Sunshine Hit Me

Fun and eclectic but lacking a bit for a song or two that really captured me.

Album cover is okay I guess, personally do not like the style but I get it. This album is extremely properly named. Throughout the album The Bees hit me with the word "Sunshine" at LEAST 30 times. They seriously need to find a thesaurus for other words for sun. Otherwise this album is kind of boring, its the perfect music for falling asleep while suntanning I guess. The Maracas on "Binnel Bay" are unenjoyable, and overall the rest of the album is just too slow. I personally do not like these types of albums where an artist sings into the mic slowly with a single guitar in the background, maybe even light drums if we are lucky. Will not be listening to again. Best Song: Punchbag. Worst Song: Binnel Bay.

It’s sunny, but these clear skies are not as beautiful as nice, sunlit clouds. This album is smooth and jazzy, but lacks the ‘clouds’ that give it depth in some songs. On the surface, it’s refreshing, making it good background music. If any of these songs came on, chances are I wouldn’t turn it off.

a nice change of pace from the rock i’ve been getting

Better than I thought. I'm glad I gave it a try

C'était pas pire!

Je ne connaissais pas. Pas pire effectivement.

Le band cousin des Gees. Au début, pas convaincu du mix indie rock/lounge/reggae, mais le plaisir a crû tout au long de l'album, surtout les 3 dernières tracks. Bravo à ce band que je ne connaissais pas non plus!

hey, it's that one song

Very boring

Lo escuché las apuradas pero no me pareció ni malo ni muy bueno.

Algunas muy buenas, algunas muy raras, quizá lo volvería a escuchar, interesante.

Wow, eigentlich das perfekte Album für einen entspannten Sonntag. Einfach laid-back aber dennoch Instrumentell gut-klingend.

What the background music? Overall, a genuinely good album with only a few questionable sections.

Sunshine Hit Me is a summery and breezy little psych pop album, that I enjoyed well enough. It did feel a little "background music" though. And it's also worth noting that the best song here is, in fact an Os Mutantes cover. Which both constitute a couple of points away. But I enjoyed my time well enough. Read this as a high 2.

Fortunate that I woke up very early on a Sunday morning to find this album as my next selection. This was an ideal day and time to listen and enjoy its laid back nature. There is only one Sunday morning in a week so won’t play again or in fact ever. 2/5 18/10/26

I like when the generator throws me a curveball. Despite the title, a laid-back, kinda summery vibe wasn't what I thought I might get. Very enjoyable album.

Very eclectic, fairly mellow, and somewhat retro in vibe - nice for Sunday lounging.

I've never heard of this artist. Wonder if anything will sound familiar once I listen? I wasn't sure what to think about this album at first - but I really started grooving on a lot of the songs in the back half. I ended up liking 6 songs "Sunshine", "This Town", "Sweet Like a Champion", "Lying In The Snow", "Zia", and "Sky Holds The Sun". These all had a cool chill vibe to them. The song "Lying in the Snow" kind of reminded me of The Beta Band. These liked songs were a good surprise! Liked songs on Spotify: 6/11 Rating: 3/5

I was very surprised to see this here but its not the worst. I was an active indie head in the UK at this time and even i only came across them by their second album so its pretty obscure and i feel the secind album has more depth to it A couple of listens reveals a light and sunny record that would work well as background music for a BBQ or picnic. Its well put together and quiet eclectic. Unfortunatley it is cold and busy today so it didnt match the vibe and i maybe the Bees needed to go up a couple of notches in their songwriting before this could be considered important.

Cracker

Habe noch nie die Platte einer britischen Band gehört, die so wenig nach GB klingt. Der Titel ist auf jeden Fall Programm. Schöne Neo-Psychedelia a la Tame Impala vs. Reggae-Rock a la The Police vs. Weirdness a la Animal Collective. Letztere hätten sie für mich etwas zurückschrauben können. Hier waren ein paar Songs dabei, die etwas ziellos vor sich herumgedümpelt sind. Aber ansonsten stecken hier viele tolle Ideen drin und die Platte ist super vielseitig. Noch nie von der Band gehört. Verstehe gar nicht, wieso die nicht von irgendwelchen RYM-Nerds verehrt werden. Hat mir sehr gut gefallen.

Irgendwas zwischen Lounge und Club. Macht mich irgendwie an. Ich kann gar nicht sagen warum. Ob ich es nochmal hören werde, vermag nur die Zukunft zu sagen.

