(photo: Robin Heart Hiltz)

I’ve been sitting on the self-titled album be Halifax’s Ruby Jean and the Thoughtful Bees for some time now–and that’s pretty much a literal statement.  The CD somehow ended up underneath the armchair in my home office where I like to pass the time listening to music and reading magazines and books.  Earlier this week when I decided to do a clean-up of the space, I found it lying next to some junk mail and a chewed up bandage that my cat managed to extract from the bathroom garbage can.

The company the CD Kept while lost under the chair is not indicative of my thoughts on the music, though.  Their playful electro-art-rock is far from junky, and they have far more sticking power than a discarded bandage.  The band is a rag-tag collaboration of artists from other bands in the Halifax area that came together for some amazing dance rock party music that stimulates the feet as much as the brain.

Call them the female fronted MSTRKRFT, a cross between Daft Punk and Madonna (that actually sounds good), but just don’t call them boring and plain.  Ruby Jean and the Thoughtful Bees make a joyful, beat-heavy buzz that is sure to get your next party going, so I want to help you make a lasting impression with your guests.  Up for grabs is a limited numbered edition copy of the band’s CD (196 of 1000) and it’s your for the taking by just following a couple of simple steps:  Email your mailing address to CONTESTS [AT] QUICKBEFOREITMELTS [DOT] COM and in the subject line put down the name of your favourite party track of all time.  Next–AND THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART BECAUSE IF YOU DON’T YOU WON’T QUALIFY FOR THE CONTEST– leave a comment on this post telling us what that favourite track is and why.  Contest closes on Friday, February 27th at 11:59 p.m., at which point I’ll randomly select which entrants gets the disc.  Easy as bees.

MP3: Ruby Jean and the Thoughtful Bees “You Don’t Miss Me”
Myspace: Ruby Jean and the Thoughtful Bees