Bumblebeez 81 - Printz (Geffen)

Bumblebeez 81 - Printz
1 out of 5 stars

Sounds Like: You'll hear this at a frat party; just give it a month.

See Also: Beck, Beastie Boys

The masses have been quivering for something new to download or use in a clever VW commercial, and the music industry has answered with Bumblebeez 81.

What does that "81" mean? Who knows? The band would have been simply named Bumblebeez, but the name was taken by a children's music group. Recently the group's video for Pony Ride has been in heavy rotation on MTV, or so those with cable will tell you.

Through its video and word of mouth, Bumblebeez 81 has started to raise eyebrows and eat iPod space.

The group already has a couple of things going for it independent of its music: it's from Australia (read: quirky foreign perspective) and it's a brother-sister duo (Jack and Meg are sleeping soundly). Chris and Vila Colonna bring us Printz by combining their first EP, White Printz, from 2003, and their 2004 release Red Printz.

The songs that feature Chris Colonna are catchy and make use of an odd grouping of noises that result in a beat. It's almost as if he was let loose in a thrift store and started throwing shit around and a coherent beat happened. Above all of this clatter are often guitar tracks that are basic and driving, most times hearkening back to early punk, except with a decidedly lame edge.

Not bad so far. But when Chris' mumbling and whiny vocals are thrown in, the whole thing takes a dive. As he tries to affect an imitation of a nasal indie singer, Chris Colonna successfully ruins track after track.

However, the record is saved from being an utter failure by sister Vila. In "I've Come with Water" Vila guests on the chorus and both shows her talent and casts brother Chris in an unfortunate light. Vila's chatty Cibo Matto, Japanese-esque cadence in the song is charming and fits well. On "Microphone Diseases" Vila once again shines with lines like "I flow like water in a stream/Cause I'm mad-fuckin' scheme/All up in my regime."

While her emcee skills are debatable, her voice is pleasant and has a cool New York-type accent that is no doubt the result of a hard life on the streets of Braidwood (a small town in New South Wales territory).

It's obvious from the group's video and style that Bumblebeez 81 wants to be the next young urban revolution, so it's sad that it comes across so premeditated and slick in its intent. The music is trying desperately to be intelligent and creative, but its composition cannot deliver. Basically, we all saw this coming: the commercialization of the noncommercial art/music scene.

Most likely this band will suffer the same fate as bands like Gorillaz and end up as one of those bands you confess to liking while drunk. On the positive side, there seems to be future as a solo artist for Vila and possibly for her brother, as long as he sticks to producing her.