Andrew Bird hasn’t been shy about previewing tracks from his fifth album during his various live sets. That, and the fact that Noble Beasts opens with “Oh No” and then the previously heard “Masterswarm” and “Fitz And The Dizzyspells” along with “Natural Disaster,” “Effigy,” and “Anonanimal” later in the track list, gives the collection a familiar air even on first listen. Of course, Bird takes the songs to a different place in their studio renderings.
It’s a light and airy set, which fits well with the naturalist album art. These 14 songs feel clean: handclaps, whistles, strings plucked and bowed, his easygoing voice. The first couple of songs have a kind of mellow, but coiled feel — “Masterswarm” is just under 7 minutes long — that opens up into something more rollicking on “Fitz & Dizzyspells.” Even then, you don’t get all the guitar distortion or baroque fleshiness of Armchair Apocrypha. It’s generally a sparer sound, no matter how complex the compositions become. So, in some senses, a return to an earlier, more acoustic-powered sound. If you enjoyed Armchair‘s bigger dynamics, this might be a bit of letdown at first, but you just have to pay closer attention to unpack the hooks (talons).
The spacious thing isn’t always the case: “Not A Robot, But A Ghost” rattles with busier, clattering percussion and more ominous strings. You also get some distortion affixed to it’s whirling Spanish (on Radiohead — like that last minute) sound. And “Anonanimal”‘s flourishes are flat out proggy (its drumming, post-rock, etc). The idea? More sounds enter the picture as the album wears on. The later swirl leads into the more bucolic, but sad “Natural Disaster,” which is somewhat reminiscent of Imperial-period Unrest in it’s closing bum bum bum’s. It feels like a good closing point for the record, but then come three more tunes across more than 10 minutes. Then again, “The Privateers” is fairly triumphant. Then we get two more…
So, OK, there’s a lot going on with these Noble Beasts. Even still, at 54 minutes, Noble Beast can feel a bit too shaggy. The expansiveness and slow build is appreciated, but sometimes it feels too noodling. In fact, one of the more powerful songs, “Nomenclature,” is less than three minutes, making the more top-heavy constructions feel that much more so. (There are also some tiny set pieces like the 20-second “Ouo” and the 58-second “Unfolding Fans” or the closing “On Ho!,” which all bring a sense of the operatic to the proceedings.)
Noble Beast is out 1/20 via Fat Possum. Remember, there’s also the Deluxe Edition, which pairs Noble Beast with the instrumental Useless Creatures. This PE doesn’t include that instrumental disc.
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If anyone is interested, I posted photos from his secret Monday show in Chicago here: http://chicagoist.com/2008/12/17/photosl_andrew_bird_at_hideout.php
It’s taking a while to set in, but so did Armchair Apocrypha. And that’s in my top 5 of the decade. I can’t wait to get my hands on the whole package come Jan 20.
And I can’t wait to see him on this tour.
just clarifying since you said Armchair Apocrphya is in your top 5 for the decade…are you aware that the decade includes everything from 2000 to 2009?
andrew bird is my favorite artist alive, but eggs is the only thing that belongs in anyone’s top 5 of the decade. armchair does not come close.
noble beast is great, but really doesn’t touch eggs. a fantastic departure from armchair though. i really didn’t like that electric style for him. “not a robot” should be nuts live.
fuck yes on the mysterious prod. of eggs!
My bad. I missed the memo. To avoid going through this embarrassment twice, am I in the clear to put YHF in my top 5? Thanks!
armchair apocrypha is great…was in my top 5 of last year, not sure about top 5 of the decade though…
lets do this… Armchair Apocrypha is better than Eggs, both are fantastic albums, but Armchair Apocrypha was something amazing. The album starts out with classic song after classic song, I can’t think of an album this decade (this DECADE) that has a first half as good as that album, but it does start to get soft towards the end of the album, with the exception of Spare-ohs. This album seems fantastic. I mean, this website voted Fleet Foxes as the Number 1 album of the year so everything is taken with a grain of sand. Is it in my top 5 of the decade overall? I dont think i can do that, but i can say without any realy doubt that it would be in my top 20 of the decade, and the best Andrew Bird Album… But if this one grows on me, who knows. Noble Beast has major Potential. Fitzs and Dissyspells has best song of 2009 potential written all over it in my books, but i mean its still 2008, long way to go.
best album of whenever and whatever aside, i think andrew bird just made a fantastically incredible new album. “not a robot, but a ghost” and “anonanimal” will be splendid to see in concert. personally, the album didn’t hit as strong as armchair apocrypha immediately (i had to get used to the new soundscape i suppose), but on every repeat listen, its growing on me exponentially. can’t wait to buy the special edition because i really enjoyed the instrumentals on this album too.
hmm.. you guys need to get your heads checked a re-listen to Weather Systems. That’s still my favorite, probably forever. Also theres the like 3-4 albums before that! Amazing shit.
So far, Noble Beast is a LOT easier for me to like than Armchair Apochrypha. I kind of hated that album even tho it was good. Hard to explain. I wish he would bring the weirdness– very excited about this instrumental accompanying CD.
Thank You caleb, i agree Weather systems is by far my favorite album of his, even though all of the albums since have thier amazing tracks. I also enjoy a-lot of his earlier stuff when it was Andrew Birds Bowl Of Fire, the album Swimming Hour was the last album they put out and is so interesting to listen to periodically because he experiments with many types of song writing, not the classic Andrew Bird but still a good listen.
yeah this is way less immediate than armchair apocrypha and mysterious production, but it sounds like bird is stretching out his legs a bit. if armchair was his streamlined pop masterpiece, he is letting out the line a bit now, coming full circle. love it! each album holds its place wonderfully. and with weather systems, i think it’s a good listen (as with his earlier albums), but it wasn’t until mysterious production that he really found his voice and came into his own. i think he’s proven his talent and ability and is just soaking in it now.
nice comment christian
How the F has everyone heard this? Its not out for another month.
Mysterious Production is his best album. Anxious to see how this compares.
Think about the early, alone at sunrise in a farmhouse feel of weather systems, the peculiar, surreal story telling of the mysterious production of eggs, and the huge elegant waves of sound that encompass armchair apocrypha. Noble Beast is another step for Bird. He takes a whole different approach to his song-writing, including modern sounds with his signature wordplay and sonic genius. I feel it’s almost a subconscious response to what “musicians” are trying to pass of as music in the electronic venue. Either way it is one of the few albums I’ve listened to that just keeps getting better with each repeat.
I can’t wait to hear to the entire album!!. I just love the mysterious production… but i felt i little dissapointed by armchair apochrypha.
I also love Weather Systems and Eggs, but agree that Armchair Apocrypha is the best work he has done so far. I also think Armchairs is one of the great songs ever written. But that’s just me…
I’m enjoying it quite a bit. I think this album has legs.
Has heard to all album all 14 songs, music good, very pleasant, I advise to all too
Having listened to this album I have felt the present Aesthetic pleasure, I have felt harmonious combinations in which separate elements are in certain relations with each other, it was fine.
Konferens