Tori Amos - In Times of Dragons (2026)
I can see what it’s aiming for, and this time it works enough to hold together. The album has a clear identity and direction, and I stay engaged with it more than I expected. It doesn’t feel scattered — it feels intentional.
What carries it is the consistency of tone. Even when individual tracks don’t fully land, the overall atmosphere keeps me inside the album. There’s a seriousness to it that I respect, and it gives the project weight.
At the same time, it never quite reaches the level where it fully locks in. The songs don’t rise enough, and the emotional peaks feel restrained. I keep waiting for a moment that really opens up, but it mostly stays within the same range.
It ends up being solid and coherent, but slightly frustrating — like it has everything in place except the final push that would make it hit harder.
Pros
Strong authorial identity → the album feels fully hers, with a clear conceptual and sonic worldEmotional intent is present → there’s a real sense of seriousness and purpose behind the writing
Textural richness → piano work and arrangements create a layered, organic soundscape
Cons
Chorus lift remains limited → very few moments fully open up or feel inevitable
Album pacing is uneven → the length starts to dilute the strongest ideas
Emotional delivery lacks ambiguity → more direct writing reduces long-term impact
Genre: Art Pop
Country: US
Final Verdict: 66% (Good Album)
Yearly Ranking: 95th / 354
Highlight: Tempest
Made me think of:
Kate Bush
Fiona Apple
PJ Harvey
#newalbum #newalbum2026 #albumrelease #newmusic #albumoftheday #nowspinning #NowPlaying #musicdiscovery
#ArtPop #ToriAmos #US
#LP #Album #release
