Reviews (page 4 of 7)
Like a nice vacation Refreshing. Possibly not life-changing but the best vacations usually aren’t. Warm and chilly but nothing groundbreaking . Plenty of Nuggets ( or songs that could be on that classic collection) Nice 2.5 Not sure to round up or down My personal scale of 1 - god awful 2 - dull or bad with at least 1 redeeming factor 3 . Good - will consider adding the vinyl to my collection
This is about as wholesome as I would expect a band called The Bees to sound. Almost even to the point where it's so wholesome that it's not daring enough, and lacks the depth and unpredictability that I like to hear in an album. But it's still a fun little project, it's one that if I listen to it in the right mood I can definitely see myself absolutely loving this.
This is undoubtedly a summer album. I say this as I listen during a snowy day in mid-December in Michigan. That is, this album may have hit harder in June, and I will probably check it out again once the sunlight returns. That said, this does transport you to tropical environs. It's colorful, warm, psychedelic. It has those flowery 60s vibes and is totally groovy. I really like the vintage sounds and the homemade feel, almost like solo Paul McCartney vibes. There is a strong influence of reggae and dub and Caribbean and Latin American music but still has that millennial indie backbone. You can tell these guys are pretty chill and to cover Os Mutantes ("A Minha Menina") means they're cool enough in my book. I don't know if there is anything incredibly profound here, but just an enjoyable listen. An eclectic ensemble of instruments with good grooves makes for a fun time. It will probably bump up when I listen to this in better weather and with a pina colada in hand.
Feelings I got from previous bossa nova records also apply here. On a cold December morning at 5:30AM I’m sent to somewhere much warmer, but just as sleepy. “A Minha Menina” is worth the praise and attention it gets. It’s got TV ad or network sitcom montage written all over it. “Zia” felt strangely similar to “Us & Them” by Pink Floyd if it was a bit more sun-soaked. I really enjoyed “This Town” as well, that might be my pick from the album. Not at all culturally significant therefore I am questioning its place on the list. Nonetheless, it was a very easy, enjoyable listen. 3/5
not bad, hat aber iwie ka klare linie
Variation of vibes on this album with some songs I would defo go back to (those on the chiller side). Not quite mind-blowing, but a fun listen
Surprisingly fine for a band I don't really know a lot about
Pleasant. But didnt grab me by the short and curlies.
This is fine. It's nice enough. Some moments sound like the Beatles, some like the Beach Boys. Not essential to listen to before your hearing goes.
Kinda fun, kinda background music. Don't know how it was groundbreaking or considered such an achievement.
Not sure about the "need to hear" quality of this, but I'm glad that I did! One of those random weird picks that's actually quite nice. 3.5/5
hmmm
Spun it twice. A couple of pleasant songs. Nothing special. Don’t hate it, but won’t be going back for more.
Not my thing
Almost feels like a joke, but slightly too good for that.
I found the band's sound very polished. The arrangements fit together very well. Everything sounds very clear. It doesn't sound as pretentious as other bands of this generation that want to be those strange indie bands. Being Brazilian, I even found the cover of "Minha Menina" by Os Mutantes funny.
There is nothing on this album would make me want to listen to it again, although there are some nice chilled out tracks towards the end. Credit to them for recording this at home. But I think they were/are destined to be a support band forever. I'd rather listen to The Hives.
3.5
An oddball collection of songs, but there are some likable moments here. I'm sure there are audiophiles out there who will love some of the more interesting instrumental backings. But altogether, the album doesn't cohere into any clear musical statement, and too many tracks would make a good fit for a Youtube lo-fi study video. It's a mostly enjoyable listen, but nothing all that noteworthy.
I liked the album cover. Sounded fine but nothing memorable.
The first half of this is the type of music that will have you walking down the street whistling like Steamboat Willie! The second half is the type of music you listen to at a cafe watching the rain roll down the window. I love the duality of it and that’s why I’m rating it highly.
отличный альбом для спокойного настроения, прям в точку попал он
Amazing little indie album.
Me resultan originales y me gusta en general
What the fuck is happening in this album? It's got a little bit of everything and I can't tell if it's Good or Imitating Something Good. It's nice when it's on the knife edge of jazzy without being jazz or lo-fi beats to study to (which it often shifts to) and some of the twee shit really grinds my gears. A Minha Menina fuckin' sucks, dude. But there's obviously some great stuff here. I can't get my head around it. Some parts are a low two to one and some parts are a 4, so I'm gonna split the difference.
Jesus Fucking Christ. There's more 2000s British indie on here? Why is this here? I swear this whole album list is just one big British circle jerk of the same types of artists and bands over and over and over again. This is yet another instance of bunch of quirky british white guys trying to be "eclectic" or whatever and having it all blend into each other anyway. This reminds me a lot of a different band on this list whose name starts with B, the Beta Band. I don't like the Beta Band very much, and I don't particularly care for the Bees either. I do think that I liked this more than Hot Shots II, but it's by a pretty slim margin. The album sounds alright. It's got some nice moments musically. The vocals are whatever. The writing exists. The album doesn't go on for too long, I'll give it that. Too many of these albums go on for an hour+, so a 40 minute album is nice to see. I just don't care about this one. It's not bad, but there is no reason for me having to listen to this before my death. Also, the Os Mutantes cover is just okay. Worse than the original, but not bad in and of itself. Low 3/5.
nice
It finished before starting 😅
This was okay nothing amazing
Very atmospheric and intriguing, with some clear influences in jazz and funk along with psychedelic rock.
