SAME SOUND, NEW LOOK

by Shanna Lynn Fanelli a & e editor

With her quirky, nursery-rhyme type lyrics, fiercely intimate delivery of t,he keyboard and love affair with sounds, the new album, ''To Venus and Back," by Tori Amos, has all the components that Amos fans can readily recognize, but plays like one continuous song separated only by titles.

The album.which opens with the song "Bliss," whose interesting changes, both rhythmically and vocally, is a fresh take on Amos' original style, seems to be a melting pot of melodies. Her second track, "Juarez," is a recognizable copy of the second track, "Cruel," on her fourth album

"From The Choir Girl Hotel."

This is surprising, since Amos is known for her unique style and fantasy-world touched sounds. While she has been experimenting with writing, since the addition of synthesizers, pop beats and electric guitars that appeared on "From the Choir Girl," the same approach for ''To Venus and Back," seems to fall flat.

Mostly formed of slow grooves and lazy vocals, the deep beats and heavy percussion on such songs as "Glory of the 80's" and "Suede" remind one of tribal drums and ceremonial dances. Indeed, the music of Amos is an initiation into her personal world of in-your-face lyrics and intimate melodies.