Obviously she's using harpsichord on the chorus, and it seems to be piano on the coda, but what is she playing on the verses and at the start of the bridge? Is it a Rhodes or organ on the verses? Do I then hear a Wurlitzer at the start of the bridge?
Your musicology skills are much appreciated.
Has anyone been to Laurel Lake in Erving yet this season? How's the water?
I already started celebrating this anniversary by spinning the vinyl twice this weekend.
I hope you are enjoying Blue Lotus as much as I am.
I am not the best at musicology. I know the 'these scars' section is a bridge, but then the song does not return to the regular verse or chorus, but a variation on the chorus. Is it still considered the chorus? Or is it another outro bridge? Genius thinks it's the chorus, but it feels significantly different to me. Notably the harpsichord does not return and the lyric structure is different.
Related: I love how Provincetown starts with the chorus.
So I am loving ITOD overall and after almost two weeks I feel ready to rank the album. I would rate it 8.5 altogether, what about you all? Please share your rankings!
S Tier
Tempest -- The build here is incredible.
Blue Lotus -- Does anyone else think this sounds a little like Fleetwood Mac at parts? Not in a derivative way...
A Tier
Shush -- This song is so powerful, love the rolling piano line
Song of Sorrow -- Epic Tori ballad, yes please.
Strawberry Moon -- This song is so pretty and moving
Veins -- Love this exploration of trauma. Great vocals.
Pyrite -- Groovy tune, love the rhodes here.
Angelshark -- Sha Hark is a quintessential Tori quirk.
B Tier
Gasoline Girls -- Really fun ditty, but fails to describe the Gasoline Girls in any way. Missed opportunity with those gals, who get mentioned many times but we never get to know them.
St Theresa -- Really dig the vibe here, but it's a little derivative and I can only hear 'kissed by god' so many times.
23 Peaks -- This is ethereal and epic sounding, but it doesn't really go anywhere. Not getting the hype.
C Tier
Provincetown -- Dig the chorus a lot, but the verses are too lyrically tortured and direct.
ITOD -- Same problem as Provincetown and also the music on the verses is plodding and never goes anywhere.
Flood -- Musically, this seems like a retread of Flowers Burn to Gold to me. I get it's supposed to be the nadir of the album, but for me Song of Sorrow is enough of a nadir and this just feels slow and uninspired.
Fanny Faudrey -- Cute, but a throwaway really
D Tier
Ode to Minnesota -- Why? Says almost nothing. Can't believe ITOD was delayed for this.
Stronger Together -- Saccharine tripe.
NYT left Tori off their greatest living American songwriters list and I think that's bunk. Let's get her on the reader's list. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/04/27/magazine/greatest-american-songwriters-vote.html