The album cover for "Sunshine Hit Me" is frankly awful and doesn't set a good first impression. The opening track, "Punchbag," is pleasantly mellow, but its slow pace makes it an odd choice to lead an album. As the record progresses, it becomes clear that this mellow sound is the reigning aesthetic. Tracks like "Angryman" and "No Trophy" follow suit. While "No Trophy" injects a slight, jaunty Ska influence, it remains distinctly low-key. By the time the listener reaches "Binnel Bay," the fourth track, the consistently sedate and one-paced nature of the album begins to struggle to hold interest. However, the middle section offers some much-needed variety. The cover of "A Minha Menina" brings a refreshing change of pace with its driving rhythm and a sharp, high-in-the-mix guitar hook that stands out completely from the preceding tracks. Similarly, "Sweet Like a Champion" distinguishes itself with its sombre, melancholic, bass vocals and delicate acoustic guitar work. Ultimately, while the album is well-performed and features a pleasant mix, "Sunshine Hit Me" is largely one-paced and lacking in dynamics. For me, it fails to offer the necessary variety to stay engaging and, as a result, didn't stir an emotional reaction of any kind. It's not a disagreeable album, just nice and forgettable. Rounding up, it just rates three stars. 1. "Punchbag" (3/5) 2. "Angryman" (3/5) 3. "No Trophy" (3/5) 4. "Binnel Bay" (2/5) 5. "Sunshine" (2/5) 6. "A Minha Menina" (4/5) 7. "This Town" (2/5) 8. "Sweet Like a Champion" (4/5) 9. "Lying in the Snow" (3/5) 10. "Zia" (2/5) 11. "Sky Holds the Sun" (3/5) Total - 31 Average - 2.82 145/1001 75/145 albums reviewed were new to me.
New band to me, though on first listen I recognized A Minha Menina, though maybe just because it's a cover. Overall, feels like a band with lots of potential, but a little to unfinished for my liking, but maybe that's just the psy-music vibe. Punchbag - this is a solid first track. Nice interplay of the intstruments, keyboard, drums, bass, and horn all working together. Even got a nice contribution to the groove from a triangle, which maybe a first. Writing this on my second listen and still wish they had a stronger vocalist, though I don't hate his contributions here...well, maybe, "use me like a punchbag" just doesn't fit with the overall groove, like someone just decided to sing some gibberish just because. Angryman - also a great vibe--and and again more contributions from a triangle, but I really want them to get a better vocalist. No Trophy - I'm not convinced by their attempt at dub. Feels like they got stoned and were like, we could play this, but it's mediocre. Binnel Bay - No. BS psy-rock stoner drivel. Sunshine - this is solid. I think they're at their best in instrument drive low-key vibes. Honestly, would like this to be longer some musical development, but otherwise good. A Minha Menina - can't complain, nice catchy groove and first time I haven't actively disliked the vocals. I can't place it, but besides actually being a cover this feels rhythmically like a cover of some alt group from the 90s, maybe Janes' Addiction--but I don't think that's right. This Town Sweet Like A Champion Lying In The Snow Zia - meh. This is a vibe track, but doesn't quite nail the vibe. Sky Holds the Sun - This gets the vibe better. The interplay of the rhythm section and the horns creates a great groove. But I could do without the vapid vocals. Seeds - liking the intro groove, but again I could do without the vocals. You Got to Leave - weird vibe change. Little bit of Lou Reed, little bit of White Stripes, little bit of please don't play this again. Elain Whistle Chop - I can get behind this. Has a psy-rock-jazzy vibe that I like. Drum line is nice 'n tasty. Maybe you need to be high to truly enjoy this album? Jackel Head - Out for the Count
I want to say that this sounds like GarageBand. That's not fair. There's plenty of close-mic and panning. If it's GarageBand, it's very good GarageBand. It's just that nothing stands out in this perfectly fine and unremarkable indie funk album. My knowledge of The Bees comes from Free the Bees, which came two years after this. I heard the song "Chicken Payback" on Triple J Sydney all the time when I lived there. That song is still great. And in fairness, it's of a piece with what appears to be their career statement of un-fussed Motown revival mashed with gentlemanly lad rock. But it's wall-to-wall better. So politely close the tab on this record, listen to Free the Bees, and wonder why that wasn't the Bees record in this dude's book.
3.5. I enjoyed it.
Angryman (track 2) was good. But track 3? WTF? Track 4 too - odd. Track 5 instrumental good. Track 6 meh. Maybe a few others were ok. 3 stars.
This is fine. Inoffensive. I'm not sure I needed to hear it before I die though.
Un retorno futurista a la mejor psicodelia. Tame Impala lograron algo similar con su debut. Punchman y Angryman dejan las cartas boca arriba, con un sonido peculiar pero muy logrado. Sorprende el giro jamaicano con No Trophy, primer sencillo del disco. Sunshine es una joya instrumental, de lo mejor del lote, junto con las calmadas This Town, Sweet Like a Champion y sobre todo Lying in the Snow. A Minha Menina tuvo recorrido en la publicidad, es una buena versión de otros ilustres: Os Mutantes. ¿El problema? Que otras bandas transitaron ese camino, tan o mejor que ellos: The Beta Band, Gomez, The Coral o los primeros Tame Impala.
Fun beats and enjoyable but not sure I will listen to again
This has got to be one of the most early aughts sounding albums I've heard in awhile. It's not the most exciting listen, but all the elements are there for an alternative rock/pop album from the turn of the century. A lounge groove feel, mostly spoken vocals, occasional dub vibes, refined simplicity. This is excellent background music for something like happy hour, having company over for dinner, doing chores, or shopping some small boutique-esc shop. However, it is not an album for a deep, focused listen as there's not really a lot below the surface. For all intents and purposes, I enjoyed this quite a bit and will keep it in my back pocket for when I need something in the background.
Ambient, cool. Nice intersection between jazz, ambient and rock. Great to have on in the background while I was cooking. Nothing super groundbreaking but it definitely grew on me over the course of the listen.
This was nice
I should probably stop quibbling over whether these albums are really NECESSARY to listen to before you die and just enjoy being introduced (and re-introduced) to music. But this album is one that would have fit within that argument pretty well. Parts of this reminded me of Sufjan Stevens. I like it, don't love it. Very British. I liked the Os Mutantes cover. If half-stars were available it would be 2.5 for me.
