A Band of Bees - Free the Bees

There are plenty of throwback bands, harkening a return to some bygone era of music. Hell, there haven’t been many bands lately that don’t seem to be part of some revival movement. But there is always some twist to make it modern, a reinvention. Not A Band of Bees. Frankly, I’m a little shocked this album wasn’t recorded in 1968. There are the bouncy walking bass lines, spring reverb laden guitars, swirling Hammond organs, Ringo rolling drum fills and tambourine. But were they really hit the nail on the head are the vocals. I almost don’t even know what it is, maybe the group harmonized background vocals or the just-enough echo to make them sit in the mix in just the right way. It’s a shame trademark infringement kept this band from being simply The Bees (or even The Bees UK… not that A Band of Bees is a bad name, especially for a six-person group). First time I heard of this group was actually from the Nashville band The Bees (or would that be The Bees US?), who were trying to secure rights to the name on this side of the Atlantic. Either way, when I host my own Frankie and Annette style beach party, “Chicken Payback” will be playing as I twist, mash the potatoes, and yes, perhaps even do the ‘Gator. How the Brits are so adept at making music for the hearts of Americans I’ll never know. [www.thebees.info]