Schwierig, es plätschert so dahin, ist schön anzuhören, verliert mich aber auch zwischendurch dauernd.

While some of the songwriting and vocals were just okay or not really my style, the instrumentation and weirdness on this album was really enjoyable. Very creative, a little jazzy at times. Liked way more than I thought would. 4/5.

Solid but uninspiring mostly

I haven’t heard of the Bees nor heard of their music. This is a quiet album. Sparse instrumentation. The vocals are often buried. The vocals are not that good. There is a psychedelic influence in the music. There is some nice organ and saxophone on the album. None of the songs stand out. They sound the same and are a bit monotonous. This is an average album. Three stars.

Inconsequential, forgotten art rock that separates a bit from the stock with odd instrumentation but its tired, quirky style and lyricism gets old by track 4.

Не знаю. Не прочувствовал. Не понял.

Sounds like ad music.

Totally inoffensive genre-mashing pop from the early aughts. Designed to be played in urban outfitters. (Wait - is urban outfitters still a thing…?)

Interesting.

"Hit by Sunshine" is one of the rare albums that manage to be laid-back enough to blend effortlessly into the background, while still being engaging enough to reward active listening. The album sets a cozy lo-fi atmosphere from the get-go with the vintage-sounding intro of “Punchbag.” Vocal harmonies blend seamlessly in and out of gentle horn sections, while the underlying beat keeps looping with slight variations. Lyrics are sparse but evocative. “Angryman” introduces a cool jazz groove, embellished with a few funky guitar chords. The song features multiple types of keyboards, wind instruments, a vocal chorus and a minimalistic saxophone solo. There’s a lot going on, but it’s arranged so effortlessly that you barely notice the complexity. “Trophy” follows suit, weaving plenty of musical detail into a very laid-back track while leaning into a reggae aesthetic. “Binnel Bay” lingers for a moment on a glockenspiel melody supported by minimal percussive elements, before simple keyboard chords take over. The underlying rhythm phases in and out organically. It feels like warm summer rain. “Sunshine” is almost entirely instrumental except for a few sung words at the very end. It starts sparsely, lulling you into a relaxing mood, before bursting into a dramatic melody. It feels a bit like a post rock song but has a very distinct vibe and unique sound structure. With “A Minha Menina” the album picks up the pace. It’s an enjoyable folk-rock song that feels raw and energetic. However, the transition from the previous track is so jarring that the first time I heard it I had to check if I’d accidentally skipped the track before midway. The remaining five songs lean a bit too far back. It’s nice music, but at times it feels a little too close to “lo-fi beats to study to”. I found myself zoning out a couple of times. The first half of this album is an absolute gem and should be treasured as such. The second half is a slow fizzle-out that dampens my overall perception. Still, what’s presented here is a decent to strong 4.

Never heard of this band. Very unique sound

I had never heard of this band. There were some highs, there were some mehs. It'd probably be a 3.5, if I could. Lots of variety and a cool lo-fi feel.

The dreamy backing track is starting to annoy now where at first it seemed kind of interesting. The falsetto vocals are going to wear me out pretty quickly. These guys are British contemporaries of TV On The Radio. British bands and ska...a tale as old as the 1960s. The Beach Boys used the theremin on Pet Sounds and it seemed like an organic decision. The instrumentation on this album seems more like an affectation. This is agreeable enough...the kind of thing you might ask about if it was on in the background at a party, but not enough to remember the band name once you'd been told. This feels like the soundtrack to an indie movie. Not loving Zia as just a long instrumental. It's not bad...it is also not good. DeVotchKa and these guys probably get along great, contemporaries. I didn't realize these were the Chicken Payback guys until the Because You Listened To...songs started. I do like that song.

hmmm i dunno, it's nothing impressive but also harmless. it's like the equivalent of stock music for a good vibes, weedy, timeless but also very 60s ish, hippie search i think it might be good music but for the art factor it missed me feeling connected to it. so it takes my neutral 2 rating. also the "a minha menina" cover sounds way worse, but i appreciate the tribute/try.

Um… is it British? Well, it IS British. But… I have to say, I really liked it. A lot. I will even go as far as to say it belongs on the list. I am glad to have heard this before I died. Now if it came down between this and The Microphones The Glow pt 2 (not on the official list) I would have to go with The Microphones. Sorry. But… we could get rid of a couple of Elvis Costello albums and include both, yeah? 4 Boolean: True

I need another listen to this. I may want to come back

I was hoping The Bees would sound like The Hives, they don't. It's not bad though, chill, and a little quirky.

