Free the Bees

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Free The Bees
Studio album by The Bees
Released	August 17, 2004
Recorded	2003-2004, Abbey Road Studios
Genre	Indie rock
Length	43:57
Label	Virgin Astralwerks/EMI
Producer	Paul Butler
Professional reviews
All Music Guide link Collective link Drowned In Sound (8/10) link Pitchfork Media (4.9/10) 23/08/04 PopMatters (favourable) 28/07/05 Stylus Magazine (D+) 16/7/04
The Bees chronology
Sunshine Hit Me (2002) Free The Bees (2004) Octopus (2007)

Free The Bees is the second album from British band The Bees in 2004. Their first release for Virgin Records, it is also the first album to feature the current sextet that evolved during the tour that promoted debut album Sunshine Hit Me. However, all the members had performed with core duo Paul Butler and Aaron Fletcher before the album was produced, whether in other projects or simply in informal jams.

The album was originally planned to be recorded in Butler's shed (the same one where Sunshine Hit Me was produced). However, the band decided to record it at the famous Abbey Road Studios; Indeed, Free the Bees is a much more slicker sounding and uptempo album than their debut, but the group's diverse range of styles and influences remain intact.

The album's standout cut, "Chicken Payback", was used in a UK advert for Sure Deodorant For Men during the 2006 World Cup.

[edit] Track listing

1. "These Are the Ghosts" (The Bees) – 3:08
2. "Wash in the Rain" (The Bees, Julian Batley) – 3:38
3. "No Atmosphere" (The Bees) – 3:48
4. "Horsemen" (The Bees) – 3:27
5. "Chicken Payback" (The Bees) – 3:12
6. "The Russian" (The Bees) – 5:36
7. "I Love You" (The Bees) – 4:35
8. "The Start" (The Bees) – 2:19
9. "Hourglass" (The Bees, Julian Batley) – 4:45
10. "Go Karts" (The Bees) – 3:43
11. "One Glass of Water" (The Bees) – 2:41
12. "This Is the Land" (The Bees) – 3:01

US Version Bonus Tracks

1. "It Isn't Exact" (Demo)
2. "These Are The Ghosts" (Undead Version)

Japanese Version Bonus Track

1. "Nothin" (Live)

[edit] Personnel

• Kris Birkin – guitar, vocals
• Paul Butler – lead vocals, guitar, piano, saxophone, trumpet, clarinet, mandolin, drums, percussion, producer
• Michael Clevett – drums, percussion, bass, Hammond, vocals
• Warren Hampshire – Hammond, piano, celeste, acoustic guitar, percussion, vocals
• Aaron Fletcher – bass, guitar, piano, drums, percussion, vocals
• Tim Parkin – vocals, trumpet, bass, piano, Rhodes, percussion