^^^^
I think the issue some people might have with
The Beekeeper is just because she changed direction a bit again. It's a much more "mothery" album, more low key (er...low key for Miss T, which is not the same thing as low key for the rest of the planet).
I remember waiting breathlessly to get my paws on
Choirgirl and then getting it home and into the CD player and going, "Whaaaaat?" because she changed direction with that one and I wasn't expecting it. It took a couple listens for me to get what she was doing, and then I LOVED it.
Beekeeper took a few listens, too, but now I appreciate it for what it is - I don't love it like I ended up loving Choirgirl but that's okay. Ain't no Little Earthquakes, Pink, or Pele, but honestly, what COULD be?
I do find many of what I consider to be her less strong songs on albums take on a whole new force when she does them live. For example, I can do without the studio version of "Snow Cherries from France," but when she did that live on the Original Sinsuality tour, I was like, "Okay, that completely rocks my socks."
Definitely looking forward to the new album, and a little bird tells me you are correct 'bout that there tour, young lady. Also, I know what you mean about your Miss T fandom being different from your Stevie or Mac fandom.
Entirely different animals.