-oh hell yeah this is precisely the type of Bohemian millennial indie i like. reminds me a lot of Animal Collective and nothing revolutionary, but this band still does their own thing -holy shit my soul left my body when they covered A Minha Menina?? any band that likes Os Mutantes is a friend of mine. great work -Favorites: Punchbag, Binnel Bay, A Minha Menina
A surprisingly good album. Didn’t know what to expect but quite enjoyed it. The reggae undertones were very well done.
Never heard of The Bees before but enjoyed their work. Different and melodic while staying interesting. 6.25/10 (3.125/5)
Strong 3 Undeniably chill vibes, but not much else. Was very down in the beginning, but then not much more came of it.
Super chill, really nice background music. Kind of reminds me of Nice Guys Love You a bit. Love the album art, as well.
This is fine. Not particularly noteworthy; it’s just kind of shapeless, pleasant, indie rock. THREE STARS
Not the bees! This was smooth, and aged incredibly well for when it came out (3.5/5)
This album grew on me with a second listen. I knew a few other songs and those were more immediate. This album has an eclectic mix of songs and it's hard to tell at first listen who they are, and then second listen through you realize it's all them. I won't give it more than 3 because i need more listens to determine if it's a 4, or maybe if it creeps into 5 territory.
Definitely a different sound than most things out there in 2002. It’s a pretty chill listen with an eclectic mix of genres. I probably wouldn’t go back to this one, but it was an interesting Monday morning today.
This is a sunny, chill album and made for perfect listening on my morning commute. As a whole, it gets less totally consistent as it goes on, unfortunately. It was really weird to hear "A Minha Menina" on here just three days after getting Os Mutantes, I initially thought that something had gone wrong with my streaming. I appreciate the connection: here you have a British indie group adapting a Brazilian psychedelic group which, in turn, adapted an American folk rock song. These little connections show the evolution of our modern music so well and are fascinating to discover. Favorite track: "Angryman"
Decent
Interesting but not much more than that. 3*
It was interesting sounding
slatko
Wasn't prepared for the Os Mutantes cover
Dreamy, arty, lofi feeling album. Not bad, but not GREAT, all together fine throughout. Won't listen to it again but a fine one time listen.
Pleasant, but not my style. ★★★
It’s pleasant in that gentle, inoffensive 2000s indie way, but sadly, not much more beyond that. I feel like I’ve heard “A Minha Menina” in a commercial somewhere. I’d probably like it more if not for that. Favorite: Sweet Like a Champion
Indie rock with eclectic influences
Was really mellow and a bit meh until "A Minha Menina" which I quitte enjoyed! The rest of the album was still not very interesting to me though.
Never heard of these guys but I really enjoyed this. I wish I could give it a decimal rating cause it’s not quite a 4 for me but it’s way better than a 3. Like a 3.8 if I could do that.
This was a super chill album. I enjoyed this more than I expected going into it.
Nice, if unremarkable.
Dreamy laidback harmonies.No trophy is a pleasant reggae treat.Binnel Bay has exotic elements like a mini trip in Hawaii.Sunshine is a jazzy soul anthem almost instrumental until the end.Lying in the snow really stands out in this album for me,its a masterpiece.60's martini aesthetics in most songs.
Enjoyed this. Need to give it another few listens. Not blown away. But enjoyable.
frekar áhugaverð indíemúsík. suðrænar trommur og brasilísk ábreiða. gæti vaxið. 3,5.
Decent.
I liked Sky Holds the Sun, and overall this is pleasent enough that I won't turn it off, but ultimately it didn't do a lot for me
As soon as this started I thought I found the source behind 2017-2020 indie music, but it just kept divulging into something completely different.
this album goes all over the place. some of it’s super cool and some of it is just fine. tempted to go low 4 but i think high 3 is a better representation of it
This album is just nice and sometimes that's all you need.
Had high hopes since this was an album I had never had any exposure to before. It was a worthwhile listen, but nothing that blew me away or captivated me on first go. 3/5
Interesting - I’d never heard of this! But it didn’t grab me much.
Gotta admit I was kinda pissed to learn that cool music from those commercials was written by a couple white guys.
3,5
Good indie record.
It sounded fine, but why something this plain on this list is beyond me.
This was pretty good at bits but was very forgettable. I went back to add my notes a day after listening and had to replay it to remember what I heard.
This album is pretty eclectic. Kind of sounds like a randomly generated "millenial playlist" in terms of songs. You've got some funk, reggae, some millenial psychedelia, some soft rock, and some organ heavy tracks. It's not bad, it's just a little odd.
The record started quite cool but it lost its momentum over time…
Mellow, enjoyable.
Pretty cool pop album, enjoyed this.
A really interesting album for the era it came out in
It was fine.
Big song good. Rest average
Around the turn of the millenium there were a number of artists whose music I can only describe as 'shambling' 'mumbly' 'acoustic crate digging' or even 'beanie hat and beard'. Gomez, Badly Drawn Boy, Beta Band (who are better than this) and it would seem The Bees. The tunes drift away towards and away from them here without much sticking, apart from on the noted Lying In The Snow here, which is lovely and drags the whole affair up to three stars. Also complete Starbucks vibes.
Fun breezy early 2000's alt rock with an interesting soundscape. Hard to dislike but I question if it truly needs to be on here tbh. Still though, not going to complain. 6/10
Chill
Nothing bad, but ultimately a bit boring. I liked Punchbag, Sunshine and Zia the most.
Nice enough
enjoyable enough but i have no idea why this is something i HAD to hear?
I’d give this a solid 2.5/5. Not bad but definitely not my speed. I can’t say any songs were memorable, but it was an easy listen. Excited to see what comes next!
Liked it but didn't love it. It was a little all over the place but I didn't mind. Some songs I really enjoyed just for the vibe, but a few too many songs didn't hit for me.
