|
| The Beekeeper | 
 enlarge | Artist: Tori Amos
Label: Sony
Category: Music
List Price: $13.98
Buy Used: $1.75
You Save: $12.23 (87%)
New (49) Used (42) Collectible (1) from $1.75
Avg. Customer Rating:  337 reviews
Sales Rank: 3898
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
MPN: 92800
UPC: 827969280027
EAN: 0827969280027
ASIN: B00076EPQM
Release Date: February 22, 2005
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
|
| Tracks:
| • | Parasol | | • | Sweet The Sting | | • | The Power of Orange Knickers- Featuring Damien Rice | | • | Jamaica Inn | | • | Barons Of Suburbia | | • | Sleeps With Butterflies | | • | General Joy | | • | Mother Revolution | | • | Ribbons Undone | | • | Cars And Guitars | | • | Witness | | • | Original Sinsuality | | • | Ireland | | • | The Beekeeper | | • | Martha's Foolish Ginger | | • | Hoochie Woman | | • | Goodbye Pisces | | • | Marys Of The Sea | | • | Toast Album | | • | Toast |
|
| Similar Items:
|
| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
After Scarlet's Walk, Tori Amos' 2002 ambitious sonic travelogue that took her to all 50 states, penning love letters to America along the way, the fiery earth-sprite has fashioned another high-minded concept album, tying her 19 songs--and one not-so-hidden track--into a garden motif that's part a retelling of Alice In Wonderland, another A Little Shop of Horrors. The Beekeeper chronicles her rather autobiographical protagonist's journey through what seems to be an overgrown labyrinth of the subconscious as she experiences a series of life-altering events and emotions. In addition, living in Cornwall for the past decade has certainly had an effect on Amos, she even takes inspiration from Daphne Du Maurier's classic novel Jamaica Inn, which takes place on that rugged seacoast, but the greatest change is the grit in her voice; on a song like "Hoochie Woman," she sounds like she's channeling Chrissie Hynde--a welcome change from some of the preciousness of her earlier work. She also surprises with the steely, eloquent resolve on a song like "Goodbye Pisces" one of the better break-up songs in recent memory. The Beekeeper returns the quirky singer to the same whimsical terrain of 1992's Little Earthquakes, but with much stronger storylines, and a much more assured and nuanced voice. Her best yet. --Jaan Uhelszki Recommended Tori-phernalia 
Tori Amos: Piece by Piece | 
Tori Amos - Welcome to Sunny Florida | 
Little Earthquakes | 
Under the Pink | 
Tales of a Librarian | 
Scarlet's Walk |
Album Description
The limited edition package with a bonus DVD - footage includes a candid conversation with Tori Amos talking about the inspiration and theme for The Beekeeper and the bonus track "Garlands". The limited edition package groups the 19 songs into 6 different gardens- Roses and Thorns, Herbs and Elixers, The Desert Garden, The Greenhouse, The Orchard and The Rock Garden. To complement this garden theme the package includes a "Beekeeper" mix of flower and plant seeds.
Album Description
Another installment in the fabulously successful 'All That' series. 3CD's beautifully packaged together, featuring tracks from such artists as Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Eartha Kitt, Marlene Dietrich and many more. Warner. 2005.
|
| Customer Reviews: Read 332 more reviews...
 Caught by The Beekeeper--and that's fine! February 22, 2005
104 out of 134 found this review helpful
Tori Amos has again released yet another CD that has beautiful depth, meaning, heart and soul. Although certainly everyone will have their preferences as to which songs they really like on this nineteen (yes, nineteen) track album, there is no doubt that she is progressing both in her vocal abilities as well as her ability of expression. Obviously, her voice was always something special; but what excites me is that she is still progressing and I love to see that in an artist. More proof she's progressing: a Hammond B3 organ has been added into the musical arrangement! Also look for Kelsey Dobyns on background vocals.
