Tori Amos- The Beekeeper

tommer · #1 02-03-2005, 07:36 AM

first of all i'd like to say that eventually i might take back everything i'm about to say here, coz in the past i've been foolish enough to misjudge some of her albums after listening to them less than 50 times, but at this point, (after only 5 listens) i'm sad to say that i'm not very impressed.
i mean, it's not as if i won't buy it when it comes out, but still i find The Beekeeper rather boring, without any significant standout new classics (if you thought Sleeps with Butterflies was dull, don't expect it to get any better) but one thing's sure, and that's that it contains nothing NEW.
i fear that with time, she's becoming more and more of a lounge act, with tracks like (the pretty horrendous bossa nova) Sweet the Sting, instead of those biting masterpieses like God, Glory Of The 80's or Yes Anastasia. this album's way too calm and pacified, or in other words, it's Scarlet's Walk with weaker writing.
but then again, i think i'll listen to it another 100 times in hoping i'm all wrong about it.

melly · #2 02-03-2005, 10:43 AM

Hi, I haven't heard the album, but i used to like tori back in the day.. maybe eight years ago, little earthquakes and under the pink, but to be blunt i bought boys for pele and was massively disappointed in it. I listened to it maybe three times (I don't have your persistence).

but i used to like her

heyjupiter678 · #3 02-03-2005, 11:21 AM

The only songs I've heard from the album are "Sleeps with Butterflies" and "Hoochie Woman" and I was pretty underwhelmed by both of them. Like you said, Tommer, SwB was dull -- pretty, but dull. And I just can't get into HW.

That said, I'm still really looking forward to the album. It took me a while to appreciate Scarlet's Walk, but now I love it, so maybe it will be the same way with this one.

Maybe motherhood has mellowed Tori out a little too much . . .

heyjupiter678 · #4 02-03-2005, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by melly

but to be blunt i bought boys for pele and was massively disappointed in it. I listened to it maybe three times (I don't have your persistence).

I love Boys for Pele.

Hey Jupiter, Putting the Damage On, Twinkle, Horses, Little Amsterdam . . . So many great songs on that album, imo. The only ones I tend to skip over are Blood Roses and Professional Widow.

I can understand why you were disappointed in it, though, because it was such a departure from Little Earthquakes and Under the Pink. But I think it's one of those albums that require a little patience and more than three listens.

Now, a Tori album I didn't like and never listen to -- Strange Little Girls. Coulda done without that one.

Nixxxed · #5 02-03-2005, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tommer

first of all i'd like to say that eventually i might take back everything i'm about to say here, coz in the past i've been foolish enough to misjudge some of her albums after listening to them less than 50 times, but at this point, (after only 5 listens) i'm sad to say that i'm not very impressed.
i mean, it's not as if i won't buy it when it comes out, but still i find The Beekeeper rather boring, without any significant standout new classics (if you thought Sleeps with Butterflies was dull, don't expect it to get any better) but one thing's sure, and that's that it contains nothing NEW.
i fear that with time, she's becoming more and more of a lounge act, with tracks like (the pretty horrendous bossa nova) Sweet the Sting, instead of those biting masterpieses like God, Glory Of The 80's or Yes Anastasia. this album's way too calm and pacified, or in other words, it's Scarlet's Walk with weaker writing.
but then again, i think i'll listen to it another 100 times in hoping i'm all wrong about it.

I'm sorry you didn't like it. But perhaps you need a better quality of smoke?

I haven't heard it yet -- only snippets of SWB and STS on her website (not the whole songs, thanks to a cranky dialup connection). But what I was able to hear, I liked, and I'm anxiously awaiting the full set. Who do I have to sleep with to get an advance copy?

I agree with you in part about the "lounge act" fear, though. The last show I saw in Houston (On Scarlet's Walk, spring 2003) was very mellow and muted. But I think the keyboards-bass-drum format of the album and tour just didn't lend itself well to rocking out like her previous tours for Choirgirl and Venus. Plus, I read some fan reviews on The Dent that hinted at some venue drama surrounding the show, so it could have just been an off night. Regardless, I heard guitars in the song snippets I heard, and I'm praying she added them back in, just for their punchy effect in the music.

Boys for Pele is my favorite, and what started my shipperdom. Scarlet's Walk is a close second. I love the first two albums, but they tend to make me a little introspective and depressed -- beautiful, heartfelt music to be sure, but I just can't listen to them much anymore. Especially not after having my mind blow by all of BFP, "iieee", "Juarez", and "Glory of the '80s".

And while I have grown to appreciate parts of Strange Little Girls, it unfortunately got intertwined with Sept. 11 in my psyche. And at times I'd just rather pretend that neither happened.

"It was the Glory of the '80s
With Karma drawn up in lines
And TWO Bugle Boy models saying,
'Baby, it's a freebie, and you sure look DEPRIVED!'