This was a good album overall with very good songs on their own. There were lots of fun instrumental pieces, but it seemed to go all over the place. At some points, I felt like the album ended and I was listening to another album.
Well now I’ve heard The Byrds and The Bees. 6/10
I think I liked it the first time, but the second time through was lamer but I like all the album art work!
Relaxing, laudback and easy tunes, need to have the sun out to enjoy this properly.
Adding to the long list of "Alex's favorite song on an album is the one with the least # of scrobbles on spotify", I liked Zia. The rest of the album was pretty generic to me. My biggest gripe with this album is that i've listened to too much indie popneo-psychedelia in my life at this point. Does this 2001 album sound like a 2008 album? Sure it does, but in 2025 I've had my share of it. Still, while I'd rather listen to Starfucker over this, I respect that this Bees album came out 7 years earlier. 2.75 rounded up.
Not bad
A decent record. I enjoyed the jazzier and funkier tracks. The other tracks felt disorienting or gave sensory overload. This is definitely a record to listen to when you're in a particular mood. Favourite Track(s): Angryman, Sunshine Least Favourite Track(s): Binnel Bay, Lying In The Sow
Loungy and sunny feeling - yes listenable - yes memorable - no
This was kind of meh...it wasn't bad but it was also so melancholy but also not melancholy enough. It felt like a group with a lot of talent but that weren't really putting in effort to make me see it.
This is a bit too mellow for me. No Trophy has a cool reggae vibe. The best song on here is A Minha Menina (an Os Mutantes cover).
I hear hints of The Carpenters, The Bee Gees, definitely an Os Mutantes cover, and a general 70’s soft rock aesthetic with a large serving of late 90’s/early 00’s DIY indie. Not perfect, but nice and chill and worth giving more attention to.
The first song that really grabbed me on here was A Minha Menina, and it sounded familiar, which is funny because it's a cover by Jorge Ben, whose album we had in April. But that song isn't even on that Jorge album, so maybe I've heard it in a different setting. At any rate, it's a fun track! In general, I liked the simple, chill vibes throughout this album, but nothing totally wowed me.
Lovely album, I thought it would be another album that I'd just care little for since its more obscure UK Indie pop/psychedelia, but here I think The Bees marry the styles nicely and effectively, the addition of tropicalia or more chillout type songs helps the album stay interesting to me So, yeah nice stuff, probably will grow on me as time goes on
Quite liked this one.
This one rather charmed me! Lo-fi psych, reggae, folk and every so often a horn section popped in to make me smile. Sky Holds the Sun makes me want to drink a martini in a dark hotel lounge.
Without reading the wikipedia Im going to say this band is comprised of jazz band kids that really liked Pet Sounds and Toots and the Maytals when they made this. It's easy to listen to but probably not going to be a repeat listen. It gives me a 'try hard eclectic' feeling
Not all of this was the bee's knees but it would have been intriguing enough to make me curious about hearing more from the Bees if this was my first time hearing them. It lost me a couple of times but overall it was an interesting and enjoyable listen. Their "Free the Bees" is a better album.
It's like the music promises to go somewhere, maybe ramp up, maybe tell a story but it never gets going. I imagine it was nominated for album of the year by lots of dentists that needed new reception music.
Ah yes the 347th best album of 2002, on here rather than Interpol currently ranking in 2nd. The cover annoys me a little bit; the music is fine.
laid back und smooth wie in den 60/70ern, aber nach 2.5x hören geht es in den hintergrund ..
Nice vibes really
M'eh
Chilled but nothing outstanding for me
More mid British bullshit? Hot diggity! 2.5
3.5 rounded down. Listened twice actually. Many genres here. Unique sound.
Schwerig z entscheide. S meischte esch halt eifach ergendwelchi Lo-Fi-Hendergrondmusig ond taugt au ned als vel meh als das. Trotzdem send This Town ond vorallem A Minha Menina scho rächti Banger.
I quite enjoyed this eclectic blend of throwback, 2000s white boy funk meets trip hop with some Beach Boys thrown in for good measure. While I wasn't too blown away by any one song here, the album made for a nice listen on a Monday morning.
The answers to the questions "Could I have peacefully shuffled off this mortal coil without hearing these 40 minutes?" and "Is this a pleasant, chilled-out listen with some solid harmonies and interesting influences?" are both "Yes."
Good but very forgettable
Right out of the gate I was attached to the beat, the vocals - nice Beatles'esque sounds/harmonies. It's also got some 70's style organs and mood. After a few songs, it turns into smooth jazz. Not bad. Glad to hear it.
Indie rock lo-fi de los 2000, típico de su época aunque hecho con muy buen gusto. Muchos instrumentos que forman una amalgama onírica de sonidos que dan muy buena vibra y que no chirrían en ningún momento. Wikipedia define el álbum como "ecléctico y veraniego", y creo que lo define perfectamente. Además de ser una música fácil de escuchar y relajante, la producción sencilla de dormitorio le da un toque aún más etéreo. De vez en cuando hay algunos toques reggae o funk que lo hacen más interesante y que nunca llegan a dominar sobre el resto. No será un álbum revolucionario, y definitivamente no merece estar en esta lista (de hecho fue eliminado en las ediciones más nuevas del libro), pero me ha gustado mucho.
Fun grooves. Really liked it. Surprised I missed this band when they happened.
Was interested on first listen but ended up feeling a little average. 2.5
Good album, there was so much variety in their sound. I went out of my way to listen to their other stuff to see how their music had evolved and I’m glad I did they got a lot of good songs.
Good chill vibes. Would study to it for sure
I've got mixed feelings on this. I enjoyed some of it, very chill. It was not the right album to wake up to and hit the gym with, so I listened to maybe the last 75% after while I had my coffee. I enjoyed it way more at that point. "Lying in the snow" was like the Beatles meeting Beach House. I really liked it. Overall, not exactly my style, but I can appreciate it. The back half was better than the front. Not bad for the summer. Probably not bad with hallucinogenics, either.
