Album: Andrew Bird, Break it Yourself (Bella Union)

 

Simmy Richman Author Biography

Simmy Richman

Simmy Richman is Associate Editor of The Independent on Sunday's New Review magazine. He is also a writer and CD reviews editor for The Independent on Sunday

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Sunday 04 March 2012

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We are overrun with singer-songwriters but you'd think a virtuoso violinist and
whistler who sings about pollination and Petri dishes would stand out.

Album seven now and it still feels as if people need reminding how deftly Bird turns multi-layered soundscapes and complex wordplays into pop. The lyrics here are (slightly) less clever-clever than before, the songs more consistent. If you like smart pop and are not familiar, hearing Bird for the first time will feel like discovering a new planet. SR

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