Hall & Oates isn’t a guilty pleasure. Even hip-hop’s finest, from De La Soul to Wu-Tang Clan, have been sampling their catchy hooks for years.
On Interpreting the Masters Volume I, L.A.-based duo the Bird and the Bee pay homage to the “rock and soul” icons with their third album, which features eight covers plus an original song. Inara George and Greg Kurstin’s collection is retro renewal perfected, holding on to Hall & Oates’ smooth ’70s vibe while keeping their brand of quirky California pop intact. Absent is “You Make My Dreams,” made newly famous by the impromptu (500) Days of Summer dance sequence, but golden tunes like “I Can’t Go for That (No Can Do)” are given new life with George’s voice adding a sweet and airy texture to their catalog. Daryl and John’s songs didn’t need an update, but the Bird and the Bee make them their own, which is how a cover album should always be done.