Silicone Party Barbies to the left and
Joan of Arcs to the right...
No more feelin insecure,
We were all GORGE- and FAM-OUS in our last lives!"

tommer · #6 02-03-2005, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nixxxed

I'm sorry you didn't like it. But perhaps you need a better quality of smoke?

in fact that's a very touchy point, at this very moment there are only 60 measly dollars that separates between me and a morning flight to Amsterdam on sunday, if it won't be this sunday then it's gonna be the next. i'm definetly on it, no need to worry.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nixxxed

Who do I have to sleep with to get an advance copy?

personally i sleep with ms. Emule, she smells like a barn, but will get you any advance copy you may need.

ShangriLaTroubl · #7 02-03-2005, 06:29 PM

I will likely buy the album...I've heard a couple of songs online from it--I liked them, although I wont be able to tell how much I will like it...

I of course love the classic Little Earthquakes.....I loved Boys for Pele too....One thing I noticed about her Tales from a Librarian "best of" CD is the older songs like "Crucify," and others are mixed so MUCH better..they sound like different songs

Chris

Bryan · #8 02-03-2005, 06:35 PM

Here we go again with constantly expecting better and better from great and *proven* artists.
Can anyone name a band or artists who HAS gotten better and better with each album after 10 albums?

I think we should be thankful that artists such as Tori are still recording & releasing material as fast as she is (& always has) in order to give fans what they want..MORE MUSIC.

_______________

Nixxxed · #9 02-03-2005, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tommer

in fact that's a very touchy point, at this very moment there are only 60 measly dollars that separates between me and a morning flight to Amsterdam on sunday, if it won't be this sunday then it's gonna be the next. i'm definetly on it, no need to worry.
personally i sleep with ms. Emule, she smells like a barn, but will get you any advance copy you may need.

Hey - while you're in Amsterdam, think you could mail me some ... uh ... tulips? Yeah, tulips.

And Ms. Emule sounds HOTTTTTTTTTT.

dissention · #10 02-03-2005, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bryan

Can anyone name a band or artists who HAS gotten better and better with each album after 10 albums?

I could. David Bowie certainly comes to mind. In the past fifteen years, each album has gotten better than the last, with Heathen and Reality being absolutely stunning.

Johnny Stew · #11 02-03-2005, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dissention

I could. David Bowie certainly comes to mind. In the past fifteen years, each album has gotten better than the last, with Heathen and Reality being absolutely stunning.

"Better" is subjective... Bowie lost my interest after 'Earthling,' and I used to be a really big fan.

Nixxxed · #12 02-03-2005, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dissention

I could. David Bowie certainly comes to mind. In the past fifteen years, each album has gotten better than the last, with Heathen and Reality being absolutely stunning.

I love David too, but surely he's dropped a few clunker albums. Maybe not in the last 15 years as you say, but there are 20 years before that to consider. Tori's only recently passed the 10-year mark. I'll happily give her another 30, and do my tally afterwards. So far she's like 8-1 in my book.

By the way, do you know if Lorretty is goin to the Grammys? I'm still pissed she was nominated for *Country* Album of the Year instead of the main one. The Scissor Sisters were right about the Grammy Committee being on drugs...

dissention · #13 02-03-2005, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny Stew

"Better" is subjective... Bowie lost my interest after 'Earthling,' and I used to be a really big fan.

Well, I'll give "Hours..." to you because I didn't care for that one at all, but his last two albums have been brilliant, IMO. Truly two of his best. I'll never forget the first time I heard Heathen, I was orgasmic. He was the Bowie of old to me.

And I love Earthling...

Have you heard Heathen and Reality? And did you finally break down and buy some Franz?

dissention · #14 02-03-2005, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nixxxed

I love David too, but surely he's dropped a few clunker albums. Maybe not in the last 15 years as you say, but there are 20 years before that to consider. Tori's only recently passed the 10-year mark. I'll happily give her another 30, and do my tally afterwards. So far she's like 8-1 in my book.

To be honest, when it comes to Bowie, there are only songs I dislike. I always like the albums themselves, save "Hours..." That album did absolutely nothing for me. It was a real clunker. And the first Tin Machine album sucked. Actually, I didn't like Black Tie White Noise at first, but that album grew on me like a fungus. The reissue made me appreciate it like never before.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nixxxed

By the way, do you know if Lorretty is goin to the Grammys? I'm still pissed she was nominated for *Country* Album of the Year instead of the main one. The Scissor Sisters were right about the Grammy Committee being on drugs...

Do not mention the Scissor Sisters in my presence, darling.

I'm sure she'll go, she has to represent that amazing album.

And it's guaranteed to win. As long as she wins, Franz wins, and Prince wins I'll be happy.

Nixxxed · #15 02-03-2005, 10:20 PM

By the way, everyone: You can win The Beekeeper (and some other goodies) by entering this contest:

http://epicrecords.com/contests/wintersweeps/

And Diss -- there is a link there to see the new Franz video for "This Fire", in case by some strange twist of fate you haven't seen it. Which I doubt, but I'm trying to be nice before I do this:

SCISSOR SISTERS SCISSOR SISTERS SCISSOR SISTERS SCISSOR SISTERS