Thao Nguyen We Brave Bee Stings And All CD

The second album by Portland, Oregon-based singer-songwriter Thao Nguyen and her backing band the Get Down Stay Down blends the winsome indie pop of Belle & Sebastian with a more impassioned and emotional vocal and lyrical style reminiscent of Cat Power. The combination works wonderfully, especially on tracks like the urgent "Bag of Hammers" and the spare acoustic ballad "Violet." WE BRAVE BEE STINGS AND ALL is available as a digital download, a standard CD, and a vinyl LP.

Thao: Adam "The OK Bird" Thompson (vocals, piano, bass guitar, hand claps); Willis Thompson (drums, hand claps, percussion); Frank Stewart (hand claps).

Personnel: Thao Nguyen (vocals, guitar, banjo, piano); Karl Blau (vocals, guitar, melodica, saxophone); Laura Veirs (vocals); Frank Stewart (guitar, piano, organ); Danny Barnes (banjo); Steve Moore (trombone, Wurlitzer organ); Tucker Martine (finger cymbals, tambourine).

Audio Mixer: Tucker Martine.

Recording information: Flora Studios, Portland, OR; Flora Studios, Seattle, WA; Jackpot!, Portland, OR.

Additional personnel: Ashley Erickson (trumpet); Wayne Horvitz (Hammond b-3 organ); Karl Blau (bass guitar); Steve Moore , Tucker Martine (hand claps); Danny Barnes, Laura Veirs.Spin (p.100) - 3.5 stars out of 5 -- "Nguyen's inviting folk pop has some of Jolie Holland's woozy swagger, a pinch of Beth Orton's genteel grace, and endless reserves of energy."
Uncut (p.105) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "[H]er music has a lightness of touch....Songs that are beguiling and occasionally unsettling."
CMJ - "[I]ntriguing, distinct and deft throughout."
Q (Magazine) (p.102) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "Her band is endlessly upbeat, and while deadpan is her default mode, she also has buckets of charm."
Mojo (Publisher) (p.108) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "[A] witty and defiant riposte to all life's frustrations, with lilting banjo and the summery, sweet pop of her band The Get Down Stay Down zestfully scoring her wry rues."
Clash (magazine) (p.107) - "[P]acked with an eccentric, life-embracing sense of wonder. Never veering from what Thao does best -- luscious folk-pop doused in surreal lyrical weaves..."
The Word (magazine) (p.103) - "11 perfectly realised folk-pop confections....Thao's complex but chirpy songs skilfully negotiate life's jagged edges in a refreshingly bright and positive manner..."