Sunshine Hit Me

Editorial Reviews
Album Description
Hailing from the hotbed of mystery the Isle of Wight. Coming on like The Beach Boys scrapping with the Beta Band in Studio One. Includes the single 'Punchbag'. Signed to Wall Of Sound (home of Royksopp, I Am Kloot, Wiseguys). 2002.

Tracks:

Punchbag
Angryman
No Trophy
Binnel Bay
Sunshine
Minha Menina
This Town
Sweet Like A Champion
Lying In The Snow
Zia
Sky Holds The Sun
You Got To Leave (Bonus Track)

Album Description

Hailing from the hotbed of mystery the Isle of Wight. Coming on like The Beach Boys scrapping with the Beta Band in Studio One. Includes the single 'Punchbag'. Exclusive U.S. version contains the bonus track, 'You Got To Leave'. Signed to Wall Of Sound (home of Royksopp, I Am Kloot, & Wiseguys). 2003.

Customer Reviews:

"Sunshine" on a disc.......2005-02-19

If you could capture sunshine and somehow burn it into a CD, then it might sound something like the Bees' debut "Sunshine Hit Me." Tinged in places with reggae, psychedelica and funk, this is a pop gem that never lets up. If there were justice in the musical world, there would be more albums like this one.

The breezy "Punchbag" starts things, but the album only hits its stride with "Angryman," a charming pop tune that is heavily flavored with electric organ and funk. It also seems to sum up the album: the world is a pleasant place, and anger will be subdued by kindness. What bad things could I possibly say about such a song, if it's delivered well?

The prettiness and sunshine continue throughout the album, dotted by songs like the laid-back "This Town," and an Os Mutantes cover "A Minha Menina," which is done mostly on acoustic guitar. Here and there, the Bees also stray into eerie, almost experimental territory, full of watery clinking, rippling organ and jazzy beats. Theoretically they shouldn't fit together, but they do. Nor should the soft, sometimes ghostly vocals that can lament as well as uplift.

The most amazing thing about "Sunshine Hit Me" is that it was recorded in a shed -- specifically, The Shed, Pope's Cottage, Isle of Wight. It sounds more layered and polished than many studio albums. And rather than sounding like a pair of early twentysomethings, it sounds like a band that has been making this sunny, downtempo music for ten, maybe twenty years.

But Paul Butler and Aaron Fletcher win over their listeners by not trying too hard. Their music has that elusive 1960s retro-ness that many bands try to capture, but few manage to. It lies in the simple sentiments, the cheery tunes and the lush instrumentation -- woven together, they are utterly enchanting.

The cover by tropicalia band Os Mutantes is made up of fuzzy guitar, but it's about the only one that is. The resh of the album is awash in smooth organ tinged with piano, jazzy percussion and acoustic guitar. Just when the music is starting to get too grounded, the Bees add in a little woo-woo synth and some sweet vocal harmonies.

Somewhere between the Beach Boys and Stereolab lies the Bees, in their debut "Sunshine Hit Me." An underrated gem, this is one of those near-perfect pop albums that turn up every so often. Utterly enchanting.

MMMM... Summer goodness........2004-10-19

I tend to be a fairly harsh critic of music, and as such I am very selective when it comes to deciding which tunes I will cram into my skull. I heard about Band of Bees from the weekly e-newsletter that Astralwerks sends to my inbox. Every now and then something in the new releases catches my eye. I went to Band of Bees's website to hear some audio clips and was immediatley hooked. To my dismay, none of the local music stores carried the album at that time. So I drove two hours to get to a store that did carry it. It was worth the effort. Sunshine Hit Me was an instant hit with my roommates and friends and even casual acquaintances. I shared it with anyone who would listen. Sadly, within six months of purchasing the album, it was stolen right from my living room(I take this as evidence of the albums appeal). Naturally, I went out and bought another copy. This album is one of the ultimate must-haves. If I was stranded on an island and could only take twenty albums, Sunshine Hit Me would undoubtedly be among them.

