Band of Bees retro rock hearkens back to the Beatles
Like many of you, I spent my early formative years with the radio dial turned faithfully to the local oldies station. This was more my parents’ decision than mine, but I’m glad for what they did. When I heard retro-rock revivalists A Band of Bees, my ear told me they belonged on the oldies station, but my heart – which, by now, has every Top 40 hit from 1960-1974 memorized – told me they were new.
Coming from the Isle of Wight, the band began with their 2002 UK only release, “Sunshine Hit Me.” Recorded in founding band member Paul Butler’s garden shed, it became an underground success overseas and paved the way for their first U.S. release, “Free the Bees” in 2004.
Ignoring the past two decades, A Band of Bees sound like heirs to the pop throne formerly held by bands like the Kinks and the Beatles, hearkening to the psychedelia of the latter with the plodding bass of “No Atmosphere” and sounding like one of Ray Davies’ best moments in the mellow pop of “The Hourglass.” Most surprising is this band’s affinity for American soul. Almost every track on “Free the Bees” has an obvious debt to artists like James Brown, the Temptations and Wilson Pickett.
This makes for an album that, despite the affected, lo-fi production that runs throughout, sounds as new and fresh as it is eclectic. A Band of Bees turns the revivalist work of the Raveonettes and the Hives on its head, writing better songs, better capturing the retro vibe and better managing to make the whole thing relevant in 2006.
Though their modern-edge and 60’s kitsch make the sound timeless, A Band of Bees won’t be around forever. Don’t waste anymore time in discovering your inner mod: buy one of their records right away.
Comments and questions can be sent to Zach at
zpendleton@cc.usu.edu.