The Bird and the Bee

Tue., April 10, 7:30 p.m., with Lily Allen and Aaron LaCrate, Electric Factory, 421 N. Seventh St.

by M.J. Fine

Rock/pop

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Maybe you'd imagined your life as a sweet French comedy and then were taken aback to recognize yourself in every I Love You, I Hate You item. Inara George feels for you, honey. Her beguiling 2004 solo album, All Rise, is populated by needy deserters, aspiring mistresses and other fools. The Bird and the Bee, the self-titled debut of her new duo with Greg Kurstin, thrills in the chase even as it bemoans the drama. "Fucking Boyfriend" gives a great sparkly raspberry to the infuriating guy who just can't figure out how to extricate himself from relationship limbo, while "Again & Again" is even blunter in its assessment of the partner who runs hot and cold: "You're so stupid and perfect and stupid and perfect/ I hate you, I want you, I hate you, I hate you, oh, oh." Add a couple of impeccably placed "la la la"s, and for a moment it all sounds almost as sophisticated as a sweet French comedy.

Tue., April 10, 7:30 p.m., $23, with Lily Allen and Aaron LaCrate, Electric Factory, 421 N. Seventh St., 215-336-2000, www.livenation.com.