Noble effort

Album: Noble Beast
Artist: Andrew Bird

Andrew Bird’s instrumentation is a harmony of the obscure, ranging from violin and guitar to whistling and fiddles. It’s the kind of music that is hard to define, but more often than not, his songs leave the listener with an impression of intelligence. Bird’s lyrics might as well be another instrument altogether, touching on historical and literary matters with the kind of lexicon pulled straight from a graduate thesis.

Commenting on the pending release of “Noble Beast,” Bird, an Illinois native, told The New York Times, “I listened to my record recently, and I’m concerned about how much I like it.”

While this would normally sound pompous coming from an accomplished musician, coming from Bird it did nothing but fuel anticipation for the album.

But like most delusions of grandeur, “Noble Beast” just scarcely delivers. Instead of living up to expectations, Bird uses it as an excuse to show off how conceited he is.
For those familiar with his earlier work, this new album sounds like a stripped down version of 2007’s “Armchair Apocrypha,” a disappointing comparison to have to make when cleverly crafted songs have been his hallmark in the past. 

With all its hums and whistles, the record appears to suffer from a lack of enthusiasm. Songs like “Nomenclature,” “Effigy” and “Natural Disaster” seem to want to reach up to some kind of climax, but end before even getting off the ground. Fortunately there are high points with “Tenuousness,” “Anonanimal” and the opener “Oh No.” These tracks showcase what the rest of the album should embody; heavy instrumental layering and songwriting that sounds excited and inventive every time you hear it. 

At its high points, “Noble Beast” is exactly what it claims to be, a frighteningly awe-inspiring listening experience. Unfortunately, when it falls there are no reverberations of its magnificence. And while it is still Bird, he is not the same recognizable beast. 

– Danielle Fleischman

Standout track: “Oh No” Grade: B-