Metascore
62

Generally favorable reviews - based on 17 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 17
  2. Negative: 0 out of 17
  1. The songs in between are the exploration of the journey from that dark, quiet beginning to that beautifully indulgent conclusion, and boy are there some twists and turns along the way.
  2. Further mystical adventures from grunge-era Kate Bush.
  3. Her 12th studio release, Abnormally Attracted to Sin, finds her in full command of her expanded arsenal, creating an overall sound that's as psychedelic as it is classic.
  4. Sometimes her brains get a little too big for her Bible. But when she's banging on her piano over layers of lush electronics, she's got the rapture part down.
  5. A 17-song steam trunk of an album, the new collection strikes a canny balance between Victorian-inspired decadence, mythical pathos and arch camp.
  6. Occasionally vague, sometimes incohesive and a little self-indulgent it may be, but ultimately Abnormally Attracted to Sin is an abnormally attractive piece of work, and another fine example of the shining talent that is Tori Amos.
  7. But even with its bloated running time, Sin is more thematically satisfying and sonically adventurous than anything Amos has recorded in years.
  8. The big problem: Abnormally Attracted To Sin is 17 tracks long, and a lot of it could have been left on the cutting-room floor....The remaining 10 or so songs are a reasonably memorable, inspired collection that would have made a pretty great album by themselves.
  9. Abnormally Attracted To Sin turns out to be a collection of tracks that simply doesn't work as a whole because it can't properly be listened to in one go. Pity, for somewhere in amongst it all Tori proves that she's still capable of producing a storming album.
  10. Amos doesn't record as much as most artists, and it must be tempting to give fans everything she can, but in this case, it's hurt her a bit. Still there, are many tracks here worth adding to one's Amos shelf.
  11. Q Magazine
    60
    Abnormally Attracted To Sin is a long haul, but among these 18 songs ate some of the best Amos has written. [Jun 2009, p.123]
  12. Under The Radar
    60
    Musically, the 17 songs here are mostly dark and sweeping, Amos hesitatiing to provide the big melodies to latch onto, rather roping the listener in with a feelinga and entrancing with her lyrics. [Summer 2009, p.64]
  13. 50
    Unfortunately, these hook-starved arrangements tend toward a static brand of ambient cabaret, which makes Amos' lyrics easy to tune out. Too many little earthquakes, not enough seismic jolts.
  14. The result is a set of prog-inspired balladry with less bounce than her last disc.
  15. Abnormally Attracted to Sin is, by quite some distance, her weakest album yet.
  16. Mojo
    40
    Toriphiles will be delighted to find a generous 76 minutes of songstuff here but the less committed might never get past the veritable encyclopedia of tortured vocal affections that blight the stodgy opening track. [Jun 2009, p.102]
  17. Uncut
    40
    Toris 10th refuses to gel into anything illuminating. [Jun 2009, p.83]
User Score
8.6

Universal acclaim- based on 139 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Negative: 4 out of 139
  1. GuyM
    Aug 5, 2009
    3
    Considering the fact that I've been a fan of Tori's for almost 2 decades now, since Y Kant Tori Read, I would say that I consider Considering the fact that I've been a fan of Tori's for almost 2 decades now, since Y Kant Tori Read, I would say that I consider myself a Toriphile. With that being said, I can't believe how unbelievably bored I was while listening to this album, I just couldn't get into it at all... I've been trying to figure it out, but it's just so commercially different than anything she's ever done. What's surprising is that she produced this album herself and unfortunately both she and Bö have been completely lost in most of the tracks of this particular album. Very disappointed. Full Review »
  2. MuzS
    Jul 27, 2009
    5
    I've been a fan of Tori since I heard "Winter" and Little Earthquakes was released. Sadly I feel this album, as well as her previous, I've been a fan of Tori since I heard "Winter" and Little Earthquakes was released. Sadly I feel this album, as well as her previous, lack the emotion of her previous albums. I agree this album is too long, the material is not strong enough to warrant 17 tracks. Albums of similar length (The Beekeeper, Scarlet's Walk) worked because the songs were much more interesting musically and flowed better as an album. It just doesn't happen here, after a few songs I found my mind wondering to other things, I could hear it, but I wasn't listening. I like the first two tracks, but overall, it's a yawn. It's too safe. Perhaps Tori should employ the services of a good producer, rather than self produce next time round? Full Review »
  3. SisterJanet1219
    Jul 23, 2009
    3
    I have been a Toriphile for so long now, I can't even count the years. With that said it pains me so greatly to see her come to this. I have been a Toriphile for so long now, I can't even count the years. With that said it pains me so greatly to see her come to this. "Abnormally Attracted to Sin" is, by far, one of the worst pieces of work she has come out with. I never thought I would dislike her work as much as I do on this record. I much prefer "Y Kant Tori Read" to this, at least that album was honest and, shockingly, not as over-produced as this one. I have always loved how she continuously evolves from record to record but with "Abnormally" I feel that she has just thrown together 20 years worth of worthless "B" sides and called it a night. I love you Tori, but even you can't be as proud of this as you were of your work of old. Full Review »