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PopMatters

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.

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Hot Press

Further mystical adventures from grunge-era Kate Bush.

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Billboard

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.

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Los Angeles Times

A 17-song steam trunk of an album, the new collection strikes a canny balance between Victorian-inspired decadence, mythical pathos and arch camp.

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Entertainment Weekly

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.

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Slant Magazine

But even with its bloated running time, Sin is more thematically satisfying and sonically adventurous than anything Amos has recorded in years.

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Drowned In Sound

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.

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The Onion (A.V. Club)

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.

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Under The Radar

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]

Q Magazine

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]

musicOMH.com

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.

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All Music Guide

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.

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Rolling Stone

The result is a set of prog-inspired balladry with less bounce than her last disc.

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Spin

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.

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Sputnikmusic

Abnormally Attracted to Sin is, by quite some distance, her weakest album yet.

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Uncut

Toris 10th refuses to gel into anything illuminating. [Jun 2009, p.83]

Mojo

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]

What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this album is 8.3 (out of 10) based on 46 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Kean gave it a9:
I didn't like it the first time I listen to it. But when I tried to listen to it again I finally got it. Its one of her best albums in years. I didn't enjoy an album of hers like this since From The Choirgirl Hotel. Great stuff indeed!

heather k gave it a6:
I listened to this album over a 2 days span which I think helped. It could have been shorter cutting a few songs in the middle that went on and on, making this a much better album overall. I loved mary jane (who doesnt?). This might be one you have to listen to a few times to really appreciate.

Daniel R gave it a10:
This is another great production of Tori Amos. If someone were expecting another Little Earthquakes or Under the Pink, he's gonna be dissapointed. Im my case, i've learned to hear her records alone without keep constantly comparing one album to another. This record – just like all the others - has it’s richness of it’s own and it’s wonderful. She’s going to different directions, but always keeping her trademark. She does perfectly with synths and guitars. The songs Abnormally Attracted to Sin, Give and Lady in Blue are ones of her best songs ever. And I just love her political and theological views as she shows in Strong Black Vine and Flavour. This album must be heard at least four times to be understood. Once you have an open hear and mind, you’ll eventually love this record.

Frank M gave it a9:
From a personal point of view: I have been listening to Tori since her first album. It is so refreshing that she is willing to grow and change. With her talent she could bend things and make a record seling album if she wanted to but instead she continues to do what she loves and stays honest about it. Much respect. Notice this album isn't a high output, venting outlet but it is as if she is in the same room with you, You get Tori Amos....if you don't like it ..don't buy it. She has already proved herself.

mitchell k gave it a9:
I consider myself to be one of Tori's biggest fans - and this album instantly became one of my favorites. Yes, it is a little long, but I don't understand why that is still a shock to people. Tori has stated many times that she is more than happy to put songs that don't necessarily fit in with the material in order to give her fans a more expansive view into her vision for the record. If you don't like the song, hit the skip button - it is there for a reason. As for the content on the album, some of the strongest material she has written in years is found here. Songs like Starling and Flavor show Tori's ability to send shivers (quite literally) down the spine while Maybe California and Ophelia remind us how powerful a piano can actually be. Tori hasn't been this affecting in nearly a decade. Sin, in this case, is quite delectable.

Guy M gave it a3:
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.

Muz S gave it a5:
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?

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