User Score
7.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 70 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 47 out of 70
  2. Negative: 6 out of 70
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  1. Oct 5, 2012
    5
    While these are all great songs, I don't really get the point of the project. Why did Tori chose songs that were almost all already piano and strings based? They don't feel fresh or reimagined, just rehashed. If only she had chosen some of her rockier tracks and given them the Metropoloe treatment (for example, the amazing version of Spark performed live in 2011? Not terrible, but far fromWhile these are all great songs, I don't really get the point of the project. Why did Tori chose songs that were almost all already piano and strings based? They don't feel fresh or reimagined, just rehashed. If only she had chosen some of her rockier tracks and given them the Metropoloe treatment (for example, the amazing version of Spark performed live in 2011? Not terrible, but far from essential. Expand
  2. Oct 4, 2012
    3
    I'm sorry, but you've got to be kidding me. When I first listened to this album, I thought there was some mistake. The songs sound exactly like the original versions. After putting on headphones and trying again, I can hear that they are new recordings, but barely. Sure, there's orchestration and it's pretty, but I would absolutely not call these "re-workings." If you played these forI'm sorry, but you've got to be kidding me. When I first listened to this album, I thought there was some mistake. The songs sound exactly like the original versions. After putting on headphones and trying again, I can hear that they are new recordings, but barely. Sure, there's orchestration and it's pretty, but I would absolutely not call these "re-workings." If you played these for random people and had them listen to the old versions, they would be hard pressed to tell you what is different. I'm a huge Tori Amos fan, but there has just been something terrible happening with her music with everything after American Doll Posse. I'm sure plenty of people will think this album is great, but I really thought I was going to get "new" versions of the songs with completely different feelings. It just feels lazy to me. If you want to buy it, I highly suggest you listen to some samples first to make sure you know what you're getting. Expand
  3. Apr 14, 2013
    3
    I really do not see the point of this album. Had she made it a live orchestral album, it would be fine. Had she chosen some more instrumentally diverse songs, songs that didn't already feature piano and strings, from her vast catalogue, it would be fine. But this? Other than Flavor, Yes Anastasia and Precious Things, you can barely tell the difference from the originals. Actually, the onlyI really do not see the point of this album. Had she made it a live orchestral album, it would be fine. Had she chosen some more instrumentally diverse songs, songs that didn't already feature piano and strings, from her vast catalogue, it would be fine. But this? Other than Flavor, Yes Anastasia and Precious Things, you can barely tell the difference from the originals. Actually, the only difference noticeable is her weaker, aging voice, which wouldn't be noticed if there were bigger changes to the songs themselves, and which ultimately ruins the songs for me. The idea behind this album is great, but the song choice is definetly wrong. Moreover, the only song she really improved was Flavor, while the other aforementioned two still pale in comparison to their majestic original versions. Flavor is the only reason this album gets a 3 instead of a 0. Also, Tori decided not to include any material from The Beekeeper and To Venus and Back, the two albums that have songs that would benefit the most from the orchestral changes, and she chooses songs like Girl Disappearing and Jackie's Strength (both with strings and piano), while the albums these songs are featured on have a large number of more experimental songs. All in all, a very unnecessary and forgettable release. Expand
  4. May 31, 2013
    3
    Fail. Gold Dust is a completely unnecessary record. Chock full of pretty strings, layers of emotionless vocals and as much autotune as a Britney Spears record, these "re-workings" don't hold a candle to the originals.
  5. Apr 19, 2014
    4
    I truly love some of these songs in their original form... but she hasn't added anything too new to the tracks. The vocals are much worse (bad production, not bad Tori-voice) and it's just not a dynamic sounding record. It sounds like she wanted to record her old songs again just like she did a decade ago with similarly boring results. Where's the life?
  6. Oct 16, 2012
    10
    This may be one of my favorite Tori Amos albums to date. Beautiful song choices. The emotion behind the songs are increadable. I was disappointed when I first found out it was an album of reworkings but I can not sstop listening to it. Why did i think Tori would disappoint, she never does.
  7. Nov 5, 2012
    8
    It is necessary to listen several times to find the true sense: the song "Marianne" (which for me went unseen in the album "Boys for Pele"), has an outstanding interpretation also thank the impulse that gives the orchestra. The same goes for "Flying Dutchman", "Maybe California" and "Cloud on my tongue". The songs that fewer caught my attention are "Snow cherries from France" and "GoldIt is necessary to listen several times to find the true sense: the song "Marianne" (which for me went unseen in the album "Boys for Pele"), has an outstanding interpretation also thank the impulse that gives the orchestra. The same goes for "Flying Dutchman", "Maybe California" and "Cloud on my tongue". The songs that fewer caught my attention are "Snow cherries from France" and "Gold dust", the would replace by the "Caught a lite sneeze" and "Spring haze" for saying some of the tori-pieces. Expand
  8. Jun 22, 2016
    7
    This project was an interesting attempt at creating more classical music tributes to her previous work, the only weakness is at times it comes across as a weak "Greatest Hits". Download: Flavor (Gold Dust Version), Programmable Soda (Gold Dust Version), Gold Dust (Gold Dust Version)
Metascore
68

Generally favorable reviews - based on 13 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 13
  2. Negative: 0 out of 13
  1. Magnet
    Dec 4, 2012
    80
    The tunes sound lustrous but Amos, the singer and writer, sounds richer. [No. 93, p.53]
  2. Mojo
    Nov 29, 2012
    80
    The orchestral setting tempers the mannered vocal tics of some originals and proves transformative. [Dec 2012, p.96]
  3. Q Magazine
    Oct 22, 2012
    40
    Often the orchestra feels under-used on what, for the most part, are some disappointingly inert reinterpretations. [Nov 2012, p.89]