The Beekeeper
by Tori Amos
  • Record Label: Sony
  • Release Date: Feb 22, 2005
User Score
8.3

Universal acclaim- based on 163 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 136 out of 163
  2. Mixed: 17 out of 163
  3. Negative: 10 out of 163

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  1. NickC
    Feb 24, 2005
    5
    If "Little Earthquakes" is the album that helps you connect with Tori Amos, then "The Beekeeper" is the album that, unfortunately, helps you disconnect from her. It is undeniably hard to identify with, even for hardcore 'Toriphiles' like myself. Pieces of her ... now glamorous and happy life fall into place for listeners. It paints a picture of her drinking her tea and eating If "Little Earthquakes" is the album that helps you connect with Tori Amos, then "The Beekeeper" is the album that, unfortunately, helps you disconnect from her. It is undeniably hard to identify with, even for hardcore 'Toriphiles' like myself. Pieces of her ... now glamorous and happy life fall into place for listeners. It paints a picture of her drinking her tea and eating her bisquits, with her long icicle earrings and pink Native American dresses, all while living in Cornwall ... It just isn't the gritty sexy, 90's Kurdt, Trent, and Neil fan, silent all those years girl that we all grew to love and could connect with emotionally. You won't find any works here that compare to anything that can be found on the impressive Scarlet's Walk... or most of her previous works or B-sides. Can Tori be found on "The Beekeeper"? Perhaps. Her voice is there but there's something important missing ... something hard to figure out. It takes a whole lot of digging and listening and re-listening. If you have to do that to an album, there comes a point where you have to ask yourself: "Is it even worth it?" I have tried to figure out what Tori is trying to convey, and honestly it slips away from me every time I try to grab hold. Like an oasis, when the album finally hits the graceful lullabye "Ribbons Undone" midway, you'll find the album's only saving grace: A song about Tori's delightful daughter Tash. This album so often goes far off into unknown deep space, it almost gets frightening trying to follow Amos: You may never make it back home again.… Expand
  2. johns
    Jan 27, 2007
    6
    use to be a massive fan not so sure lately. loved the controversial lyrics and complex music but now tori is just plain boring. although there are 2 gems on the album . witness and orange knickers. its a pity.
  3. LauraM
    Feb 23, 2005
    4
    This album is not one of the best offerings in years, in fact her best offerings stopped after Choirgirl.. I am no longer buying anything related to Tori Amos, instead I rather remember her in her glory days..
  4. EdwardE
    Mar 2, 2005
    4
    'The Beekeeper' misses by not including a single Tori song (which is guaranteed on every album) that grabs you by the gut. Although a flat, overly polished & lacking release, it's still better than most "fine music" being dumped on music fans currently.
  5. MattB
    Mar 22, 2005
    6
    A mixed bag. Contains some of the most beautiful melodies Tori has ever composed, along with a couple of hideous funk and gospel experiments. A few too many useless tracks that needed to be cut. Standouts: "The Beekeeper", "The Power Of Orange Knickers", "Barons Of Suburbia"
  6. weeannaa
    Apr 18, 2005
    5
    where's the edge? this is sleek, too sleek. where's the pain, where's the goddamn edge? this is just.. ..sleek. not bad, mind you. it's nice enough to listen to, goes nicely in one ear, and right out the other. not like her four first albums, where almost every track was a slap in your face and fist in your stomach, not to mention her (earlier) b-sides and soundtrack where's the edge? this is sleek, too sleek. where's the pain, where's the goddamn edge? this is just.. ..sleek. not bad, mind you. it's nice enough to listen to, goes nicely in one ear, and right out the other. not like her four first albums, where almost every track was a slap in your face and fist in your stomach, not to mention her (earlier) b-sides and soundtrack contributions. love you tori, but can't your family horribly die or something? no, i don't mean that, but.. i want the old tori back. not easy-listening-tori. beautiful, yes, but..… Expand
  7. RobbieC
    Nov 17, 2006
    5
    Better than almost everything else out there today. But the worst Tori record by far.
  8. ja
    Aug 13, 2006
    4
    Not what she was used to be,shame
  9. RobbieCope
    Apr 19, 2014
    5
    It's a bad Tori album, which means it's only better than 50% of everything else that's out there. Some people really dig this style, but after knowing her earlier more aggressive/dynamic work, it's difficult to appreciate the preciousness on some songs, on others it's just difficult to believe what she's forcing is working in any way... That said, there are a few beautiful songs, OriginalIt's a bad Tori album, which means it's only better than 50% of everything else that's out there. Some people really dig this style, but after knowing her earlier more aggressive/dynamic work, it's difficult to appreciate the preciousness on some songs, on others it's just difficult to believe what she's forcing is working in any way... That said, there are a few beautiful songs, Original Sinsuality, Jamaica Inn, Marys of the Sea, and the bonus track Garlands, if you can find it. A few great songs on a 19 or 20 track tracklist is the reason this is a mediocre record.… Expand
  10. mrLemonade
    Apr 14, 2013
    4
    Not as good as her previous or subsequent efforts. Some of the songs are bland (Sweet the Sting, Parasol), some have tacky lyrics (Barons of Suburbia) and tacky titles (Martha's Foolish Ginger, The Power of Orange Knickers) while the lyrics on others are uninspired and clichéd (Sleeps with Butterflies, Ireland). Still, there are songs that still have the flare and emotion Tori is knownNot as good as her previous or subsequent efforts. Some of the songs are bland (Sweet the Sting, Parasol), some have tacky lyrics (Barons of Suburbia) and tacky titles (Martha's Foolish Ginger, The Power of Orange Knickers) while the lyrics on others are uninspired and clichéd (Sleeps with Butterflies, Ireland). Still, there are songs that still have the flare and emotion Tori is known for. The beautiful ballad Toast is an incredible closer, while the, unfortunately, bonus track Garlands comes 2nd place to Toast, and has more quality than every other song on the album.… Expand
  11. marcmyworks
    Jun 22, 2016
    5
    The unfortunate thing about the Beekeeper is that it brings nothing new to Tori Amos's repertoire. Sadly the album is often too long and not interesting. Download: Sweet The Sting, Parasol
  12. antony15
    Feb 17, 2015
    6
    Tori amos produced several cakes in his career. In The Beekeeper she took an ingredient of each cake and the result was a reasonable and just nice mix of flavors.
    Small pieces of their albums are present here, making this a record without any grace and quite typical of tori. May be suitable for their old fans. But for those who never heard of tori, we recommend not starting with this    Tori amos produced several cakes in his career. In The Beekeeper she took an ingredient of each cake and the result was a reasonable and just nice mix of flavors.
    Small pieces of their albums are present here, making this a record without any grace and quite typical of tori. May be suitable for their old fans. But for those who never heard of tori, we recommend not starting with this album, because it has nothing new, just the same voice, the same piano and the same alternative beats, which are very similar to pop this album.
    There are 18 flat tracks, which were certainly not expected of someone as talented as tori, which could easily be better than that.    … Collapse

Awards & Rankings

47
#47 Most Discussed Album of 2005
78
#78 Most Shared Album of 2005

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
65

Generally favorable reviews - based on 21 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 21
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 21
  3. Negative: 1 out of 21
  1. The Guardian
    80
    You can delve as deeply into the lyrics and musical brain-teasers as you like, but there's plenty of surface allure for anyone who just fancies a superficial graze.
    Read full review
  2. Amazon.com
    90
    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.
    Read full review
  3. Entertainment Weekly
    75
    The Beekeeper is the Tori Amos album for those normally freaked out by Tori Amos. [25 Feb 2005, p.99]
See all critic reviews »