Customer Reviews

Notes From the Underworld

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have been waiting a long time for this CD to come out! I first heard Persephone's Bees perform their most famous song, "City of Love," in the movie "Bewitched" a few years ago. Since then, I have been following this San Francisco-based pop band with much interest, and I'm thrilled that their first major album has finally been released! "Notes from the Underworld" is everything I expected it to be. It's a fun, refreshing pop album with a lot of spunk and style. Lead singer Angelina Moysov has an incredibly sultry and captivating voice that controls all 11 tracks on the CD. In addition to "City of Love" (which is a slightly different version than the track included on the "Bewitched" soundtrack), the other songs are incredibly breezy, catchy, and engaging. I especially like "Muzika Dyla Fil'ma," which is performed in Moysov's native Russian language, and the rocking "Way to Your Heart." In reality, there is not a single bad song on this entire CD. Persephone's Bees has a very unique and fun sound that everyone will enjoy. Pick up this album today!

Persephone's Bees is not like the rest of the music out there right now, but it is not so shockingly different that it is difficult to listen to for any period of time. It has a kind of mod dance quality to it while still being very modern in tone and sound. When you listen to this cd your going to have a hard time sitting still . . . which to me is a really good quality. If you like your music a little different from the norm and like albums that you can listen to all they way through without a lot of skipping around this is for you!

This album was one I was extremely excited about getting, and it surpassed my expectations. From the first song to the last, there isn't one that I skip over. I would reccomend this album to anyone with an open mind and a love for fun music. I hope Persephone's Bees keeps on making music because this is a fantastic listen.

After hearing "City of Love" and "Nice Day" some time ago, I *had* to try this CD. What a great surprise that the rest wasn't all the same! This band definitely has something different to say. Great lyrics & hooks, fun & whimsical ("Climbing"), once 60's retro ("Walk to the Moon"), then rocking ("On the Earth"), then just really musical. Great cover of Status Quo's 'Paper Plane'. Update: Rats, I have already overplayed it.

I also saw Persephone's Bee's in Detroit and bought the CD at the concert. As a "veteran" rocker I am not easily impressed with a lot new bands and their music. However, this is the best new material that I have heard in years. Excellent musicianship, writitng and lyrics.

Tom Ayres guitar work is incredible, Angelina Moysov lyrics and vocals are awesome. Mike Farrell' bass, and Eric Valentines drumming provide and excellent backdrop for the progress sound of the band.

I believe this is a must have CD and is the most refreshing talent to arrive in years.

this is the best new alternative rock band i have heard in a long time. their sound reminds me of earlier no doubt or the pretenders best tracks.

A very good album, I like the style a lot. Mixes a lot of different styles, maybe too many sometimes. Anyway, I do recommend this!

I liked Nice Day and the samples that I could check out here were interesting enough so I took a shot. The CD is better than I thought it could be. The lead singer's slight accent is charming. The music has an a bit of a retro 60's vibe to it with modern beats and a wonderful composition. The lyrics on songs like Walk to the Moon are just beautiful. You'll find little treasures in these songs.

This is a very solid, catchy album. It defines genre-placing, as it effectively mixes jazz, punk, new wave, and dance into 11 songs. Though it contains many of rock's elements, this album does not rock. It is much more of a dance-pop album, and each song makes you want to get up and groove the dance floor. I was amazed by how solid each of these songs are. "Way to Your Heart" is a great start, with a pounding punk assault which turns into a kicking dance song. Next, "Climbing" is reminiscent of Broadway tunes, and the singer's characteristic stop-start style is exmplified strongly. "City of Love" may be the best song. It is a perfect single which combines dance, jazz, and punk into one seamless pop masterpiece. "Nice Day" is another great piece of pop, with an R&B beat. "Muzika dilya Filma" is the most alternative piece, a nice slice of alternative dance that has a characteristic, unique feel. "Even though I'm fooling around" sounds like a pop single from the 60s and it is flawless in construction. "On the Earth" is a good punk tune which carries more on its construction and instrumentation than its hook. This slides nicely into "Walk on the Moon", my favorite tune, a beautiful piece of wet, harmonic, slow bliss which will make you want to fall in love under the stars. "Paper Plane" seems somewhat out of place, but it is a good punk piece which is among the most immediately catchy. "Queen's Night Out" is the weakest link. It's guitar riff carries nicely, but it doesn't seem to know where to go from there. "Home" is also not terribly impressive, although it is a nice piece of harder alternative dance.
If the last two songs were omitted, this would be a perfect album, one worthy of being called a masterpiece, even if its ideas have already been created by others. I am afraid that it's anachronistic style and the singer's strange rhythmic lurch will turn people off to what should be a mainstream dance-thomping sellout. This album should not be dismissed as simply a good indie-rock album among others. It is distinctively great for its time. And it should be remembered.

For all of you who miss bands like The Primitives, Adult Net, The Darling Buds, Talulah Gosh and all late 80's/early 90's indie pop, welcome to Persephone's Bees. They take the best of what made late 80's/early 90's girl bands and step it up a notch to create something new that feels familiar in a wonderful way. I've played this album at least once a day since I purchased the CD, and it's already been about a month. You just don't get tired of it. It makes you want to get up and dance.

I personally can't wait to see what they do next.