The Bird and the Bee

The first in an undetermined number of volumes finds the Bird and the Bee taking on the catalogue of "blue-eyed soul" yacht rockers Daryl Hall and John Oates. Known for their breezy, jazz-inflected pop, Inara George and Greg Kurstin have re-imagined the most successful duo of all-time's songs as astute, tightly packaged synth pop paeans. A full-length album seems like a lesson in irony, but the Bird and the Bee have done an admirable job in celebrating a rich catalogue of songs, as well as putting their own stamp on them. George's voice is smooth and velvety, melting love songs like "Sara Smile" or "One On One," but she doesn't fail to reflect the campy kick of retro faves like "Private Eyes" and "Maneater," both of which are treated to some quirky electronic textures. The concept may smack of novelty, but the Bird and the Bee are convincing in their tribute, recognizing that the work of Hall and Oates isn't just timeless, but open to all sorts of interpretations.