Epic Records
Release Date: September 15th 2023
Reviewed by: Joshua Andre
Tori Kelly– tori (Deluxe) (Amazon mp3/iTunes)
Track Listing:
- cut
- missin u
- shelter
- unbelievable (feat. Ayra Starr)
- alive if I die
- young gun (feat. Jon Bellion)
- missin u (R&B edit)
- shelter (Live From Vevo)
- alive if I die (Live From Vevo)
- missin u (R&B edit) (Live From Vevo)
For virtually all of my life (except for the last few years!), I’ve been listening to Christian music. And only Christian music. In the past, I had this widely misinformed perception that Christians should only listen to Christian music, and that anything else was me walking down the wide road and not living by what Jesus has in store for me. Anything else was me straying and walking away from Jesus. Yet my perception of mainstream music changed in general when I started my blog posts about music artists who I deem to be influential in the coming years. Tori Kelly, one of my favourite female artists (and one of my favourite solo artists), was one of the few mainstream artists, whom I blogged about, that has recently changed my whole perception of what type of music God can and often does use to draw people closer to himself. And that goes for anyone really- God can use anyone He wants to bring people to Himself- and that might be a hard thing to get your head around, but it’s true. Anyway, enough philosophical deep thinking for this post- now it’s time to dive into Tori’s latest EP, the self-titled tori. Tori has had a rough go of it of late (with her being in hospital and now being released!); and let us thank God that she’s ok now. But with everything now put in perspective, let’s remember that however Tori wants to celebrate this EP, that’ll be ok, and we don’t have a right to say that this is how she should market the release or that way is how she should market it. While you can check out who Tori is all about in my blog instalment, as well as my review of her gospel album Hiding Place; Tori recently revealed an extended version of tori, aptly titled tori (Deluxe). The follow-up to her 2020 quarantine EP Solitude and her 2020 Christmas album A Tori Kelly Christmas, the track list is the original 7 tracks as well as 3 new in studio tracks- “shelter (Live From Vevo)”, “alive if I die (Live From Vevo)” and “missin u (R&B edit) (Live From Vevo)”. With the original track list being a short 7 song mini-album standing at only 20 minutes; we are introduced to an immense intimate experience, and one of the most emotional, honest and vulnerable projects of 2023! With the three added newly recorded renditions of three of the songs; the album feels ‘finished’ or ‘complete’, but I would’ve wanted probably more tracks- original or acoustic or remix or anything else. 10 tracks is too short, and once you are ‘into’ an album, it ends, and that’s the only drawback.
For one reason or another, I never managed to review Inspired By True Events, the second full length album from Tori. It was one of those albums which we wanted to review but never got around to it. However, I jumped at the chance to voice my opinion here- given how much I have enjoyed Tori’s previous original material, and especially Hiding Place; and the results of the EP remind me that Tori is a force to be reckoned with in the mainstream music market- and the fact that she’s going to change the world someday with her music. You can read Jon’s glowing endorsement of Tori’s Christmas album and also the standard edition of tori; but as we are here to dive deep into how the last three songs on this version, we will briefly touch upon whether these songs add or subtract to the overall vibe and atmosphere of the album.
I’ve already voiced my opinion on tori, and that doesn’t really change here. It’s a solid release, and though the three re-recorded songs (live from VEVO) don’t really enhance this EP, it doesn’t make this release stale or inferior or awkward- simply because Tori is still an incredible singer and these songs still ring true and are impacting. Sure, I probably would have wanted a little bit more variety. But that nit-pick is neither here nor there.
Tori Kelly surprised us all in a good way with her pop album Unbreakable Smile in 2015, and even more with the gospel/worship Hiding Place in 2018. Inspired By True Events in 2019 was a sleeper hit, which I actually slept on and never listened to the album (and now it’s time for me to change that fact!); and Tori continued with the music successes with Solitude EP and A Tori Kelly Christmas. With a wide range of genres that Tori has experimented with in the past, it’s anybody’s guess as to what future albums will sound like. But with such a rich lyrical meaning in these songs, as well a deep meaning in this EP tori (deluxe); I reckon Tori’s upcoming untitled full-length album (whenever that releases!), isn’t to be missed! So…what are you waiting for? Even if you aren’t a fan of Tori (yet!), check out tori (deluxe), and let us know your thoughts. And well done, Tori- I’m more than interested to hear what God has in store for you next!
3 songs to listen to: shelter, alive if I die, missin u (R&B edit) (live from Vevo)
Score: 4.5/5
RIYL: 1GN, Cimorelli, Selena Gomez, Britt Nicole, Taylor Swift, Lecrae, Tauren Wells, Hollyn, Alessia Cara