Do I have a favorite song on this CD? Actually, I have more than one favorite. I just couldn't set aside only one song as "the" best in my opinion. For one thing, I really liked "Hoochie Woman," Here Tori perfectly captures the personality she sings about and the arrangement is very, very good! "Goodbye Pisces" is an awesome song about the feelings you can have when ending a romance. Tori also does a duet with Damien Rice entitled "The Power of Orange Knickers;" while certainly this is an unusual song title (!) their voices compliment each others' perfectly and it sounds beautiful. "Parasol" is deep with anger yet so typical of the person who's conflicted about letting out the anger. "Sweet the Sting" is sexy but I personally thought she sang it somewhat romantically, so for me personally the song works on more than one level. Finally, the CD concludes with "Toast," a song sprung out of her brother's recent death. Not only does Tori deal with her pain by writing about it she bravely shares her pain with her audience. Anybody who has ever lost a loved one (and that's almost everyone) can identify with this hurt.
All in all, this latest CD by Tori is not only based on her real life experiences and our universal experiences but it is a deeply touching and emotional journey. This proves that Tori is an incredibly accomplished artist. (As if we didn't know that before, right?) The prospect of her continuing to develop is even more exciting. This CD is a must for Tori's fans; and if you're not a fan you should do yourself a favor and try this album out for a very good experience. Even if it doesn't hit you square in the face the first time, give it a chance and you won't have to argue with anyone about listening to it over and over again.
Amos Reaches New Heights With 'The Beekeeper' February 22, 2005
88 out of 111 found this review helpful
With her newest creation, "The Beekeeper," Tori Amos has proven herself an ever-evolving musical force, never content to rest on her laurels or stick to a tried-and-true formula. With the lengthy collection of 19 tracks, separated into six themed 'gardens', the CD runs 80 minutes long and is full of both quality lyrics and intriguing subject matter where the red-haired pianist delves into the biblical history, ancient myths and the relationship between parent and child that transcends death and the passing of time.
The disc begins with one of her sharpest opening tracks, "Parasol," a tale concerning deep shock of betrayal. "The Power of Orange Knickers," which features vocals by singer/songwriter Damien Rice, finds Amos articulating betrayal on a grander scale, likening each human soul to a terrorist in the sense that we obliterate our innermost truths:
"Can somebody tell me now/Who is this terrorist/Those girls that smile kindly/Then rip your life to pieces?/Can somebody tell me now/Who is this terrorist/This little pill in my hand/That keeps the pain laughing?"
In "Marys of the Sea" Amos waxes on the largely unknown biblical story of Mary Magdelene, a recurring theme in her music, chronicling her journey after fleeing Jerusalem to the south of France, while opening herself off to fear in the context of Irish mythology with one of her most luxurious melodies yet, "Jamaica Inn."
Another exemplary track is "Sleeps With Butterflies," the set's lead single which finds the artist outrightly explaining what she needs, addressing the need for give and take between male and female to make a relationship work:
"I don't hold onto the tail of your kite/I'm not like the girls that you've known/But I believe I'm worth coming home to/Kiss away night/This girl only sleeps with butterflies/So go on and fly then boy."
The lyrical highlight of the disc comes with the heart-rendering title track, where Amos confronts her fears of her mother's mortality and the fact that they will one day have to part, mentioning her brother who was killed in a car crash this past November:
"Don't be afraid I/Promise that she will awake/Tomorrow somewhere/Wrap yourself around the tree of life/And the dance of the infinity of the hive/Take this message to Michael."
Furthemore, she reflects on her deep love and appreciation for her daughter in "Ribbons Undone," delivers one of her most savory melodies yet with "Cars and Guitars" and makes commentary on the war effort with the endearing "General Joy." She also adds a dash of humor to infidelity with "Hoochie Woman":
"He called me up and said `she has needs'/I said `you'll find `em on Barney's fourth floor'."