Not bad but not memorable at all.
Sets the right mood on a sunny day.
2.7/moderately enjoyable, chill grooves but nothing memorable
I was on my daily commute to work and I was feeling as though I needed a small nap so, after finishing some nondescript album, I put this on and shut my eyes so I've no recollection of the first two songs. The rest of the songs on here? I found myself to be on the spectrum of being both pleasantly surprised and somewhat at a loss in regards to the product. Dub flirtations mingled with hazy, imperceptible jingles and a cover of a Tropicalia staple to boot. One thing is for certain: these bees are harmless, they don't sting. Favorites: No Trophy, Sunshine, A Minha Menina, This Town, Sweet Like a Champion, Zia, Sky Holds the Sun.
Chill and a little foggy. Not memorable, but fine for getting work done.
I came around to it by the end. Very chill and I like it for that.
man I was all geared up to dislike this but it turned out pretty enjoyable. The turning point was A Minha Menina, everything else just kinda fell into place. Also there is a nice variation of songs here too, although at times it can be a bit too melancholy for me.
Chill and eclectic. Some of it's really good, others not so much.
Lighthearted, but nothing terribly special.
3/4
Pleasant, but pretty forgettable too
Inoffensive indie band
Never heard this but this is a vibe
Not a fan of the singer at times, but the music was fine and occasionally bordered on good. 3/5
Pleasantly inoffensive summer vibes. Best song is the Os Mutantes cover. The sort of album that you could put on at a barbecue and not upset anyone.
I'd say The bees are pretty standard for indie rock, i didn't really get anything too much special out of them, but like, def not a bad experience at all !!! must listen to fans of the genre tho
Kind of chill, kind of alright. No idea why it was included, maybe one of the writers was like man, I really love this chill album. Good for a lounging summers day but not groundbreaking.
Innocuous but unnecessary for this list.
This was interesting mix of genres but I'd hardly call it essential. Very 2000s vibes.
It's one of those albums that feels like listening to nothing. It didn't bother at all, but it didn't do anything for me either.
Sounds like the album playing in the background in a chill empty bar at 4pm on a Tuesday.
Chill, interesting songs. Back half less good than front, but was happy to listen to this album, hadn't heard of The Bees. Standouts: A Minha Menina (WPRB concert calendar song!), Punchbag, Angryman
Интересный альбом
Listing off all the advertisements your album's songs have been featured on in the Wikipedia article is not something that gives me much hope for this thing. Never heard of the band before today. The description in the article worries me. Gonna give it an honest shot, though my expectations are low going into it. Punchbag Laid back indie vibes. Don't love the watery piano riff in the background. Interesting vocal layering. A bit predictable, but doesn't really do anything wrong per se. Nothing special, but pleasant enough. Fine. 3/5 Angryman Cute bassline. Cool percussion. Hate the vocals. The instrumental saves the track, it's rhythmic and varied. Dub-adjacent with the bass, jazzy keys and sax. Decent. 3.5/5 No Trophy Cloudy and drowned out production style. Feels oddly cold and distant. A bit of a nothing-burger of a song. Doesn't really excel at anything. Average. 2.5/5 Binnel Bay The musical box style intro is a bit too drawn out. I like the idea of the vocals, but I don't like the instrumental, would've preferred something harsher and noisier to go with the lyrics. The contrast between the dour vocals and the chirpy instrumental doesn't work, leaving the track lacking any sort of effect. Feels misaligned. Average. 2.5/5 Sunshine Cute effects. Creates an almost underwater atmosphere. There's definitely some depth to the sound of this track, borrowing heavily from psychedelia. Love the delays, the reverby drums and the general haziness of the track. Almost a bit jazzy at times. A full and broad sounding song with a lot of colour. Great. 4.5/5 A Minha Menina Stereotypical indie guitars. Appriciate the harsher sound. Not a fan of the vocals. Has some catchiness to it. Fine. 3/5 This Town Pleasant misanthropic indie tune with some cool effects going on. A bit generic, but the lyrics are just relatable enough, and the instrumental has just enough interesting elements to it that it ends up being pretty alright. Unique for the tracklist at least. Decent. 3.5/5 Sweet Like A Champion Feels a bit ominous with the close and personal feeling layered vocals, the jangly guitar and the spooky organ. Has a creepy factor to it with the perspective of lyrics being in second person for the majority of the track's runtime. Good. 4/5 Lying in the Snow I like the delayed reverby sound and the floaty style of the track. Though the slow tempo sort of drags there is some beauty to be found in the instrumental. Just wish it built up to something a bit more climatic and satisfying. Leaves you with feeling like it's a snippet of something much bigger picture, like there should be something more to it. Fine. 3/5 Zia Pleasants, but starts off sounding like an interlude. Can't help but finding this definitely competent, but sort of directionless and noodly piano playing over a stale beat to be a bit boring. The playing is good, but not so exceptionally groundbreaking that it needed an entire track. Average. 2.5/5 Sky Holds the Sun Sleepy late night vibe. Has a slight jazzy edge. Feels intimate and warm. I found the mellow vibe to be quite a safe and effective closer for an album which went through such stylistic diversity. Decent. 3.5/5 Not anything outstanding, but has its moments. It's definitely varied with a dynamic tracklist that has its surprises allowing different genres and styles to come through. This constant shifting of styles do however cause the album to lack some consistency, where as it feels as if their focus is mainly on filling it out with as many quirky and different ideas as possible at the detriment of the individual tracks' quality. Generally not a fan of the vocals, and the production is honestly pretty rough at times. I also feel like it lacks a standout moment which really showcases their style. Too many of the songs are just pleasant, or in other words just fine leaving you with very few memorable pieces to look back upon. It's an okay piece of indie music, but I can't for the life of me figure out how it landed on this list. Can't say it has enough going for it to justify it's conclusion, though I can say it ended up being a decent listen regardless. 3/5 Fave track. Sunshine Least fave track. Binnel Bay
Мне зашла ровно одна песня. Ай гесс, сейчас это мой минимальный критерий для тройки
First album in this journey I had zero context for and had no idea what it would sound like. Unique, summery album with good production. Nothing to rush back to for me, but would put it on at a backyard party for sure.
