Tori Amos is an acquired taste at the best of times. But with 19 tracks spread over 80 minutes, there's probably far more Tori here than all but her most dedicated fans will be able to take. The Beekeeper is ostensibly a concept album about 'the six gardens of the emotions', a fanciful idea that makes these whimsical songs seem even more pretentious than they already are. That said, there's a pretty good shorter record struggling to get out here, with some attractive melodies and a pleasantly airy production. There's also a duet with Damien Rice, 'The Power of Orange Knickers', which is every bit as weird as the title suggests. So, Amos continues to plough her own furrow, occasionally inspired but more often maddeningly self-indulgent. Investigate by all means, but just make sure you keep your finger near the skip button.
