Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

the bird and the bee show you why you weren't so stupid to love hall & oates after all.
they showed me. i love this record. a true homage.

If you asked me before I listened to this album whether I knew all the words to Hall & Oats songs, I would have said, "No way!" Turns out, I was very wrong. Not only that, but I love these songs.

This is a perfect album for spring- singing along with the windows down. Get it, I bet it will make you happy too.

If, to you, the neo-jazz/pop stylings of The Bird and the Bee seem like an unlikely fit for the music of Hall and Oates, welcome to the club. My first thought when I saw that one of my favorite new groups of the last few years would be covering an entire album of "the masters'" music was one of complete bewilderment. But once I began listening to the end result, my fears were put to rest. The first few notes of "Heard it on the Radio" say it all: this is a Bird and the Bee album! Simply put, the duo has done a fantastic job of taking these classic and instantly-recognizable songs and filtering them through their own unique style.

The lead-off track is a gorgeous song that is just as catchy as one would expect. It's bouncy digital production is reminiscent of some of Bird and the Bee's earlier stuff, but the 70s disco vibe sets it apart from the band's other tracks. It eases any fears that a skeptical listener may have and proves that even though many may not understand why the group chose to make this album, they at least know what they are doing. "Rich Girl" is just as exciting. I could easily see a bunch of teen girls (or hipsters for that matter) singing along to this song and not realizing that it's a cover of a much older song. That says a lot about how perfectly a lot of these songs are constructed and presented.

For the most part, Interpreting the Masters is a flawless cover album, if such a thing can even exist. Still, some songs, though good, can't hold their own to the original recording. Specifically, "She's Gone" lacks the earnestness and power of the original. Instead, it comes off as plastic and unassured - the standard trappings of a cover song. Truthfully, this could just be how Hall and Oates' ballads come off because the same can be said for "Sarah Smiles" and "One on One," which just come off as ineffective. Are they solid covers? Sure, but they still leave a lot to be desired.

The best tracks on the album are the upbeat songs that we've all heard before. "Private Eyes" and "Kiss on My List" are just as awesome as they have always been and - depending on your generation - just as corny as well. Listeners, whether new or unaccustomed to the music of Hall and Oates should find most of their enjoyment out of these and the other fun songs on the album. As the title suggests though, Interpreting the Masters is very much a passion project for The Bird and the Bee, so it should be taken more as a casual diversion than an actual addition to the group's catalog of quality music. With that in mind, it's hard to be disappointed with what we're presented with here. The group has done Hall and Oates proud while simultaneously making something enjoyable for generations who have no idea who those two dudes are. Not bad.

Key Tracks:
1. "Heard it on the Radio"
2. "Rich Girl"
3. "Maneater"
4. "Kiss on my List"
5. "Private Eyes"

7 out of 10 Stars

I have been a great fan of Hall and Oates ever since I heard "Maneater" in 1983. When I heard about the cover being done for all their hits, and then heard snippets of the covers, I was thrilled. The voice is comforting and simple. My favorite are "Private Eyes" and of course "Maneater".

what a sugar filled joy. so many great songs and wonderful versions of them.

I had not heard of The Bird and The Bee before, but saw a review of this album. A tribute to Hall & Oates hits sounded kinda fun. The album is really great. A modern slant on these familiar songs. The lyrics are much easier to appreciate in this interpretation than in the original--for example, No Can Do. In fact, if you listen to the lyrics, a number of these songs really make more sense when the lead singer is female. Anyway, great classic songs reinterpreted in an interesting way.

Well, there's not much left to say about this album that more eloquent reviewers have already done. It's B&B covering H&O. If you have any inclination for either of these bands you'll find something to like. Some are complaining that it's too short, but I say it's not about length here; rather quality.

For me this is just pure musical bliss. I can't wait to hear their second offering.