Pretty cool, sounds ahead of its time somewhat. I had never heard of this band so it was nice to be exposed to something new. I like the blend of genres but I can't say too many songs popped out at me.
This was fun
Really chill summer type vibes I love it just a couple songs I don't care about
I forgot this was playing while it was on. That means it was pleasant enough for me not to notice, and not so good that I notice. Some bits I thoughts sounded nice but inessential. Decent background music, not memorable or necessary to listen to at all.
Didn't connect with this one
Heal yeah that’s weird and good and hazy
I really enjoyed this one, though it felt somewhat slight.
A few good ones
If this is sunshine, then I’m the Punchbag.
First band on the list where I had no clue what to expect. Essential listening? No, and I can't understand why this album is on the list. Good vibes and an easy listen? Indeed. I may spin this one again.
Catchy Grooves, especially the first few songs.
This was my album after "You want it Darker" so it was a refreshing change of pace. That being said the first part of the album is almost generic bordering on background in a video game. The latter part of the album improves as more piano is introduced. I am unlikely to listen again but its ok 3/5.
Pretty good. Eclectic styles, interesting indie production. Two dudes at home. Fairly impressive. Another post-1999 album that feels like they put it in newer editions of the book just to have albums from this era.
Meh. Just blends in
🎀 song
This was some nice chill background your of stuff. A bit jazzy,a bit Beatlesy, a bit orchestral, it was a lot of fun.
I'm impressed that this was essentially just 2 musicians DIYing this album and it flows really well. However, it doesn't really stay with me.
3 stars.
Pre-listening thoughts: okay Post/during listening thoughts: this is nice but like let me say something about a lot of the post 2000 picks on this list. Why are so many of them like unremarkable (and predominantly male) indie and alt rock??? Female pop has been so prominent and influential in the 2010s-now especially, but even in the 2000s. Same with RnB. Both genres are sorely underrepresented on this list imo. Maybe that’s bc that’s mostly what I listen to, but I could name like 20+ albums that are post 2000 that should have been here instead of something like this or the Vines or Doves or THREE arcade fire albums (one is enough). There’s just so many of these that I don’t quite understand why they’re here, but that doesn’t mean I hate them or even dislike them. I actually enjoyed The Suburbs a lot, and this was decent too. It’s just kind of whatever in terms of significance. 5/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: no Fav tracks: Sunshine, Lying in the Snow Least fav tracks: A Minha Menina, Sweet Like a Champion
Again another welcome backdrop to working. We enjoyed this.
Good, but def not 1001
3.5 - decent laid back easy listening
Chill sunny day lounge music, not essential listening for sure but a nice record for a certain mood
Nice vibes
6/10
Nothing really internet about this. But not bad.
This is some pretty chill vibes. Not all is the best of listening but I found a track to add. Solid 3.
pleasant
I feel like I just spent 40 minutes in an elevator. A slightly cool and funky elevator but nothing anyone couldn't handle in a relaxed way.
Completely unfair of me to listen to this directly after listening to The Chronic. Just could not bring the same gas. Was a pretty nice chill rock album with nothing crazy. There was an instrumental song in there which was nice. Short and sweet album. Again, could not compare to Dr. Dre. Sorry Bees
Quite liked it. Very diverse. Probably wouldn't listen to it again though
In a word, pleasant.
Þessi plata kom á óvart. Ég veit ekki alveg hverju ég bjóst við en það var ekki svona þægileg tónlist í bakgrunn. Ætla að reyna að muna að setja hana á afturnvið tækifæri.
That was quite nice
Empecé pensando que iba a ser mucho más especial de lo que realmente es. Podría estar bien para estudiar o algo así, porque es agradable pero no llama demasiado la atención. No entiendo muy bien esa versión de Minha Menina, es exactamente igual, pero menos especial. Decepcionante, pero no malo; cualquier cosa es mejor que el puto álbum de los Beatles. Las dos últimas son muy bonitas, perdón por ser tan cínico.
I was going to start this review by making some snarky remark about how this list has too many weird British Bands no one outside of the UK has heard of and how you can tell that it is going to be a bland 3/5, but then I ended up really enjoying the first song. It is like a nice mix of indie rock and trip hop. But thankfully the rest of the album is pretty bland so I am able to keep some of the snark. But for real though, this album does have some unique instrumentation and ideas, I just wish that they took those ideas further. Songs will start kind of strong and then just kind of linger and die. Like Binnel Bay for example has some really interesting percussion and then the vocals come in with an okay melody, and then it repeats and fades out. Overall, this album has some potential, but doesn't make the most of it. High 3.
Slightly boring but sounds pleasant overall
didnt vibe with the first few songs but the last few i could probably get back into
Better than I expected. Pretty chill but has that one song that's fire
I don’t know what to think.
не, но так
Der Albumtitel Sunshine Hit Me passt. Beim Hören des Albums fühlte ich mich wie an einem heissen Sommertag, an dem man nichts anderes machen will und kann, als irgendwo im Schatten zu liegen, Eis zu essen und ab und zu mal sich in irgendeinem Gewässer zu erfrischen.
very chill album
🎧Cool, bouncy, chill, eclectic little record. Had not heard of this band.
Relaxante, mas não sei se ouviria de novo
Incredibly mellow, enjoyable experience. Nothing really stood out to me but the jazzy elements helped elevate it a lot.
04/02/25 I have no real feeling towards this album, there was nothing standing out here.
