I mean seriously, that's what it sounds like. It's like she had one huge session back then and just released the rest now on this album. I do like a few tracks on it, like Mary's of the Sea which is great, but overall, the album is very unexciting. It's kind of a snooze fest and makes me want to either sleep or invite friends over for cheese and wine.

I'm still getting used to it, but I can tell that it's gonna hit the shelf. I was hoping for some sparks, but it was all so tame. For me the only tracks that I can listen to are the more moody ones, and even they calm me down toooo much.

I guess I just miss the bigger band sound.

So relaxing/mellow = bad?

GangstaFam said:

It's not what I'm into. I like the wilder stuff.

EvilWhiteMale said:

That's too bad. I really like it.

GangstaFam said:

I guess I just miss the Choirgirl/Venus era.

EvilWhiteMale said:

I do too to a degree. But I realize she can't sing about the same things forever and that her style is just evolving.

GangstaFam said:

Yeah, but it just seems she's slowing down so much.

EvilWhiteMale said:

I guess that's what being happily married, having a child and living in a castle will do to ya.

GangstaFam said:

Before you know it she will pull a Kate Bush on you and she will be gone raising kids and shopping.

GangstaFam said:

Seems both her and Prince need a jump.

Maybe they could jump each other.

HamsterHuey said:

Bitch better not!

HamsterHuey said:

therein lies the major difference between the two often compared singer/songwriters; kate bush had a sound and seems to have grown tired with her own music whereas tori continues to expand the horizon and keeps herself interested.

The Beekeeper kicks ass. I love it. Especially the new groovy sound ala Sweet the Sting and Hoochie Woman, Cars and Guitars. it kicks ass, kicks ass, kicks ass.

EvilWhiteMale said:

there's a lot of scarlet's walk sounds in there, i agree. there's also a lot of pele sounds and under the pink sounds. its an amalgamation of all her sounds. there's also some stuff that she's not really done before or only ventured into slightly; hoochie woman, witness, sweet the sting, and jamaica inn are all different directions.

well, at least you've finally heard it and you can rip the songs that you do like and toss the disc aside. i actually like it more than strange little girls, little earthquakes and choirgirl. i haven't decided for sure if i like it more than scarlet's walk though.

it does have some stylistic similarities w/ scarlet's walk, with alot of older stuff thrown in. such an amazing album!! i love it.

The title track is probably one of her finest moments to date.

A true gothic masterpiece.

Martha's Foolish Ginger, Mary's Of The Sea, Parasol and Orange Knickers are all brilliant too.

The only tracks I'm not feeling are Witness and Ribbons Undone. Choirgirl Tori would've bitch-slapped the woman singing Ribbons Undone.

I wish she'd sing straight. Her vocals are starting to become as mannered as Bjork's are. The way she contorts her vowels is starting to get quite irritating. There's a few decent tracks on The Beekeeper but it's mostly quite tame and lifeless. I appreciate the argument that she's in a different head space these days but that shouldn't mean that the passion has to die. A shame, I was really looking forward to this album. It's not a bad record but the spark has definately gone.


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[Edited 2/25/05 7:32am]

SassyBritches said:

Kate didn't get bored with her own music. She had a lot of shit to deal with then fell pregnant and decided that being a mum was more important than being a pop star. Can't fault her on that.

Cloudbuster said:

for you, perhaps.

The spark is still quite strong for me. Stronger than ever, in fact.

Cloudbuster said:

I wonder if the pressure of not having a great album in 20 years is getting to her.... HOL was a long time ago. Still, I can't wait to hear what she comes up with. It has to be better than The Red Shoes.... one can hope. I'll be happy if it's as good as The Sensual World, which I liked, but doesn't hold a candle to HOL or The Dreaming. I just wish she would release it already!!!!

JonSnow said:

You make it sound like she's been releasing album after album in all this time.

I consider The Sensual World to be a great album. And The Red Shoes is a good album. It's not one of her best but it's still got it's fair share of great moments. I honestly don't mind if her new album won't turn out to be a classic. Of course, I'm hoping for that, but as long as it's decent then I'll be happy.

JonSnow said:

Well, I'm glad you like it.

Cloudbuster said:

Bjork's vocals aren't mannered. That's how she's always sung.

GangstaFam said:

And she's always sung with mannered vocals.

VoicesCarry said:

She's Icelandic. How is she supposed to sing?

i don't think bjork (or tori) have mannered, or artificial, vocals. i think that is what makes them unique. they have a style all their own, yes, but it is not a "stylized" sound. people are funny that way...when a person has there own thing, they get criticized for it yet, when they steal somebody else's thing or sound like everybody else, they get shit for that.

cher's recent cds...sure, that can be called mannered. madonna's recent stuff, absolutely qualifies as mannered. tori and bjork? uh uh.

arm-chair rock critics.

Why do people have the nerve to tell someone else that their "opinion" is "wrong?" I enjoy reading people's opinions on various topics on this board (or bored, I should say), but too often people (small dick syndrome, I assume) have to be right. Get over yourselves!

Work in the business for a while and that'll shut ya up.



-----
"There is no such thing as water. It is merely melted ice."

Cloudbuster said:

6:58 are you sure where my spark is
here
here
here

heartbeatocean said:

Really?

SassyBritches said:

I do like the album more than I dislike it. I just wish it had a few more kicks.

My order of her albums goes as follows:

From The Choirgirl Hotel
Under The Pink
To Venus and Back
Little Earthquakes
Scarlets Walk
The Beekeeper
Boys For Pele
Strange Little Girls