Hello again! Another Sunday Session, and it’s time to revisit one of my favourite artists – Andrew Bird is back for his second pack! (Or maybe third? lost count by now. Let’s go with second).
If you missed the first one, here’s the short version: Andrew Bird is a Chicago-born violinist, guitarist, songwriter, and expert whistler who has been making some of the most distinctive music in American indie folk for the past twenty-five years. Classically trained on violin since age four, his writes clever, unique folk/chamber pop melodies with his signature sounds being his amazing violin playing – both plucking the strings and bow playing – and his even mroe signature whistling, along with his dense, wordplay-heavy lyrics. The end result is unique, delightful and has no real equivalent. Those songs are tricky to author! We’ve already covered a good chunk of his catalog in previous packs, but there’s still plenty to dig into in the well. Let’s go.
We start with “Core and Rind” from The Swimming Hour (2001), the third and final album from Andrew Bird & the Bowl of Fire. This is pre-reinvention Bird, back when he was more of a full-band roots/jazz bandleader, and this song is loose, swinging fiddle pop with a real charm to it. Some absolutely great instrumental parts too – the drums are epic, and there are some great guitar and keys solos in it.
“Fake Palindromes” and “Tables & Chairs” both come from Andrew Bird & The Mysterious Production of Eggs (2005) – probably his most widely loved album, with its iconic sheep cover. “Fake Palindromes” is short, upbeat, and instantly catchy, built around an infectious violin riff and a concert favorite. “Tables & Chairs” is the climactic song, offering an amusing, upbeat look at the apocalypse – “there will be snacks!” – and it keeps escalating in exciting ways.
From Armchair Apocrypha (2007), we get two more essentials. “Imitosis” is classic Bird science-wordplay mode and one of his coolest hooks. It’s catchy and strange in equal measure, turning biology-class language into a song about people and loneliness. “Plasticities” has an awesome driving beat with some great electric guitar lines when it opens up on a great chorus.
From Are You Serious (2016), we’ve got too more. “Capsized” is probably one of the grooviest things Bird has ever put out – sharp, bouncy, and fun drums and bass with a great chorus and some great musicianship. Then there’s “Left Handed Kisses,” his duet with Fiona Apple, which is basically a love argument. Bird plays the overthinking skeptic, Fiona pushes back as a naive romantic, and the whole thing becomes this funny and moving back-and-forth about how hard it is to say something sincere without ruining it. And also, it’s two damn legends on this track!
“Bloodless” from My Finest Work Yet (2019) brings in the more political side of Bird. It’s smooth and jazzy on the surface, but the lyrics are much more uneasy – a song about polarization, people profiting from division, and a society that feels like it’s in a cold civil war – “bloodless, for now”. It’s a song that feels more relevant every day. Finally, “Underlands” from Inside Problems (2022) is just beautiful, with a mysterious atmosphere an, elegant and a little cosmic, and it’s just a really fine track.
That’s it, enjoy the songs! If you enoyed it, check previous Andrew Bird releases (and Bowl of Fire too!) – there’s a lot available! And make sure to check back next Sunday for yet another Sunday session! and this time: a band that lasted two years and launched the career of three major stars!