"The Beekeeper" is also available in a limited edition package that includes a bonus DVD with further insight into the album by Amos along with another song, "Garlands." Her newly released book "Piece By Piece," co-written with music journalist Ann Powers, has also been released to coincide with the new album and includes further detail on her creative process.
 Y Kant Tori Get Another Producer? March 7, 2005
27 out of 33 found this review helpful
I have been a Tori fan since Little Earthquakes. I went through all the stages of Toriphile obsession - bought all the singles, went to all the shows, scoured record shops for bootlegs, etc. It seems like in the last 5 years I haven't enjoyed her new albums. It's not just that her work changes - many great artists (like Bjork) evolve with each album. It's the quality of the music and lyrics that seem to actually be degrading as the years go by. I have been buying her new albums in the hope that she will give us something new that equals the brilliance of Little Earthquakes or Under the Pink - not just adding electronic beats or increasingly vague and kooky lyrics. Obviously, her lyrical style is much more straightforward on The Beekeeper, but this only leaves nothing to the imagination except for some incredibly cliched beats and phrases. Even her lovely piano playing has taken a back seat creatively. I had such a bad taste in my mouth after listening to this album, I had to give LE a play just to wash it away!
"You're just an empty cage girl if you kill the bird."
save your money February 23, 2005
25 out of 47 found this review helpful
Once upon a time Tori Amos was concerned with making music, and not with releasing "concept" albums in special "limited editions" with packaging that falls apart after 2 months, forcing you to buy another copy of the disc....
But marketing ploys aside, this album is a waste of money. Go ahead and download it, because you're better off not hearing Tori fully articulate the horror of the line "driving in my saab" on the track "Ireland," which apparently she considers *music* and not the greatest mistake ever put on tape, or hear her talk about "being a car" on the "bonus" dvd, or hear her try to sing "sha na na na's" over and over again. ugh.
Some of these songs are flat out embarassing: Hoochie Woman, Ireland, Cars and Guitars, The Power of Orange Knickers -- I could keep going but soon I will have named the entire disc.
I've been a Tori fan since 1996, and I don't think she has made a decent album since from the choigirl hotel. Sadly this artist's time has passed -- and she knows it, as evidenced by her desperate need to cling to Hollywood's standard of beauty instead of her self-respect.
Some fans will tell you this album just needs to grow on you -- but unless you're deeply impressed with the vocal range of Sarah McLachlin do not bother buying this. Tori seems to refuse to sing in anything other than this hideous nasal tone now. The piano is mostly covered up by bland bass and drums. The lyrics are -- silly, at best.
It's boring, bland, pop, adult contemporary. I understand she's over 40 now, and hopefully she'll go back to being a mother and stop making such trite, useless music.
Meanwhile, I'm putting my copy up for sale, along with her "book," which reads as if it were thrown together using Anne Powers emails and a glue stick.
 Disappointed after all these years... February 25, 2005
24 out of 36 found this review helpful
Since the day I heard Tori in 1992, I have been enthralled by her music. There have always been songs that I liked less than others (and some that never did grow on me), but what kept me coming back album after album, tour after tour, was her edge. The woman knows how to twist a phase as craftily as any noteworthy poet, and the raw passion that pours from her fingers into her pianos brings every story to life. She's never been afraid to skip cheerfully out on a musical limb and dare her listeners to follow.
Therefore, I am overwhelmingly saddened by The Beekeeper. Instead of onto the next limb, it seems she's leading us to the ground for a nap in the tree's shade. I'm sure that maturity, motherhood, marriage, and success, have mellowed the siren somewhat, but I can't get over the "adult contemporary soft rock" sound that permeates this installment. I hate to say that the "suffering artist" produces the best results, but I do hope she will one day resume her tightrope walk and invite us for the show. As for future Tori albums, I will do what I've never done before--listen before I buy.
|
|
|
Powered by Associate-O-Matic
| |
