Interpreting the Masters, Vol. 1: A Tribute to Daryl Hall & John Oates

The Bird and the Bee | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 23, 2010)
• Original Release Date: 2010
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Blue Note Records
• ASIN: B0036U0BUK
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #11,532 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #45 in Music > Pop > Tributes

Editorial Reviews

The Bird and The Bee have been known to recreate 80s pop hits into unique and contemporary gems for the new millennium. With Interpreting the Masters Volume I, Greg Kurstin and Inara George go one step further and pay homage to one of the greatest duo's of that time Darryl Hall and John Oates. Classic material is reinvented through Kurstin's sleek production and George's sweet lyrical delivery

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Kiss on my list, March 23, 2010

By 

E. A Solinas "ea_solinas" (MD USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Interpreting the Masters, Vol. 1: A Tribute to Daryl Hall & John Oates (Audio CD)

The Bird and the Bee (aka Greg Kurstin and Inara George) is one of the few bands in existence who can cover a great song and make it their own.

So it was pretty much inevitable that someday they'd put out a cover album -- in this case, "Interpreting The Masters Volume 1: A Tribute To Daryl Hall And John Oates." It's pretty much what you'd expect after their past covers: a string of Hall and Oates' hit songs, which have metamorphosed into sensual, delicate electronic pop with angelic vocals.

Well, it goes without saying that the songwriting is excellent. Each Hall & Oates song that Kurstin and George selected seems to have a different kind of romantic relationship in it: love-that-wasn't, a lover who craves too much, love for a "Rich Girl," a hot-and-cold romance, a lovelorn request for a smile, and even an ode to a "lean and hungry" "Maneater." Lots of complex, bittersweet feelings.

And it kicks off with the funky, twittery sounds of "Heard it on the Radio," with George singing sweetly, "When we first met/It wasn't what you said/And still I loved you like mad... Now every time/I hear it playing/I think of you/And those summer days."

From there on, the band bounces merrily into the sprightly "Rich Girl," the sharp-edged "I Can't Go For That," the slow sensual "Sarah Smile," the flowing electropop of "Kiss on my List," the shimmering "She's Gone," and the delicate finale "One on One." They even get into the clubbier stuff with the sexually-charged, beat-heavy "Maneater."

Don't worry, the songs have the same infectious, fun melodies as the original Hall & Oates versions... more or less. Greg Kurstin just does to them what he does to any song that The Bird and the Bee covers -- he spins a delicate web of shimmering keyboard over every song, and backs it up with some squidgy guitars, drums, xylophone, organ and haunting flickers of floating synth.

Inara Geoge has a beautifully flexible voice, which always seems to be wavering between huskiness and sweetness. And she sounds like she's having a lot of fun in this album, adding her own funky feminine flavor to time-honored pop songs -- it ends up sounding like the confessions of a strong-willed girl who's loved fast, hard and passionately, and has sometimes ended up with a heart that's been cracked rather than broken.

"Interpreting the Masters, Vol. 1: A Tribute to Daryl Hall & John Oates" is exactly what it sounds like -- the Bird and the Bee's deliciously vibrant covers of their classic songs. Catchy and sweet.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Bird Eats Oates As The Bee Buzzes Down The Hall, March 28, 2010

By 

Flap Jackson "Sky Is Burning, But At Least We... (State Road, NC) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Interpreting The Masters Volume 1: A Tribute To Daryl Hall And John Oates (MP3 Download)

I'll admit, I was a little hesitant coming in, but if you're a fan of The Bird & The Bee or their style of music, you should be a fan of what you hear. Hall & Oates fans may also find it interesting just because these takes are usually so different, yet so in line with the originals. The sound is trippy, chill, synth & decidedly 80s. Even if you don't like Hall & Oates, you should like this album. In addition to the hits that everybody knows, Bird & the Bee also take on their lesser known hits which I'm now discovering and loving, which is always a joy of a cover album.

Overall, I don't know how much longevity this project will have for its listeners, but this is a great covers album that is both true to the bands covering and being covered. Remember, this is only volume 1 so expect more great covers from The Bird & The Bee soon.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Interpretations of Great Music!!!!, March 26, 2010

By 

B. Matthias "jibrima" (Kutztown, PA, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Interpreting The Masters Volume 1: A Tribute To Daryl Hall And John Oates (MP3 Download)

I've always been a fan of covers. It's always interesting to see how another artist interprets a tune, and makes it his/her own. As for the reviewer giving one star, suggesting this duo is "copping out" by doing a whole album of covers, and not coming up with original material... that is complete bunk! The Bird and the Bee have come up with loads of their own wonderful songs. And just because material is "new" doesn't make it good. There's a LOT of "new" S#*& out there for sure.

Simply a joy to listen to for any B&B and/or H&O fan.