3++/5
A serene, care free almost aimless wander of an album, which excels at creating a summery nonchalant atmosphere. Pulling inspiration from sounds of rock, jazz and a tiny bit of reggae this album is the perfect backing music for a collage of photos from your latest summer holiday. Sometimes the relaxed and easy atmosphere of the album acts against it and I found myself losing focus from the songs and they began to blur together, but when the album had my full attention it was very pretty and calming. It’s not a masterpiece by any means but it’s really sweet and has a clear vision/vibe. Well written, production and mixing is ok. Overall would definitely come back to this on holiday or when wishing for a holiday during the 9-5 grind. 3-3.5/5
Pretty good, probably won't come back to listen again. Like a more chill version of Under the Influence of Giants. Lots of funk / reggae roots... interesting for a band of white dudes.
Nice vibes but not amazing and not something I needed to listen to.
3. Good not great.
Feel like sunny would love this even though it's basically boring
Surprisingly unlike The Hives, Queen or Sting.
A wonderland for samples, the music is made organically and interestingly yet results in a somewhat muted sound. Classic indie home recording studio. I love the diversity of sounds and influences, and they seem to have learned a lot from their earlier projects to make something new here. Not too much info for band or album, but it all seems oddly familiar
Very melodic, tuneful indie pop! Really liked this, not as good as their later stuff but nice and enjoyable!
I was not a fan of some of the beginning songs. Many of them felt overly simple or even annoying with their sound, but the vocals not standing out too much either. After A Minha Menina though, the music became more enjoyable overall, even with similar vocals on many of the remaining tracks.
Bedre og mere interessant end jeg forventede, men stadig bare endnu et indiealbum til bunken
tienen cierto interés y originalidad.
This album was okay. Nothing really bad on it, but also not much blew me away either.
Decent. It was enjoyable but not outstanding.
This was a nice album, just didn't love the vocals on some tracks. Tracks 5, 6, and 10 were my personal favorites. Lyrics were solid, no complaints there. Musically the instruments sounded really good, production really solid. Very smooth album. Wouldn't mind if someone put this on but I'm not gonna request it.
was not familiar at all & was (mostly) pleasantly surprised. was great background music while cleaning. couple tracks were better than others & couple were much weaker, but overall pleasant listen. would I seek out to listen to again, probably not
2.5. meh.
This is the first time with this one. I was intrigued. I found it enjoyable and eclectic. I will revisit this one in the future.
Another I had never heard of that was less interesting than it would’ve been when it came out. Really liked the Os Mutantes cover! (ntm.)
Never heard of them. Listened to their music. I like it! Thank you.
I honestly kind of liked it until those weird high notes hit.
Enjoyable, but not remarkable. Great Os Mutantes cover, though.
Sweet like a champion. This town. Decent laid back. Could be a bit boring. Giving Jackson without the rodeo clowns mixed with beach house
Pretty good.
Electric pop duo who can play it in every genre on one album. Nothing earth shattering, nothing offensive. Simple and clean.
Mellow tunes
Fun rock / poppy sound
This was fine, but not very interesting..... The best song was the cover of a Minha menina The album sounds like songs for adverts and after it has finished Spotify played chicken payback by them, which I am almost certain was on an advert Solid 3 territory
Slow. Background. I actually forgot the album was playing as I wrote articles for work.
With a bit of fishing, you can find some pearls on this album, but mostly it's sub-par. It is good to try to combine reggae, pop and soul.
These guys had to be Dimery’s mates. It was nice enough but forgettable.
Empieza bien, baja, termina bien
The Bees' "Sunshine Hit Me" is a mixed bag. While it delivers some truly captivating psychedelic tracks, the reggae influences didn't quite resonate with me. It's an interesting listen, but not every song hits the mark. 3/5.
Not bad, but nothing special. Was quite enjoyable background music.
To be honest, I didn't listen to this album. It never happened before, I never left a review without doing so, but given the description of this album's music, its obvious lack of stakes, and the reviews in here, it's pretty obvious it's not gonna be in my own list. I'll listen to it later. Hope I'm not wrong. Leaving a neutral grade here, just to err on the side of caution. I usually write a countdown of albums left to review and mention if the current one is gonna be in my list. But I'm already too bored to do so.
Mellow, chilled and varied - quite the summery treat!
Well I've listened 3 times, the songs are good, pleasant but failed to leave a mark. 3 stars seems about right
Cava nog. Zomers, groovy maar er zitten niet echt nummers tussen waarvan ik denk: "nice, toevoegen die handel". Lijkt wel een goed album voor op een zomeravond op te leggen op de achtergrond. 2.6
This one has a very nice vibe. Warm weather music for sure. Glad I gave it a listen. Favorite songs were Punchbag, Sunshine, A Minha Menina, and This Town.
6.5/10. It's easy to listen to, and very decent. However, it is hardly memorable.
Some great, some meh
Interesting. All over the place. Some relaxing bits, some delightful bits. But veered off course too often, and I wasn’t a fan of the reggae or jazz parts.
WTF THESE GUYS COVERED OS MUTANTES. This is the type of little satisfaction that the list is good for. Random album I’d never listen to on my own covers a song from another random album I’d never listen to on my own. Completely useless yet satisfying thing that no one outside of this list will ever understand.
This is one of the few albums that made the cut for this list a handful of times before being cut. It's an ok album, very homemade standard indie rock with a nice enough vibe. 3/5
Okay.
This is like the 2000s version of yacht rock. It's easy on the ear, but I don't understand why it's on the list. Amazing how they blend in various styles of music and still make it all sound the same. Favorite song: sunshine
Not bad. I enjoyed this.
A bit too up it's own ass for my taste.
Sounds like okay, still not for me
Interesting and eclectic mix of genres that span between 60s pop and later Radiohead. I will give it a spin again for sure, I had never heard of the band until this listen.
Nice easy listen 3/5
Mellow, I liked it. 3.7
Helped me relax when I really needed it. Sometimes that’s all an album needs to do.
