The Other Side Of The Mirror is a very dark album

[michelej1]

Originally Posted by mikebise

I've always felt the darkness of TOSOTM, even under the frothiness of it's production. Even the album art is very dark; it's almost nightmarish, really. The never-ending darkness all around her except for the one harshly illuminated spot on the checkered floor where Stevie is on her hands and knees.

I do think the album art is interesting. People here have made me laugh as they mocked her contorted position on the floor and it's become an object of ridicule, which I think is perfectly on target.

Still, I've always been intrigued by the choice that went into that shot. I don't see it as dark, but I do see the floor as cold, domestic (kitchen or diner) and quite unlike Stevie. I'd expect her to be walking on plush carpeting, earth, even clouds, not kneeling on a checkered floor.

Contrasted with her dress, I almost feel like that floor is a magnet, the only thing keeping her grounded and tied to reality. It's a touchstone and anchor. It's Kansas. She's subservient and bends to it, because if she breaks contact with the floor she might just float off, to the other side, never to be retrieved.

Michele