The Bird and the Bee Ray Guns Are Not Just the Future

With their new album, The Bird and the Bee pick up the mantle of retro jazzy, Euro-pop that was picked up by the Cardigans in the 90s and carried on by bands like Broadcast more recently. Sound was very important to those bands, as it is here, though maybe less so. There’s no outright club track like Fucking Boyfriend from the debut, nor is there anything that plays as close to the edge as that one. Some of the clever songwriting is still intact and that rescues an otherwise middle of the road affair.

The leadoff track, My Love, kicks in after their Fanfare, and promises a little more than the set eventually delivers. It’s a strong tune, with wonderful percussive handclaps and a killer chorus, that had me ready to be swept away in its modernized nostalgic vibe. And for a while they maintain a decent, if diminished pace. But eventually the album runs out of steam and midway through the easygoing, breezy charm of the best songs begin to sound more like laziness, or a paucity of ideas.  But Ray Guns is not completely front-loaded. Clearly the highlight is Birthday, which has the strongest hook on the album, and you can imagine it breaking though to the mainstream in the form of a jingle for a new and improved Beta-Blocker. But there are other strong entries here. What’s in the Middle is a fine pop ditty, as are Witch and Diamond Dave (with its Celesta flourishes) and some others. There is no overreaching ambition present – the songs are meant to be harmless and turn out to be. 

If you’re missing bands like the Cardigans or Frente or Ace of Base even, this might be for you. Not a lot of it sticks to the ribs, so it’s more of a late afternoon snack than a full meal. It’s pleasant enough but not so sugary sweet as to give you an upset stomach. BTW, this is on Blue Note? What up with that?