes at 16, tickets cost 3€. This is the legendary one in Helsinki which is held twice a year normally. I sure hope to make it there this year... Each year I plan to go there, but end up too broke to go there:)

Tori Amos tour opening party

Hi all!

There will be pre-party to the first show of the tour! Here´s all the info:

Place Cafe Helsinki on Urheilikatu 36. Just across the street from the tram stop.
No age limit
start time 15.30->
Food available ( a la carte menu), no alcohol. It´s a cafeteria.