Bee Hives

An intriguing and mesmerizing compilation of songs that underscores any love you already had for Broken Social Scene.

Captures different shades and moods of the band's thus-far five-year career quite nicely.

While "Hives" isn't as easy to digest as previous Broken Social Scene outings, it still deserves many a spin.

Those looking for the instant gratification of the first side of YFIIP--the “Almost Crimes”s, the “KC Accidental”s, the “Anthem”s--will be grossly disappointed. This is a collection for those of us who dug the album’s second side--meandering, experimental, but ultimately just as urgent and just as rewarding.

Proves that [You Forgot It In People] wasn’t a fluke.

If you've ever seen Broken Social Scene live, you'll know that nearly all the members spend an inordinate amount of time onstage crouched over their effects pedals, creating waves of guitar drones and feedback, and this album sounds like an extension of that style. Yeah, it can get tiresome, but more often than not, it's actually quite beautiful.

Moments of the overfed ambience familiar to the band's debut, Feel Good Lost, poke through as the album drags on.

It has enough winners to make it something to hunt down if you like the group.

The instrumentals falter. [Jun 2004, p.97]

While not up to par with either of their previous albums, Bee Hives is certainly a pretty, if uneven, addition for fans. [Jul/Aug 2004, p.124]

Bee Hives is a mostly instrumental album that heavily favors the fuzzy keyboard tones and heavy reverb of the band’s early work.

Works better as an adjunct for those already predisposed.