Tori Amos invested such effort in the visual and lyrical concepts of "American Doll Posse," we wish we'd fallen for these ladies like we did for the titular character of Amos' "Scarlet's Walk" in 2002. The album's hefty 23 songs tell the stories of five female archetypes, and it's so ripe for feminist debate that Epic could market it to literary circles with dignity. Amos embodies each persona, shamelessly declaring herself a MILF ("Big Wheel"), a pubescent hussy ("Teenage Hustling") or whatever mantle fits the situation. Despite it being more rock-oriented than 2005's "The Beekeeper," this album isn't much of a sonic progression, and it takes a while for "Posse" to find its voice. But we bet a coffee klatch with these world-weary ladies would make "Desperate Housewives" look like little girls playing house. —Christa L. Titus