Amos reinvents patriotism

By Jane Muhlstein

The latest artist to contribute to the Sept. 11 commemorative movement is Tori Amos with her latest album. "Scarlet's Walk," released Oct. 29, is a chronological account of a young woman on her journey across America, profiling people, places and emotions she encounters along the way.

The album documents a personal journey through the relationships formed by Scarlet, but also examines the lives of a broad cross-section of American society. Unlike the other recent Sept. 11 inspired releases of artists like Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young and the Counting Crows who choose to comment on patriotism, heroism and strength, Amos questions many traditional American institutions.

"Scarlet" is one story consisting of 18 separate chapters. Amos' style has evolved somewhat from angry and self-absorbed and most of the songs take on a more mainstream quality than her previous work. Incorporating elements of Native American culture, likely drawn from her own Cherokee heritage, Amos looks at greed, racism, injustice and the failure of the American dream. These themes, however, are generally implicit in songs directly regarding events in the life of Scarlet.

Although Amos does not entirely eliminate the element of personal angst that has become her signature, in "Scarlet" she has found a way to simultaneously address the distress of a nation. In "Amber Waves," she challenges the reality of the American dream when Scarlet meets a girl who moved to Los Angeles in hopes of stardom and finds a job in the adult film industry. Her ideals are described as declining "from Ballet class to a Lap Dance, straight to video."

Several songs including "Scarlet's Walk" and "Virginia" detail the greed of Europeans as she looks back upon the "Big Brave Nation" she has just explored, how the land was stolen from Native Americans and their traditions forgotten. The album concludes with "Gold Dust," a song voicing a need to move on with life, although the past will never be forgotten.

"Scarlet's Walk" is a strong album, marking a new approach for Amos. It's diverse collection of tales, themes and musical styles that knit a cohesive, unified picture of American life today and a thoughtful account of the Great American Road Trip. B+