Scarlet's Walk
by Tori Amos
  • Record Label: Epic
  • Release Date: Oct 29, 2002
Metascore
76

Generally favorable reviews - based on 21 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 21
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 21
  3. Negative: 1 out of 21
  1. E! Online
    67
    Walk isn't groundbreaking as much as typical Tori Amos--a dramatic menagerie of atmospheric tracks filled with manic piano, morose characters and so many literary allusions you'll need CliffsNotes to figure 'em out.
  2. Alternative Press
    80
    The new album's themes show that Amos is energized with stories to tell once again - making Scarlet's Walk at once ambitious and also one of her most moving collections yet. [Nov 2002]
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  3. AllMusic
    80
    It marks a return to the sound and feel of Under the Pink and is her best album since then.
  5. Austin Chronicle
    89
    Scarlet's Walk not only evinces Amos' musical maturation, it's also the singer's most ambitious lyrical work.
  6. Blender
    100
    Uncommonly rich and unfashionably gynocentric, Scarlet's Walk makes the personal universal, using the stories of women lost, left and unseen to chart a map of the American psyche. [#11, p.124]
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  7. Uncut
    80
    One of Amos' most deeply felt, spiritually astute and finest albums. [Dec 2002, p.138]
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  8. Stylus Magazine
    70
    Yes, it’s a concept album, but it’s not crap. Actually, Scarlet’s Walk is very suitable for an artist with Amos’ capacity for spewing drama from her intense and highly articulated words.
  9. Amazon.com
    90
    The album serves as both an ambitious travelogue and as a graceful rejoinder to the bitterness and frustration that inspired it, with Amos wading through swells of sadness ("I Can't See New York"), anger ("Don't Make Me Come to Vegas"), and insecurity ("Your Cloud") with velvety grace.
  10. Launch.com
    70
    Musically, the tunes are more cohesive this time around, with more of a "band" feel then simply people accompanying Amos and her Bosendorfer.
  11. The A.V. Club
    70
    Amid all the elegantly sweeping, minor-key arrangements are the usual aggravating moments.
  12. Flak Magazine
    70
    This is where Scarlet's Walk falters: Its concept is unfathomable.
  13. Spin
    90
    As usual, her melodies stubbornly refuse to turn into hooks, preferring to twirl into new territory. But her approach suits the material, which flows like the colors on a weather map, from Los Angeles to Nevada, from New York to Virginia, gathering thunder along the way. [Nov 2002]
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  14. Billboard
    80
    Similar to the artist's Under the Pink in tone and continuity, Scarlet demands repeated spins to fully appreciate its chapters' musical and lyrical complexities.
  15. PopMatters
    90
    As ambitious as anything in recent pop music memory.... One of the most invigorating and arresting works of her career.
  16. Trouser Press
    90
    A magnificent, epic take on American history and mythology.

Awards & Rankings

88
#88 Best Album of 2002
19
#19 Most Discussed Album of 2002
4
#4 Most Shared Album of 2002

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.9

Universal acclaim- based on 212 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 198 out of 212
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 212
  3. Negative: 14 out of 212
  1. mrLemonade
    Apr 14, 2013
    8
    Beautiful voice, lyrics and arrangements. Other than being a piece of art, it is also a great road trip album! Personal favourites: A SortaBeautiful voice, lyrics and arrangements. Other than being a piece of art, it is also a great road trip album! Personal favourites: A Sorta Fairytale, Mrs Jesus, Taxi Ride, I Can't See New York… Full Review »
  2. budgiecat
    Feb 11, 2012
    10
    Not only is she pulling off a great album with no filler tracks, she's pulling of a great 19-SONG album with no filler tracks. The albumNot only is she pulling off a great album with no filler tracks, she's pulling of a great 19-SONG album with no filler tracks. The album unravels like some classic road movie, and it certainly doesn't feel one second too long. I firmly agree with the user review by Karen - one of the things that makes Tori Amos so special is that she is simply sharing her personal and private world with us, unedited. The lyrics are definitely not mumbo jumbo, I'd rather say they're like a stream of consciousness in a similar literary vein to James Joyce, but where with Joyce the reader has to rely on intellectual effort, with Tori Amos this kind of literal understanding is not necessary because the music and the voice give so many emotional and spiritual clues to what the meaning behind the words is. I disagree with JoeSixpack's view that this album is overcompressed, let alone the most overcompressed of our times. I wonder if JoeSixpack has heard any chart pop over the past 10 years. No, this is a beautifully engineered album, as well as produced, written and performed.… Full Review »
  3. Mark
    Apr 28, 2007
    10
    Several years after it's release I keep returning to this album. For those of you out there listening only to MP3's, do yourself a Several years after it's release I keep returning to this album. For those of you out there listening only to MP3's, do yourself a favor and get the CD and a good stereo. You'll be amazed at what you've been missing and how good the production is. On "I Can't See New York," the first crash of the piano after "Is there a signal there" lyric will take your breath away. I rate this album as tied with Little Earthquakes as my favorite Tori album, but having a slight edge due to the quality of the sound engineering.… Full Review »
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