A Trophey of an Album.......2003-09-24

One of the best gems i've heard in a hott minute. A perfect soundtrack for almost any occassion. in fact this is perhaps one of the only cd's i can listen straight through and not be tempted to advance to the next disc. The production here is unique, and clean as ever. lyrics are tight, beats are on the slower tip. It's a soft parade with the beach boys on some next level ish.
Oh and did i mention the artwork is really weird too? way misleading cover art, but yet it works so well. Give these cats a whirl, you won't be disapointed.
If you like The Bees check out these cats too: Elbow-cast of thousands, or Elbow-asleep in the back.

Sunshine Hit Me- Band of Bees.......2003-07-04

Nice electic mix of Boards of Canada, WAR, Fela Kuti, antique Ska, and the Beach Boys. Kinda like riding in a beat up old car with dusted out windows on a hot day in the hood. Each song will satisfy some odd corner of your musical tastes. Takes a few listens to really appreciate all of the songs but you'll like the first three right off the bat.

Good Astralwerks CD!.......2003-05-10

It starts out like an Air cd, but ends up in places unexpected. There are some definite Donovan grooves here as well. A good chill-out album... but I do prefer a straight-up chill, and a straight-up psychadelica rather than a mix of the two. I've enjoyed the cd the couple times I've listened to it, but its not in heavy rotation.

Average customer rating:

Sunshine Hit Me
Wonderful
Thank god for whightlink...

Sunshine Hit Me

Manufacturer: Wall of Sound
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Alternative Rock | Imports | Stores | Music

Rock | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00005UV95
Release Date: 2002-12-03

Tracks:

Punchbag
Angryman
No Trophy
Binnal Bay
Sunshine
A Minha Menina
This Town
Sweet Like A Champion
Lying In The Snow
Zia
Sky Holds The Sun

Album Description

Hailing from the hotbed of mystery the Isle of Wight. Coming on like The Beach Boys scrapping with the Beta Band in Studio One. Includes the single 'Punchbag'. Signed to Wall Of Sound (home of Royksopp, I Am Kloot, Wiseguys). 2002.

Album Details

Funky Laid Back Reggae with the Hipness of Indie Rock.

Customer Reviews:

Sunshine Hit Me.......2002-10-27

i first heard 'A Minha Menina' on the 'Mars Bar' ad where the Aliens are on Mars eating 'Earth' Bars. it was really catchy so i checked out the album here at amazon, listened a bit more and enjoyed it, went and bought it.

all of the songs are easy to listen to, my only gripe being the album is too short. i'm not a fan of reggae, but i do enjoy the style of The Bees. after buying this album, i played it in the car for mum and my sis and they both liked it instantly; ordinarily they are not really interested in this sort of contemporary music, but they did enjoy 'Sunshine Hit Me'.

....

Wonderful.......2002-08-24

Good reviews, Mercury Prize Album of the year nominee, so I picked this up. I knew on the first listen that this was going to be one of my favorite CDs. I know so many people with so many different tastes in music that are going to like this--the downbeat crowd, Beta Band fans, Spiritualized junkies. The Bees go all over the place, starting with a Steely Dan-meets-Radiohead tune, to a Parliament-Chills-With-Supper Furry Animals jam, but somehow are able to glue it together well. If you pull one song out of it, it will not come close to giving you an understanding of what the Bees are. So if you don't like to listen to an entire CD, don't buy this. If you want to hear a band that has its own sound, BUY THIS!

Thank god for whightlink..........2002-03-26

I read some reviews about the bees before buying this album, and all the reviewers were making a point about it sounding like funk mixed up with reggae and motown, now I don't really know what I was expecting, but it certainly wasn't this! Maybe it's the spring weather, but this record seems like pure sunshine distilled onto half inch tape, beach boys harmonies, vocoders, dub basslines and even what sounds like a load of pots and pans on one song make this record a shambolic anarchic mess of a beach party where everyone sings along even if they don't know the words. They kinda sound like the avalanches would if they played real instruments, or the beta band on happy pills. The bees sound like they were having loads of fun recording the album and it can't help but make you smile when you listen to it!

Music: