Ray Guns Are Not Just The Future

The Bird and the Bee | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 27, 2009)
• Original Release Date: 2009
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Blue Note Records
• ASIN: B001IKE6BA
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (40 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #61,941 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Greg Kurstin (`bee') and Inara George (`bird') make syncopated danceable pop that sounds like audible sunshine." -- Rolling Stone

Product Description

2009 release. Ray Guns Are Not Just the Future is definitely new sonic terrain for the Los Angeles-based duo. Every bit as beguiling as their debut, the album retains its predecessor's lithe melodies and Brazilian influences, but takes its stylish, '60s pop deeper into the Psychedelic period of the Tropicalia era. 14 tracks.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Happiness Is A Warm Ray Gun January 28, 2009

By discod841

Format:Audio CD

There is, in fact, much to like about this album...finely crafted songs, witty lyrics, Inara George's lovely voice. For my money, the standouts are "Love Letter to Japan" and "Birthday", though I can't say there's any one song that's unlistenable. You're usually setting yourself up for disappointment if you pigeonhole an artist based solely on their first album, particularly artists as talented as The Bird and the Bee. While you may or may not prefer their eponymous debut over this release (or even one of their EPs, for that matter), a 1 star release this is not.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Excellent Addition!!! January 28, 2009

By Sam

Format:Audio CD

The Bird and the Bee seems to just keep getting better and better! Such wonderful catchy melodies, intricate instrumentation, and Inara George's sultry voice send tingling feelings throughout me everytime I listen to this CD. Make no mistake - this is NOT just another blase generic "American Idol" sounding hum-drum lowest-common-denominator type of album. It's the real thing. Inara George and Greg Kurstin understand what songwriting is all about. I'm not sure why one of the reviewers (who admits to not having heard the entire CD) would state that this album isn't catchy. I find this very far from the truth. As much as I love the first album and their other song releases since then ("Come As You Were" is an excellent tune in my opinion), this album adds an additional level of maturity to their sound. Just when you think a melody in one of their choruses is predictable, The Bird and the Bee throws you for a loop and takes you in an unexpected direction. How utterly delightful. This is exactly how the legendary Rodgers and Hart would operate in writing their songs decades ago - by throwing the listener in unexpected directions.

My favorite track of this album is "Meteor." Listening to the opening verse, I was confident this track was going to be the low point of the album. Then, suddenly, the chorus kicks in and all the pieces of the song unexpectedly fit together in a very lush, creamy sort of way. I can't think of any other way to describe it. "What's in the Middle" is another great tune with a very interesting melody, "Love Letter to Japan" is a small tribute to bubblegum J-Pop (and a fun video if you get the chance to see it), and "You're a Cad" has a theatrical flair to it replete with major and minor chords that seem to do-si-do around each other. The other tunes on this album are deserving of similar praise! (By the way, it is true that 2 songs on this album have previously been released. I'm not sure about "Polite Dance Song," but "Birthday" is not a carbon-copy of the same song from their previous album. There are changes in some of the instrumentation that were quite noticeable to me compared to the previous version.)

It's easy to get tired of songs on mainstream radio that sound pretty, but end up being the same old thing and are forgettable after a month or two (and aim to please 98% of radio listeners). Groups like The Bird and the Bee, The Ditty Bops, The Divine Comedy, and Air (just a few of my favorites) are the ones I cherish because they offer something different. Most importantly, their melodies are hummable long after you've hit stop on your CD/MP3 player.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars B & B Ray Gun January 28, 2009

By J. Onorato

Format:MP3 Music|Amazon Verified Purchase

Another fine effort by B&B. Some songs are better than others, but all are enjoyable. My favorites are 'Diamond Dave' which features those trademark swirling, near-robotic hamonies; Love Letter to Japan, with its slick anthem-like background vocals; and You're a Cad, which has a cheesy-cool ragtime feel. There are other good ones, like Witch and Birthday. In fact the only song I wasn't crazy about was Lifespan of a Fly. If you're already familiar with B&B, you won't be disappointed. If you're new to the duo, give them a shot- they're a lot of fun.