Tag Archives: Bees Deluxe

Album Review: Bees Deluxe – Smash Hits

Posted on by

image courtesy of Bees Deluxe

by Eric Harabadian, Contributing Blogger

Album Review of Bees Deluxe: Smash Hits

The term “acid blues” gets bandied about in the description of this fine Boston-based east coast act. However, I don’t know if that tells the whole story. While they do possess a quirky psychedelic playfulness in their approach to lyrics and some sonic experimentation, they can be pretty no-nonsense, straight-ahead players as well.

This somewhat faceless British-American amalgam lays down some classic slow and pensive blues on the opening Fenton Robinson standard “Somebody Loan Me a Dime.” This tune spotlights smoking guitar and a plaintive, heartfelt vocal that will tug at your soul. And they keep that vibe going a little longer on the lyrically cryptic “When is Yesterday.” Cool electric piano and screaming guitar is only trumped by a smooth harmonica fadeout. “King of Bad Luck” is a recommended radio track for its authentic blues demeanor and subtle use of space. Everyone enjoys a novelty song from time to time, and these guys are not ones to shy away from a little humor. Beer drinkers of the world unite and enjoy the lyrical sentiments of “Beer.” You’ve gotta love a line like “I want you, but I need a beer!” It’s a weird juxtaposition of lighthearted revelry and Robben Ford-like guitar prowess.

photo courtesy of Bees Deluxe

They slip some instrumentals in here, too, like “Blues for the Decline of Western Civilization.” There’s this jazzy Wes Montgomery-flavored octave thing happening that blends with a mid-section acoustic guitar lead. It’s a really tasteful and well-orchestrated musical departure from your standard blues fare. “Nitro” follows and is a cute little song, with the line, “You filled me up with nitroglycerin… You lit my fuse and blew me up!” It’s an odd and quirky premise supported by a reggae-like rhythm and lively horns in the chorus.

Another curiously titled piece is the piano-driven instrumental “How to Play 96 Tears.” It really has nothing remotely related to the Question Mark and the Mysterians classic, but it’s an intriguing roadside attraction to further throw convention out the window. “Bad Influence” boasts the line “you got ways to make me do what you want.” The Mark Knopfler/Dire Straits like finger-picking of the guitar fuels the coercive sentiment of this curious jam, requiring further scrutiny. A blues song that was popularized in the rock world back in the day was one done by the J. Geils Band called “Homework.” This Otis Rush classic is unearthed here, with open, inviting grooves and tight drum fills. It just feels really good, and the teen love angst expressed in the song comes off very well.

“Kidnap” is another weird and wonderful track that sounds like an outtake from Steely Dan’s Gaucho album. Its laid back syncopation and cool rubato drum fills are a startling surprise. “Crank Part Two” is some cool, somewhat experimental, funk, as “I Wouldn’t Treat a Dog” and “Gee Whiz” wind things down with equally pseudo-funky backbeats and loose open jams.

Bees Deluxe have been wowing crowds, as they say, from “Maine to Miami.” And critics have noted their Zappa-like wit, Steve Ray Vaughn-flavored passion and penchant for jazzy textures and engaging interplay. You can’t really put your finger on what they actually are, other than an unorthodox blues band that likes to have fun and slyly break the rules.

Album Review: Bees Deluxe – Hallucinate

Posted on by

photo courtesy of Bees Deluxe

Album Review of Bees Deluxe: Hallucinate

Bees Deluxe‘s music is a unique, progressive combination of blues, jazz, and funky rock. On the band’s newest album Hallucinate, Conrad Warre (guitar, bass, vocals, trumpet, kaossilator, strings, keyboards), Carol Band (keyboards, vocals, harmonica), Paul Giovine (drums, percussion), and Adam Sankowski (bass guitar) are joined by a half-dozen additional musicians to round out the sound on various tracks. You can read the liner notes via this link for a glimpse at the other exceptional instrumentalists involved in this project.

The album has a cohesive sound, with an experimental bent permeating throughout, giving a jazz feeling and even an alternative progressive rock flavor to what is, if you dig deeply, primarily a blues album. The band refers to itself as Boston’s British/American acid blues, the “British” referring to guitarist Warre’s British origin, and who am I to argue with the description? I certainly can’t concoct a better description to this high-brow mélange of musical influences.

Bees Deluxe opens Hallucinate coolly with the rhythmically catchy “Sharkskin Suit,” then follows it immediately with the funky grooves of “When Is Yesterday.”

There’s a familiarity I feel for Bees Deluxe’s sound, and it comes from an entirely different – or seemingly entirely different – musical style. At least, there’s a similarity to an artist I’ve always thought of as a different genre. Notably, “Houdini” and “What’s Wrong with Me” both remind me of the Les Paul’s (The Paul’s) albums I’ve previously reviewed, and Warre’s vocals throughout hint just a bit (or quite a bit, as the case may be) at the vocal stylings found on Les Paul’s (The Paul’s)’s releases.

photo courtesy of Bees Deluxe

Back to Bees Deluxe, though, and there’s an originality in the band’s sound that makes its music difficult to categorize (blues and jazz with a bit of an old-school alt-pop-rock energy) but easy to enjoy. “Queen Midas” stands out as a song that might have stood a chance as a crossover song, with a soft-edged but still clearly punk attitude and aggression intertwined with the smoother overall music bed.

I’m especially drawn to a song that stands out by being so different, the smooth, keyboard-driven instrumental piece, “How to Play 96 Tears,” that lacks the edginess of the surrounding tracks. It’s just a really good, short piano number. The other instrumental piece on the record, “Gary Burton’s ex-Guitar Player Stole My Highschool Girlfriend and Now I Can’t Stop Dreaming About Her,” features some cool, contemplative guitar noodling, something you’ll need to replay the song to notice, since you spent the whole three minutes the first time through just reading the song title.

photo courtesy of Bees Deluxe

And finally, if you ever hear me call a song “hep,” as in “cool-but-old school,” it’d have to sound a lot like Bees Deluxe’s “Call Me Frank.”

I’ve already mentioned the two final songs on the album, “Houdini” and “What’s Wrong with Me,” the latter a catchy pop-jazz-blues groove that’ll leave you wanting more. Or, at least, to start over and play the album again.

Hallucinate is a solid entry from this I-suppose-they-must-be-blues-maybe outfit, one of the more unique – and uniquely talented – groups on the Boston music scene. I’m guessing it’ll be a groovy live performance; hopefully, I’ll find my way to one of their gigs one of these days.