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The Beekeeper
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The Beekeeper Image
Metascore
65

Generally favorable reviews - based on 21 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.3

Universal acclaim- based on 163 Ratings

  • Summary: The singer-songwriter returns with her first album of original material in three years, a conceptual work centering on the title character, with its 19 songs divided into six thematic "gardens." Damien Rice guests on one track.

Top Track

Sleeps With Butterflies
Air planes take you away again Are you flying above where we live Then I look up a glare in my eyes Are you having regrets about last night I'm not... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 21
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 21
  3. Negative: 1 out of 21
  1. 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.
  2. The New York Times
    80
    Her most down-to-earth album in years, because Ms. Amos has decided she doesn't have to pack every impulse into every song. Sometimes, now, a simple melody and a steady groove are enough. [21 Feb 2005]
  3. 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.
  4. Billboard
    70
    Tori Amos delivers some of the most accessible music of her career, coupled with beautifully obscure lyrics.
  5. Rolling Stone
    60
    Many of these underwritten, underproduced tunes sound as if Amos could have composed them in the supermarket express lane.
  6. PopMatters
    60
    The Beekeeper suffers from too much of the glossy stuff that floats on top, and too little foundation on which to keep itself grounded.
  7. Stylus Magazine
    16
    The realisation is obvious: a happy, contented, motherly Tori Amos is as irrelevant, sterile, and airbrushed as her face is on the cover of this album. Tori: it’s over.

See all 21 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 56 out of 75
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 75
  3. Negative: 7 out of 75
  1. ianm
    Feb 22, 2005
    10
    This album is a beautiful, tender and thought-provoking essay on current events and how they affect us all. Love, loss, anger and This album is a beautiful, tender and thought-provoking essay on current events and how they affect us all. Love, loss, anger and dissappointment are nothing new to any artist, and certainly not for Tori, and still she finds a new voice, a more mature voice than the petulant, angry, young goddess of years passed. This grown woman still has much to say, but she has now realized that a calm voice will go farther than a scream. Be advised, the sting may be sweet, but it is still a sting, nonetheless.… Expand
  2. PaulaK
    Mar 25, 2005
    10
    I have been following Tori for years. This album is fabulous. The only down fall is that it doesn"t have any big new edge to it. But she has I have been following Tori for years. This album is fabulous. The only down fall is that it doesn"t have any big new edge to it. But she has done that for years! I like this album because it is lyrically Beautiful. He vocals are sharp, moving, ON KEY and full of life and every emotion she feels. That is what I love about Tori. I am always transcended to a new place when I give her a listen!… Expand
  4. JadaLush
    Aug 15, 2018
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Underrated as Hell. It’s so soft and relaxing... I like this vibe and don’t understand the hate on this record… Expand
  5. KevinD
    Feb 22, 2005
    9
    This is at times a staggeringly beautiful and unexpectedly sharp-layered album with a philosophical undertone. "The Power Of Orange This is at times a staggeringly beautiful and unexpectedly sharp-layered album with a philosophical undertone. "The Power Of Orange Knickers", "Ireland" and the title track are immediate highlights!… Expand
  6. RandyB
    Mar 7, 2005
    8
    It may not be as intricate as 'From the Choirgirl Hotel' or 'Little Earthquakes', but most of the album shines with a It may not be as intricate as 'From the Choirgirl Hotel' or 'Little Earthquakes', but most of the album shines with a prettiness that grows on you with repeated listens. Those who would criticize it saying that it's uninspired are gravely mistaken-'Parasol', 'Mother revolution', 'The Beekeeper', 'Original Sinsuality', and 'Sleeps with Butterflies' especially are beautiful tracks, simple as they may be.… Expand
  7. BrandonV
    Feb 22, 2005
    7
    While this is one of Tori's best offerings in recent years, this album is still far from the masterpieces of her earlier days. There are While this is one of Tori's best offerings in recent years, this album is still far from the masterpieces of her earlier days. There are some real gems on this disc, but with the gems come many sinkers. At 19 tracks, and a running time of nearly 80 minutes, this album runs for what seems like an eternity. Had 6 or 7 tracks been removed from the tracklisting and delegated to b-sides, this would be worthy of a higher rating. However, the way it is, this is just a mediocre album, marred by several of its weaker tracks.… Expand
  8. [Anonymous]
    Aug 2, 2006
    0
    tori amos has broken my heart. a once brilliant artist has now reduced herself to that of singing waitress on your birthday.

See all 75 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

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