Beekeeper, The (Limited Edition/+DVD) - Tori Amos > Reviews > You're Just Too Used To My Honey, Babe

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Average
Lyrics	Standard
Quality and consistency of tracks	Mixed
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Average
Value for Money	Satisfactory

Advantages:	Plenty to choose from
Disadvantages:	Not up to her usual standards

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

'The Beekeeper' is the latest offering from Tori Amos, the multi-talented singer/songwriter from Baltimore. Let's face it, you either love her or hate her. Her eclectic mixes of pumping backgrounds, sweet melodies and screaming lyrics a la 'From The Choirgirl Hotel' are a thing of the past, and with her tenth album Ms Amos is definately showing a more mellow side.

But on to the tracks! She hasn't disappointed us, with 19 songs stuffed onto a single CD. Playlist below...

1. Parasol - about insecurity and betrayal, and although it isn't stated explictly I believe this deals with marital violence and abuse.
"I will be safe in my frame"

2. Sweet The Sting - facing something you don't want to, but can't rest until it is resolved.
"Can it heal where others before have failed?"

3. The Power Of Orange Knickers - duet with Damien Rice about the effects and causes of terrorism.
"Can someone tell me now, who is this terrorist, those girls that smile kindly, then rip your life to pieces?"

4. Jamacia Inn - again loosely based on betrayal, and those who take advantage of the vulnerable
"The sexiest thing is trust"

5. Barons Of Suburbia - a critical look at those who rule society, which although is based in American administration is also applicable to our country.
"I am piecing a potion to combat your poison"

6. Sleeps With Butterflies - the first single from the album, and that's all you can really say. It's pretty, and Tori's voice is beautiful, but it's nothing spectacular. Basically about the first tentative steps of a relationship, about giving not taking.
"I won't push you unless you have a net"

7. General Joy - about the Iraq war, I believe, but it could be any recent war really.
"They have Liberty gagged"

8. Mother Revolution - again about war, and the revolution of mothers sending their children to war. It's a hypothetical solution, but she makes a point - those at the top don't send their children to get butchered, it's always someone else's kids.
"You could've had me right there beside you"

9. Ribbons Undone - pure, unadulterated love from a parent to their child. Heartbreakingly honest.
"It is her time, so watch her run, with ribbons undone"

10. Cars And Guitars - a more upbeat take on the break up of a relationship, exploring the reasons behind splits.
"It never was the cars and guitars that came between us"

11. Witness - touches on crimes against humanity, and the pain one person can cause another, both willingly and unknowingly.
"But words are like guns when you shoot the moon"

12. Original Sinsuality - about twin to the Garden of Eden, and how the fall of Eve was no fall at all.
"Original Sin? No I don't think so"

13. Ireland - If anyone can figure out what she is on about, let me know!

14. The Beekeeper - Tori's account of her pleading to the Beekeeper to spare her mother's life - the Beekeeper is a god-like figure who looks after the 'hives' in the 'garden': in other words the world.
"'Do you know who I am?' she said, 'I'm the one who taps you on the shoulder when it's your time'"

15. Martha's Foolish Ginger - meeting up with someone from your past, and the repercussions that the meeting can have.
"If those harbour lights had just been a half mile inland, who knows what I would have done"

16. Hoochie Woman - I seriously hope this is Tori being satirical, because this is so cheesy it's unbelieveable. Basically, the woman in the song is moving after finding out her man has cheated on her.
"He called me up and said 'she has needs' I said 'you'll find 'em on Barneys fourth floor'"

17. Goodbye Pisces - A very eloquent break-up song, using Tori's love of classical mythology as an example.
"So how will I go back on the shelf with a smile to the customer and say on sale by the owner"

18. Marys Of The Sea - based on the hidden gospel of Mary Magdelene, the woman some people beleive had a relationship with Christ, this covers Mary's life after Jesus dies.
"Last time I checked he came to light the lamp for everyone"

19. Toast - a touching finale to the album, which the narrator letting go of someone who means everything to them so that person can move on.
"Cos standing by, on your right, is Mr Bojangles, with a toast he's telling me it's time"

That's quite a selection. and there are *some* gems on there. The wistful 'Toast' in particular pulls at the heartstrings, while 'Ribbons Undone' which Tori wrote about her daughter, is very moving. As you can tell by the short recap I've given about each track, Tori is getting quite philosphical these days, and after the birth of Natashya, there has been a definate absence of the firey defience that most of her earlier albums pulsated with.

However, there are some duds too, which is unusual for a Tori album. Whatever possessed her to record 'Hoochie Woman' had clearly spent too much time on the ganja, and 'Marys of the Sea' while in theory a great premise (the Gospel of Mary Magdelene) just drags on and on till you want to throw the CD player across the room

As far as technique is concerned, the real difference on 'Beekeeper' is the use of a Hammond organ in conjunction with Tori's beloved Bosendorfer piano. It affects the whole album by creating the mellow combination of light and deep notes. Tori also uses an awful lot of backing singers, especially to do voice effects in the background - listen out for the 'oohs' on Witness. This can get very annoying - Witness itself irritates the hell out of me.

Unfortunately, sometimes Less Is More, and I think here the removal of a couple of tracks, such as the drab 'Ireland' and 'Barons Of Suburbia' would have done the album no end of good. On the first listen, the only tracks that stand out are 'Parasol' and 'Hoochie Woman' - only because I was laughing the whole way through it. Everything else sounds very similar until you've listened to the individual tracks a few times.

The bonus edition of The Beekeeper comes with a bonus DVD, with the extra track Garlands on it. This plays almost as an autobiography of Tori's life, and is put to a montage of images from New York and nature. Unfortnately, as far as the song itself is concerned, it is again nothing special. The DVD also includes an interview with Tori where she talks about her motivation behind The Beekeeper, and launches into a gorgeous a cappella version of 'The Power Of Orange Knickers'.

The CD cover on the bonus edition is arranged vertically, rather than horizontally, which means it doesn't fit into my CD tower at all. This is a minor niggle, but nothing to the fact it's made of card, rather than plastic, so it's a lot harder to keep it in a good condition. The CD and DVD have their own pockets, with the CD sleeve attached to the left had side of the case. There are lost of beautiful photos of Tori included, as she has divided the songs into six 'gardens', but not in the order they play. These gardens are: The Rock Garden, Elixers And Herbs, The Greenhouse, Roses And Thorns, The Desert Garden and The Orchard. Rather confusing.

My overall verdict? Die hard fans will appriciate this best, long term fans will be disappointed at how different she sounds, and new listeners could go either way. But Tori love, you aren't doing yourself any favours with the crazy make up.