Let's talk about The Bird and The Bee

When The Bird and The Bee released the rather quirky  Interpreting the Masters Vol. 1: A Tribute to Daryl Hall and John Oates nine years ago, I figured it would be their Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 — an outstanding album that would never see a second volume. Well, they've just proved me wrong with something that absolutely no one was asking for — Interpreting the Masters Vol. 2: A Tribute to Van Halen. However, we should've seen it coming, given that they signaled their love for VH with the not good song "Diamond Dave" on their 2008 album Ray Guns Are not Just the Future. Perhaps it makes a bit of sense, given Van Halen's somewhat atypical use of synthesizers in the hard rock genre. It's the one thing that made some of their music work for me.

At best, this covers album takes Bird and Bee (Greg Kurstin and Inara George) into some new and interesting sonic territory, particularly on "Ain't Talking 'bout Love," which sounds like Bird and the Bee dipped in dreamwave / synthwave / retrowave, and it's a very good thing. Another highlight is "Jump," which very cleverly transforms singer Inara George's lovely voice into that classic hit's infamous synthesizer riff. Album opener "Runnin' with the Devil" works well, as does "You Really Got Me" (which really ought to be disqualified from this exercise by way of originally being a Kinks song) and "Jamie's Cryin'."

"Eruption" is a roughly 90 second instrumental b-side cover, leaving us with nine actual songs, including the previously released "Diamond Dave." Overall, the song choices veer too far away from hit material for the casual listener; I would much rather hear Bird and the Bee tackle "Dreams" or "When It's Love" than most of what's here. At worst, they struggle with capturing the inherent silliness of some the originals, as in "Hot for Teacher."

FLASHBACK // Back in 2010, I said the Hall & Oates tribute worked beautifully, with "The Bird and the Bee's electro lounge pop marrying perfectly with H&O's pop chestnuts."