The album cover is cool.

Started weak but I like the chill downtempo final 3 songs

kind of like indie/weird sublime? Almost? I like it. May get higher over time

Never heard of them. Track 1 did not excite me. Read Wikipedia, not enthused. But some of the subsequent tracks were properly engaging. I particularly liked Sunshine. I don't hold it against them that they were heavily influenced by (copied) styles which others had done well. Their version of A Minha Menina adds nothing to Os Mutantes' version (apart from translating some of the lyrics into English), but curiosity did send me back to Os Mutantes, and even back to Jorge Ben, there is that. I'm still curious why it got into the 1001 (not impactful when released, little claim to legacy other than being in the book) - was it somehow picked as most representative of some trend towards lo-fi in albums? In any event I'm happy enough to have listened to some low-fi homages to music from other places. Could be passable soundtrack for a chill afternoon. It’s Good, 7/10.

Det her bevæger sig på en knivsæg for mig. Det er lige ved, at det kammer over i indie for indie's sake, men på den anden side er det også bare lidt chill. Ligemeget hvad det er, så er det dog ikke mega spændende, synes jeg. Fin 3'er. 3.0

snore!!!!

The latest (and worst) in my recent run of utterly inconsequential albums from the 2000s that have made no lasting (or even transient) impact on popular culture. Less that forgettable.

The return of Jethro tull

Nice and chilled. Good DP or background

This was fine. 2.9

2.6/5

I was ready to dismiss this as another forgotten 2000s curio, but giving it another couple of spins while driving and walking at night really opened it up for me. A really unique blend of so many styles and genres that never sounds like it was recorded in the' garden shed of one of the two members' parents. Recommended.

***a good easy listening album

It grew on me but ultimately didn’t present any cohesive musical exploration—it was all over the place musically.

Some of this was pretty fun. Kind of put me in a good mood. I thought out faded towards the end but I may have been distracted.

This is easy to listen to. It’s got a laid back vibe. Nothing groundbreaking.

intro et outro bravo c'est aérien léger smooth

Like ween and the specials mixed together. Immaculate vibes and some great songwriting. Amazingly creative if a little operative at times. Never heard of them before so this was a great surprise

Nice album. No idea why it's on the list though. Most recognisable song is a cover. 3/5.

I liked this! More along the lines of what I tend to listen to, and an interesting sound

What do you get when you add psychedelia, folk, bluegrass, space rock, CSNY, The Moody Blues, The Beatles, a shitload of weed, and Tame Impala together? I’m pretty sure the answer is this album. I wasn’t quite sure what I was listening to honestly. I don’t know if I was stoned enough to appreciate it as much as I should’ve. I’ve been in a Beatles mood recently, so the Sunshine is probably my favorite with a close second being a Lying in the Snow. Interesting album.

Random thoughts: * I went into this one totally blind. * Wow! What a ride? Once I let go trying to define the genre and just enjoy the music, this was a fun listen that really grew on me. * I finally figured out on about the third listen this is basically indie/jazz to my ears. * There was so much happening in the songs and genres with A Minha Menina which I think is a Brazilian song, No Trophy which is reggae. They hit some other genres in there. * I really loved the organ on this music and made the last few chill tracks so much better. * I'm definitely adding this one to my rotation. * Bravo 1001 for a hidden gem.

A bit too "background".

Super chill album, really enjoy the vibes of this one. I especially love the instrumentals at the end of this album: the piano playing on Zia standing out in particular. Favourites: This Town Zia Sky Holds The Sun

I enjoyed this album. Never heard of the group as I assume most people also had and I enjoyed its sound. The reggae influences were fun.

aight

I don't know. some odd funk jazz. it's ok

заебок, сохранил.

2,9 Highlights: A Minha Menina, Sweet Like a Champion

I wanted to like this, I really did. it had some lovely melodies. but I'm rating this against the greatest albums of all time. this is not in that tier.

This has gone high up on my list of bands I had never heard of and really enjoyed. Particularly the eclectic nature of the tracks in terms of changing genres.

