Voices of strength, distinction

Mark Brown, Rocky Mountain News

Published May 8, 2007 at midnight

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Bjork

Volta, Elektra Records

Grade: B

Tori Amos

American Doll Posse, Epic Records

Grade: A

Two of modern music's most distinctive female voices return with albums that showcase their greatest strengths.

American Doll Posse is another concept album from Tori Amos that's all over the map. As in past projects, she has created a series of characters (with their own online blogs) and a narrative that's hard to follow. Doesn't matter - the songs are brilliant, from the straight-up protest song Yo George to the moody Beauty of Speed.

Father's Son epitomizes everything good about Amos' work, consisting mostly of just voice and piano, lush, emotive, soulful and instantly accessible. Secret Spell is another gem, poppy and insistent and an easy favorite.

The melodic Body and Soul rocks hard, with Amos' toughest, most confident vocals in years. Despite occasional missteps, including the regrettable Sgt. Pepper-influenced Programmable Soda, this is among Amos' best albums.

Bjork's Volta delivers the experimental, unpredictable Bjork that fans love. But this time the songs are a little more traditionally structured, with her undeniable voice front and center.

Like Amos, Bjork doesn't feel confined to a style or genre. Pneumonia is almost operatic, with minimalist horns behind her soaring vocals. Declare Independence is an insistent industrial beat with Bjork exhorting "Declare independence / Don't let them do that to you" over an increasingly frantic backing track. She harmonizes with herself to great effect on Hope.

It's still Bjork, so it's still weird, and you often can't figure out what the heck she's singing about. Even though she remains an acquired taste, the eclectic sweep and accessible sounds of Volta could pull in a few more fans.

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