The Bird and the Bee return with the proper follow up to their 2006’s album Again and Again and Again and Again. Continuing along as a Jazz-Infused Electro Pop act, Inara George and Greg Kurstin may not offer any impressive new tricks on Ray Guns Are Not Just For the Future but that doesn’t stop them from laying out some wonderful music. For those wondering what Jazz-Infused Electro Pop may sound like, think spy movies and SS Bountyhunter (a wonderful band that is somewhat similar that all of ten people will likely remember). The Bird an dthe Bee are also similar to The Lovemakers, albeit a bit more laid back and natural sounding.
This album is sort of caught between being rave danceable and being accessible. While some of the music could certainly find its way onto the dance floor, the vocals, and sometimes the pace, keep it feeling a bit to laid back to whip you into a gleeful frenzy. “My Love” is a song that may slip into the disco though as the handclaps and foot stomps that drive it along could easily lend itself to a dance trend that would be classified somewhere between the Macarena and doing “We Will Rock You.” The smoky lounge sound of “Diamond Dave” follows it up, taking the award for album highlight. And yes, it’s a love song to the immortal David Lee Roth declaring love lost and regained with Roth’s leaving and reuniting with Van Halen. “Phil” is another great moment, opening with some funky drumming and a creepy organ before George’s sultry vocals smack you unapologetically.
Overall, Ray Guns Are Not Just For the Future is a solid album that a wide range of music lovers will find appealing. As I stated earlier, if you are looking for something that will bowl you over or offer you something you haven’t heard before than you won’t find it here. What you will find though is an album that rarely misses the mark and is wonderfully produced. The laid back feel here is my only complaint, while I enjoy it as is I will admit that I keep wondering how amazing it might be if played just a bit faster. If you enjoy bands like The Lovemakers, Ladytron, SS Bountyhunter, or female Jazz vocalists like Jane Monheit or Stephanie Adlington that are both playful and sultry in their delivery than you should definitely check out Ray Guns Are Not Just For the Future.
Reviewed by Mark Fisher
