Bee

The Moore Brothers' Bee EP finds the duo in the same acoustic mood as they were on their previous release, Now Is the Time for Love. While fans of their first album, the miniature psych-pop gem Colossal Small, may continue to feel a bit let down by the stripped-down surroundings, you can't deny that the Moores have a knack for creating sweet ballads. The melodies and vocal harmonies here are consistently beguiling. Opener "Bee" sounds like it could have been a hit for Simon & Garfunkel. The other three are the kind of tunes that break hearts and steal girlfriends. As the per the usual pattern, Greg's tunes are poppier and more harmonious ("Bee" and "Kid Ivy") while Thom's are more intense ("Julian Blood Boy" and "Sympathetic Girls"), and in the case of the latter, with its lines about bleeding gravy, somewhat more unique lyrically. The Moore Brothers may never go back to the style of their first album, but if this is the kind of release they keep on presenting, it isn't a bad thing. In fact, it is a good thing.