Tori Amos' latest was inevitable for the conservatory-trained renegade: a song cycle inspired by European classical music, clad in strings and woodwinds. It doesn't rock, but it waltzes, spinning a tale involving animated trees, demons and what may be peyote cactus tea. There are pretty moments: the clarinet-piano duet "Seven Sisters," the tag-team vocals on "The Chase," the lush closer, "Carry." But often it feels like musical theater in need of a stage production. Perhaps Tim Burton is available?

Listen to "Carry":

Related
• Video: Tori Amos on Embracing Classical Music

“Tonight's the Night”

The lead cut and title track from this girl group's debut album, "Tonight's the Night" was written by 19-year-old bandmember Shirley Owens, who sings lead, and producer Luther Dixon. The band from Passaic, New Jersey met in high school, first calling themselves the Pequellos. The song's frank thoughts about sexual and emotional surrender was racy for the time, but that didn't stop the Chiffons from cutting a similar version immediately after the original came out. "We were the first female group to write some of our own material," band member Beverly Lee recalls. "We did have some say-so in our writing."