Armchair Apocrypha

Andrew Bird substantiates his musical evolution with the release of the graceful "Armchair Apocrypha". Mystical, almost cabbalistic at times, the album feels foreign but familiar, in a intriguing sort of way . What makes it all ironic is that "Armchairs" showcases some of the most accessible music Bird has released to date. Full of the "indie-rock" spirit, the songs are mostly upbeat and stimulating. The beautifully moody "Simple X" further animates the collaboration with Minneapolis beat miner Martin "Dosh". Tracks like "Plasticities and "Fiery Crash" will endure their course in your head long after the listening session is over. But it's the subtle brilliance of tracks like "Armchairs" and "Yawny At The Apocalypse" that fully materialize Birds musical intelligence. This has to be one of my favorite records of all time.

It'll bump everything else out of your head for days at a time. You'll stare at your speakers at first, thinking, "Huh?" You'll push "repeat" and rummage for the lyrics. I ransacked my CD's to find some old Robert Moran, trying to determine if Bird sounded similar to something of Moran's, maybe "Ten Miles Over Albania" or "Open Veins" (he does, on "Plasticities"). Bird whistles--sorry!--like there's a theramin, a ghost, a bat in the dark, just a few inches above your right ear. The images go on and on. Andrew Bird is the weirdest thing going. I think I'm in love.

You'll think, "None of these songs are commercially viable whatsoever". But if that's true, why can't you stop humming them? Especially the dry critique "Schythian Empires", which compares our ways and this war to that ephemeral civilization? Or "Fiery Crash"? Bird's voice is sometimes like Jeff Buckley (Armchair), other times like Steve Kilbey's of the long-gone Church (Heretics). And the instrumentation! He plays everything stringed ever invented. Am I babbling?

There's a dearth of emotion on these tracks, which is partly why they appeal. The clean template allows Andrew Bird to expand outward, with layers of instrumentation goosing the deadpan lyrics into a kind of snide profundity, while disallowing any accusations of bias or malice. We're merely told, "What's mistaken for closeness/ is just a case of mitosis". Point taken, but some of these tracks are really warm--"Fiery Crash" and "Armchairs" come to mind.

Oh, heck, I could talk all day and not give you even a taste of him. Pick something radio-friendly, like "Heretics" or "Crash", roll it around in your ears, and see for yourself. I haven't heard adult music in a long time, so you've got to excuse my inexactitude--he leaves me breathless.

I've had this album for months now and I can't stop listening to it. I love his older work too, but this album is just incredible. Some songs - the ones that start slower like Cataracts and Armchairs - took me a while to get into, but when I finally really listened to them I kept going back to them. The instrumental song at the end of the album is the only one I haven't really been captured by. I can't wait for the next album from Mr. Bird, his talent is overwhelming!

I'm disappointed that some people review this album, and others by Bird, and dock him a star because they didn't like the album as much as another Bird album they heard. Not fair! Bird's work, in my opinion, is better on his worse day than most artists on their best days. Let's face it, people hold Bird to a very high standard, and that speaks volumes about him as an artist. If this isn't a 5 star album, I don't know what is.

This is a great album...quite different than anything I have heard. Andrew Bird is an excellent song writer and musician. There is a great deal to appreciate from this album.