This year “Boys For Pele” turns 30yrs old.

It’s crazy that this album is 30yrs old. What seems like just yesterday, has been a chapter that has long passed. Now, Tori’s new studio album “In Times Of Dragons” will be here May 1st , 2026. This will be her 18th studio album accompanied with a summer tour.

“Boys For Pele” was an incredible album. One of her best in my opinion. The love I have for this album runs deep not only because it’s brilliant, it truly was the crutch that got me over the finish line.

I listened to this album (maybe too many times) through out a time in my life that I felt like I was losing everything, including myself.

Heartbroken, devastated, hurt, ashamed, lost, and alone… I turned to Pele for comfort and in return it gave me a bit of strength. Those nights I curled up in a ball on my bedroom floor, hoping the ground would just give way and swallow me. Life was painful and the tears were too much. There were nights I would cry so hard that my face was unrecognizable. My heart and spirit were shattered.

Pele would pick me up off the floor, light a candle and sandalwood incense, and dance wildly around my apartment that had no furniture besides a bed, a bean bag chair, and a dresser. Even today when I stare into a flame or watch the smoke from incense swirl in the air… I think of Pele

This album had so much strength yet haunting sadness. It was a voice in the darkness that embraced you or threw you into fits of rage. It was beautiful.

I’ve spent the last 30 years scotch-taping my heart & spirit back together and not very successfully (as we all know tape loses its grip eventually) but Pele has always been there to catch me.

“In the Springtime of his Voodoo”, “Talula” will still make me dance around my living room. While “Little Amsterdam” & “Professional Widow” still make me want to light a match and set it on fire ( they give off that “Precious Things” vibe)

But it’s always Pele’s silent pain that will haunt me… “Putting the Damage On” , “Doughnut Song”, “Hey Jupiter”, and mother fucking “Twinkle”.

Twinkle– is the heart & soul of this album. Back to Tori and her piano, mixing beauty, sadness, pain, love, forgiveness, happiness all in to a cauldron and teetering between light & dark.

There are days I park my car, stare in to the dark skies, and listen to “Twinkle”. it eases my worries to ask the skies “are they ok”, “do they know how much I still love them”, “can they feel my soul embrace them when the are feeling sad or scared”, “will the universe grant me forgiveness & understanding”, “am I going to be ok” So many questions go through my mind during a 3 minute song that feels like 40 seconds. So many worries, so much unsaid feelings, sometimes many tears… but there is a sense of love, forgiveness, and understanding that drives that song. It gives me the same feeling as “Somewhere Out There” from American Tail. It does! There is this big fucking sky, one moon, and you are sitting there underneath this gorgeous umbrella of stars , and your hoping your magick will reach them , grab their hand, kiss them on the cheek good night, and check in on their well being. It’s like giving them a hug from far away which in return heals you a bit each time.

Life lately? Well .. it’s been shit. This cold hearted, hateful, vengeful world is disgusting. Plus I’m tired of fighting to keep my head above water. I’m drowning but this time, on my own terms. There isn’t any accomplice .. it’s just me. Hi. I’m the problem. (Sorry I couldn’t resist) I have put myself here, cut away from living the “every day” life and took the leap in to fulfilling I dream I’ve had for a long time. It does make my heart happier, but it’s not very secure and at my age making these sacrifices are scary as hell. I have $200 to my name, no health insurance, an amount of debt, bills, big worries, some health concerns, a car that still hasn’t had an oil change, … and a sense that life is over the “half way over” mark. This is it… the grand finale of my life.

Looking around, is everything and everyone I love in the grand finale of my life? Am I where I want to be in this final chapters of my life’s story? Although I’m living my dream, I can’t help to think about the missing pieces that are still scattered like ash across this town. If I could get a big enough Dust Buster I would gather all of them up and place them in a jar for safe keeping. It’s hard to protect the people and things you care about when they are hiding from your view. It seems impossible to get through a day without thinking about them.

This world is so fucking heartless. I’m afraid I’m not cut out for it, and I won’t conform to it.

Maybe “In Times Of Dragons” is needed at this dark time? Terrifying….yet blissfully satisfying. Much like Pele.

I guess we’ll find out May 1st.