At first, I was a little floored by how trite it all was. I was ready to get the pitchfork out, but as the records goes on, I found myself enjoying a little more. Is it mind blowing, absolutely must listen ? Probably not. That doesn't mean it doesn't have a certain lane, and worth a listen as a whole. The middle of the record is trying a lot more than the start and that is odd, but that is not inexcusable. In the end I was still a little bored, but ok, fair enough

I had never listened to this one before. Never heard of it. Never heard of The Bees. Some songs were enjoyable (looks like the breakthrough was A Minha Menina) and it was solid, chill, lo-fi background music. But, for me, that’s all it was. Probably wouldn’t throw it on again

Interesting - kind of jazzy/bluesy with a psychedelic side too. Some parts of Angryman reminds me of some KGLW stuff, with some noodly guitars, light reverb. Nice Kind of reggae/dub/ska feel with 'bubbly' guitsrs on No Trophy. Again, puts me in mind of Mycelium by KGLW. Garagey feel alongside the fun rhythms in A Minha Menina Generally I like it, but it could use more propulsion for me, it feels a bit too spacey. Best track - Angryman 3.5 stars - call it a 4

Liked this a lot!

Good eclectic sound.

You. Me. Sitting at a cocktail bar. Light hearted conversations. This album playing in the background. Perfect day.

pretty chill and fun

The curse of “nominated for the Mercury Prize” strikes again!

Yall are fucking uppity as hell this album is great.

Netter Mix aus elektonischem Pop/Rock. Schön zu hören, entspannt. 3-4/5

BBQ music, eating burned sausages and drinking beer at any sign of anything over 23c.

A very laid back n enjoyable listen. Will check out other albums.

3.3

8. septembar 2026. 20.49h ne znam sta sam ocekivala ali nisam ovaj zanr, pri pocetku mi je bio nako i onda bolji best: sunshine, this town, zia

It’s confusing to me that they picked the magnificent Os Mutantes song A Minha Menina, which is great. It makes me wonder about my taste because the rest of the album is not listenable.

This was a fun record, new to me. Sounds great.

Trying to guess if this is an album from 2002 or 1969. 5/5

I love this! I didn't know what I was getting into, but this is an excellent and weird album from start to finish!

Haha, why is this obscure record on here? There’s definitely worse records on here, but honestly some of the selections are just head scratchers. This is one of those. Not terrible, but not memorable either, and doesn’t do anything to make me understand why I should’ve heard this at some point in my life. 6/10

Just not for me at all.

I found this underwhelming and kind of forgettable.

3 - Pretty good. This sounds much older than 2001.

These seem like nice lads, and reasonably sincere in their appreciation of Seventies reggae; "No Trophy" and "This Town" in particular do a credible impersonation of early, serene Marley. And the Jorge Ben cover is also done well - they can certainly play a bit. But I'm having trouble identifying anything beyond just competent stylistic imitation here. This sounds like what a certain species of early-00s music critic would think a relaxing summer party would sound like - all pleasant and smiley and multicultural in easy-to-navigate ways. Come to think of it, it's basically an alcohol ad, but like, one of the hipster varieties. It was good but not more than that.

Twee and nice enough. Some good festival memories. There are many meandering moments that are more awkward than ecstatic. They are clearly drawing on a wide range of inspirations but a lot of the songs sound very similar gumbo.

I don't think my final opinions would be as positive if my last listening wasn't while I was outside, in a calm environment, because when I was working I thought this was incredibly mediocre. The appeal of this record is that it is has some relaxing vibes and a smooth sound. Genre wise I find it hard to describe. Maybe Neo-Psychedelia is the most accurate term, but it is far from the main rock trend of the style, and also is not that strange or weird, in general. If anything, it is close to Neo-Psychedelia due to being a bit reminiscent of some music from the 60's, and that's it. As I was saying, the songs here are usually pleasant to listen to. The main instruments are the piano, synth and drums, while also being occasional saxophones, acoustic and electric guitars, all of them playing at slow tempo and some nice and sometimes beautiful melodies. The voices too are nice to the ear. The bad thing about this album is that is not that remarkable Yes, it might sound pleasant, but that doesn't mean that it is gorgeous or that I'm incredibly immerse. The ideas presented here I believe are just fine, and I would even described them as background music with nothing special. Besides, "No Trophy" and "Binnel Bay" add nothing to the track list, and the cover of "A Minha Menina" is an incredibly weird inclusion. I love the original song, but its high spirited energy and charm does not fit well in this album. Either way, it is a decent experience.

It’s fine but I definitely could’ve gone my whole life without listening to this

Banger

gostei, o cover dos mutantes me pegou de surpresa!

Kinda a fun trip. Suffers slightly from being a bit too spaced out and eclectic and almost aimless for my tastes. Theres some really pleasant stuff there though. I had a nice time listening through it.