The Bird & The Bee

The Bird and the Bee | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 23, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Blue Note Records
• ASIN: B000LV63SG
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (42 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #14,638 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #6 in Music > Pop > Easy Listening > Retro Space Age
  • #45 in Music > Alternative Rock > Indie & Lo-Fi > Electronic Pop
  • #47 in Music > Indie Music > Dance & DJ > Electronica

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

As intoxicating as a Brazilian breeze and ironic as a David Lynch night in L.A., the Los Angeles duo the Bird and the Bee make a soothingly hip, deliriously cool blend of pop. Inara George is a breathy singer who channels Astrud Gilberto via Julee Cruise. Although still little known, she's the daughter of the late Lowell George of Little Feat, and she already has recordings out with a couple of other bands. Keyboardist and producer Greg Kurstin has worked with Beck and the Flaming Lips, among many others, and the duo share a passion for that brand of art pop along with the more whimsical indie strains of Le Tigre. The album is overflowing with references from '60s pop harpsichords to girl-group choruses. You half expect Lesley Gore to come out singing harmony on "I'm a Broken Heart," an homage to "It's My Party." A jazz aficionado, Kurstin has put all kinds of jazzbo touches in here, including some unlikely chord changes and tropicalia moods. Only "F*cking Boyfriend," with that phrase chanted in the chorus, seems artlessly out of place on an album that revels in sly innuendo and emotional ambiguity. --John Diliberto

Product Description

Made up of vocalist Inara George, who has been aptly referred to as "a modern day Audrey Hepburn with the voice of an angel," and keyboardist/producer Greg Kurstin, who has lent his talents to records by Beck, The Flaming Lips, Lily Allen, Peaches, and many more. The Bird and the Bee take elements of everything from the Beach Boys to 60's Brazil electronica, spinning them into this irrepressible collection of ten sunshine-drenched, semi-psychedelic ditties.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great music that's wonderfully original, February 5, 2007

By 

Alf (San Rafael CA USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Bird & The Bee (Audio CD)

Finally, a pop album that has intelligent harmonies and a singer that can hit the notes and sing in tune. These songs are oddly retro and yet completely modern. I've heard the band refer to their style as "psychadelic Burt Bacharach" and I can see how that would apply to the music (although the lyrics are definitely not Hal David). It's laid back and edgy at the same time, and every song has something inventive to it. I believe the pick of the litter is Again and Again, and that it's destined to become a classic. I highly recommend this CD.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Unusual and refreshing., April 15, 2007

By 

Gary Peterson (San Diego, California USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

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This review is from: The Bird & The Bee (Audio CD)

This self-titled offering from The Bird and the Bee is eclectic, to say the least. Vocalist and songwriter Inara George (The Bird) and multi-instrumentalist Greg Kurstin (The Bee) put together a collection of ten sophisticated and elegant poppish songs incorporating a variety of styles. The end product is musical, complex and rather strange sounding. It's a very unusual and original-sounding album. One of a kind. It's somewhat retro and somewhat "jazzy." In places the harmonies sound somewhat like the Beach Boys or sixties girl groups. Interesting mix.

The voice of Inara George is one of the highlights of the album. She comes across as charming and sultry. I looked her up on the internet and, sure enough, she looks the part. My lady friend says she reminds her of Chan Marshall. Hmmmm. Well, the voice is somewhat similar but the styles and content are much different. I really enjoy listening to her, but there's a certain limited range and sameness from song to song and it gets a bit tiresome listening to a whole album without a break. That's a weak criticism, I suppose. I'd say the songs are great but might benefit by being intermixed with other music. Another mild criticism I have has to do with some of the lyrics. "F*cking Boyfriend," in particular comes to mind. I have nothing against such songs, but I find myself having to be careful of playing the disc before certain people.

Kurstin wraps the irony-filled vocals with keyboard lines and rhythmic beats. Altogether, the music is rather simple, but it shimmers and shakes. The album is very original, refreshing and listenable, over and over. It's a charming and delightful CD, but I'd give it only four stars because of the listed problems.

Gary Peterson

34 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't miss it!, February 2, 2007

By 

Will Irace (Portland, OR USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: The Bird & The Bee (Audio CD)

When was the last time you were really glad to have bought a CD? I ended my dry spell when I went out and snagged a copy of The Bird & The Bee's self titled album. Really, I had no choice: the hook from "Again & Again" was stuck in my head for THREE DAYS, likely a record.

Just when I was done marveling at the melody in that signature track, I was amazed again (& again) by Inara's vocal harmonies in the chorus of "My Fair Lady." It made me think of some kind of twinkling singing fairies in a 70's Disney picture, without the annoying smarmy aftertaste.

It's like Freezepop, only more mature.
It's like Stereolab, only more personal.
It's like Dot Allison, only more substantial.

It's like a breath of fresh air that someone is finally producing really good music so I can start buying CDs again. Bravo The Bird & The Bee!