"Little Earthquakes" is the debut solo album by American singer-songwriter Tori Amos, released in January 6, 1992. The album fuses diverse influences, including alternative rock, baroque pop, and piano rock, together with introspective lyrics. It has been considered Amos' most personal and accessible work, and it was regarded as a breakthrough for female artists in the early 1990s.
Prior to "Little Earthquakes," Amos was the lead vocalist of the synth-pop band Y Kant Tori Read, which released one, self-titled album that turned out to be a commercial failure. Soon after, Amos began to record solo material. Many of the songs on "Little Earthquakes" were inspired by real-life events and struggles, including the harrowing account of sexual assault in "Me and a Gun" and the search for self-identity in "Silent All These Years".
Critically, "Little Earthquakes" was well-received by most critics, who praised Amos' candid lyricism and refreshing sound. It reached number 14 on the UK Albums chart and number 54 on the US Billboard 200. Its success led to four single releases: "Silent All These Years," "China," "Winter," and "Crucify." All four songs were featured on the Billboard Hot 100, and their accompanying music videos received ample airplay on MTV.
Today, "Little Earthquakes" is regarded as a landmark album of the 1990s. It set the standard for Amos' subsequent work and propelled her to fame. Since its release, the album has been cited by several music writers and critics as a seminal record of its era, with its influence being felt in the work of numerous other artists.
