''Christmastide'' is an

extended play An extended play (EP) is a Sound recording and reproduction, musical recording that contains more tracks than a Single (music), single but fewer than an album. Contemporary EPs generally contain up to eight tracks and have a playing time of 1 ...

by singer and songwriter

Tori Amos Tori Amos (born Myra Ellen Amos; August 22, 1963) is an American singer-songwriter and pianist. She is a classically trained musician with a mezzo-soprano vocal range. Having already begun composing instrumental pieces on piano, Amos won a full ...

. Released on December 4, 2020,Tori Amos Announces New EP Christmastide
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Pitchfork A pitchfork or hay fork is an agricultural tool used to pitch loose material, such as hay, straw, manure, or leaves. It has a long handle and usually two to five thin tines designed to efficiently move such materials. The term is also applie ...

it is her second release to feature holiday-themed material after 2009's '' Midwinter Graces'', and the first of which to contain exclusively original material. "Better Angels" was released as a single preceding the EP on November 25, 2020.

Background and release

On the EP, Amos stated: The album was released to streaming, as a digital download, and on vinyl, with cover artwork by graphic artist Rantz Hoseley. While it did not chart on the US ''Billboard'' 200, it did reach number 79 on the Top Current Album Sales chart.

Reception

The EP received generally positive reviews from music critics, including a five-star score from the ''

Financial Times The ''Financial Times'' (''FT'') is a British daily newspaper printed in broadsheet and also published digitally that focuses on business and economic Current affairs (news format), current affairs. Based in London, the paper is owned by a Jap ...

''.

Track listing

All songs written by

. Side one # "Christmastide" – 3:45 # "Circle of Seasons" – 5:11 Side two # "Holly" – 3:39 # "Better Angels" – 4:00

Personnel

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Bösendorfer Bösendorfer (L. Bösendorfer Klavierfabrik GmbH) is an Austrian piano manufacturer and, since 2008, a wholly owned subsidiary of Yamaha Corporation. Bösendorfer is unusual in that it produces Imperial Bösendorfer, 97- and 92-Key (instrument) ...

piano, keyboards, vocals *

Matt Chamberlain Matthew Chamberlain (born April 17, 1967) is an American session drummer, record producer and songwriter. He has played with various artists, including Pearl Jam, Edie Brickell & New Bohemians, David Bowie, Tori Amos, Morrissey, The Wallflow ...

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drums The drum is a member of the percussion instrument, percussion group of musical instruments. In the Hornbostel–Sachs classification system, it is a membranophones, membranophone. Drums consist of at least one Acoustic membrane, membrane, c ...

, percussion *Jon Evans – bass guitar,

upright bass The double bass (), also known as the upright bass, the acoustic bass, the bull fiddle, or simply the bass, is the largest and lowest-pitched string instrument, chordophone in the modern orchestra, symphony orchestra (excluding rare additions ...

*Mac Aladdin – guitar *Tash – additional vocals (track 1)

Charts

References

{{Tori Amos 2020 EPs Decca Records EPs Tori Amos EPs