Apart from the cover version, this is a decent sound
Never heard this band. I have no idea what to think about it. It's a mixture of soft indie and various bits of world music.
Based on the cover I wasn't expecting much. The first track was a vibe though, felt like a good song to chill to. Angryman a little less so, but I'm willing to see where this goes. It reminds me of some of the music on Bojack Horseman, especially once that horn pops in. This ended up being a nice, chill background album for the morning.
Not thrilled to see yet another UK band I haven't heard of on this list. Early 2000s indie rock? Great... This was a lot better than I was expecting, in the sense that it was different from what I was expecting. Very eclectic and summery vibes. Enjoyed it well enough.
Pleasant. Chill. Not much else to report.
Meh, kinda cool, but not really by bag either. Didn't love or hate it.
Ei ollut omaan makuun. Aika monimutkaista ja rauhallista musiikkia
It was one of the albums! Inoffensive, comfortable, sleepy...
Fun album that would be great on a sunny hungover day. Some cool tunes, but nothing that really grabs me
The first track was very lo-fi beats to study and relax to with a bad case of early noughties generic landfill indie voice and I thought this was going to be a long haul. Thankfully the album picked up quite a lot from track two, and was pretty varied throughout. Not everything really worked for me, but there were enough high points to make this interesting
Interesting album and band I have not heard before. A well known song on it and easy listening. It was not bad.
Another album that I missed in protest of not listening to any shit new music in the first few years of the Millennium. But wait! What's this? Sunshine Hit Me is not shit. I was a foolish 30-something. It's an oddball mixture of styles, not ashamed to exploit The Bees' record collection. So not technically new music. I like the end of summer festival feel to it. I wonder what else I missed out on during the Great Shit New Music Purge?
Very groovy and flowy melodies. I know the name has sunshine in it, but I could see myself really vibing with this on a rainy day in Spring/Summer.
3 Not bad, not great, and not particularly memorable. I’m pretty sure this is the kind of thing the kids call “acid jazz”, meaning, this is probably a lot more enjoyable on drugs. Unfortunately, the only drugs I’m on right now are DayQuil/NyQuil as I power my way through COVID, and I don’t think those offer quite the same experience. Anyway, I thought this was fine. There’s a nice enough sound to everything here, and each song comes across as unique, but despite that, there’s just nothing that really stood out to me across my listenings. I don’t have a favorite or a least favorite, and ultimately, I just don’t think there’s anything about this album that would compel me to listen again. It’s a decent time, but I see why I’ve never heard of The Bees. Cool album cover though.
Of course it's British. Most 00's album cover award.
Every song on this album seemed like it was from a different band
This was interesting and I would give it a 3.5 if I could. I’d listen to again
3.5
A mixed bag, but not an unpleasant one.
Nothing exciting here, but nothing bad either. The only reason this made the list is because it's another British band Mr. Lydon probably gushed over at one time. Would it be a good listen sitting by the lake, with a joint, on a nice summer day? Sure, but come on man.
3 stars
Seems like it was part of that wave of absurdism with Quiznos' Spongmonkeys, Tom Green, Napoleon Dynamite, and Space Ghost. I still enjoy this kind of freakiness, but certainly identify with it a lot less than I did at the time. Still, surprisingly good for a band that was completely off my radar.
Nice and relaxing. Enjoying it.
3.5/5
nice walking around music
Un autre album que j'ai l'impression qui a droit à un passe-droit à cause de son origine. Ce n'était pas particulièrement mauvais, mais je ne vois pas comment cet album se démarque plus que bien d'autres artistes indie de l'époque. C'était même un peu ennuyant par moments. 5/10
pretty chill vibes! definitely fun but nothing really special
I liked it, but it’s mostly just nice background music. Didn’t really catch me. I like A Minha Menina.
++: Angryman, A Minha Menina, This Town +: Punchbag, Binnel Bay, Sunshine, Sweet Like a Champion, Zia +-: No Trophy, Lying in the Snow, Sky Holds the Sun 7,7/10
3.5: There are a lot of interesting things going on in most of the songs, and the members really seem to know what they are doing with the construction of these songs. Maybe worth another listen one day.
It was fine.
First thought after seconds: British. Otherwise quite forgettable. Musically not bad, but nothing really sticks out...
Pretty groovy, but didn’t fully capture my attention.
Chill beats, listened to twice and without knowing i probably couldnt pin down a tear on when it was released. 3.0
Never heard of these guys and they are recent. These guys are pretty chill, at least the first track. Very cool, chill, loungy music. Was not expecting it.
There’s a lot to love about this. The songs have a delightfully weird quality. You can tell the two guys that made them are quirky and charming. Track 6 “A Minha Menina” appears to have been featured in lots of commercials, and It’s not hard to see why. The song has an unusual flavor but with an also undeniable commercial appeal. The sort of thing that screams Starbucks and Apple products. This is a home studio album made in the home studio space home studio gear so I have to give it some love. Combine that with the fact that it was made more than 20 years ago and the quality of the songs and the sounds is nothing short of impressive. But I will admit - this was a little like Selling England By the Pound in that I respect the hell out of it without enjoying it very much. Mostly that comes down to a sense of sameness in the vocal. The songs didn’t surprise me and there was never a moment where the vocal grabbed me and said “now sing along!” Later on when track 10 “Zia” arrived as an instrumental things for better for me. Maybe it was just because that made the song different than the rest, but it was my favorite. Overall this is perfectly pleasant background music and I give it a solid 3 out of 5
Got less cliche pop indie rock album as we reached the second half. Second part definitely more interesting with some more dream rock aspects. Liked the piano parts throughout. 3.5
Different but good. Appreciated the chances they took
3.5/5
pleasant and mellow
Some nice stuff on here
Very summery and reggae-y, but with an indie twist. Pretty comfy, but nothing earth-shattering. Never really took off I felt.
Quite pleasant. Perhaps too much so. I kept forgetting it was on.