Tori Amos - Interviews Archive

Billboard.com (US, www)
January 20, 2005

Buzz Begins For Amos' 'Beekeeper'

Barry A. Jeckell, N.Y.

A handful of Tori Amos appearances have been confirmed to coincide with the release of her eighth studio album, "The Beekeeper." The North Carolina-born/Maryland-raised artist, who now lives full-time in Cornwall, England, will return to the United States to promote the Feb. 22 Epic release in advance of a spring tour.

So far, she is confirmed to appear Feb. 17 on CBS' "Late Night With David Letterman," Feb. 19 on NBC's "Weekend Today" and on the syndicated "Live With Regis and Kelly" on the day of the album's release.

In addition, Amos will sign copies of the disc and her soon-to-be-published Broadway/Random House book, "Tori Amos: Piece by Piece," Feb. 23 in New York at the Union Square Barnes & Noble location. She'll also appear the next night with co-author Ann Powers for "An Evening in Conversation" at the city's 92 St. Y.

An intimate solo piano tour is also in the planning stage, details for which are not yet confirmed.

Similar to Amos' 2002 Epic debut, "Scarlet's Walk," the new album revolves around a theme suggested by its title. The 19 songs are divided among six "gardens" that represent the emotional life of the album's female character.

The set was recorded in Cornwall with frequent collaborators Matt Chamberlain (drums) and Jon Evans (bass). Mac Aladdin provided percussion and a gospel choir appears on some tracks. Amos also tapped Irish singer/songwriter Damien Rice to counter her vocals on one track, "The Power of Orange Knickers."

"We had great fun," Amos tells Billboard.com of recording with Rice. "If you have a song called 'The Power of Orange Knickers' [then] you've got to have the other. I felt a guy singing that line was exciting."

In addition to a traditional CD release, "The Beekeeper" will also be available in a limited edition with a DVD and a 24-page booklet. The extra disc includes an interview with Amos, footage of recording sessions, text and pictures from "Piece by Piece" and the bonus track "Garland."

In keeping with the garden theme, the special edition will also include a packet with a variety of 20 flower seeds, including Purple Coneflower, Aspen Daisy, Siberian Wallflower, Cosmos and Rocky Mountain Beeplant.

"Scarlet's Walk" debuted at No. 7 on The Billboard 200 upon its release and has sold 583,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Here is "The Beekeeper" track list:

"Parasol"
"Sweet the Sting"
"The Power of Orange Knickers"
"Jamaica Inn"
"Barons of Suburbia"
"Sleeps With Butterflies"
"General Joy"
"Mother Revolution"
"Ribbons Undone"
"Cars and Guitars"
"Witness"
"Original Sinsuality"
"Ireland"
"The Beekeeper"
"Martha's Foolish Ginger"
"Hoochie Woman"
"Goodbye Pisces"
"Marys of the Sea"
"Toast"

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