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

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