Andrew Bird - 'Noble Beast'

Andrew Bird has many talents as a songwriter, but fiercest among them is his ability to layer and arrange instruments and sounds. Noble Beast is not a story-telling album, nor is it an envelope-pushing, boundary-testing creative masterpiece. It is, however, a collection of exquisitely arranged music whose instrumentation is tasteful and well-timed.

Tiny marks and understated peculiarities

Andrew Bird is the rare kind of artist who is truly at his best when he's channeling the deepest depths of his peculiarity. His music has been great in the past because it's so absolutely Andrew Bird-ish. There's something about his music that lets you know nobody else could have possibly written these songs. Noble Beast, however plays as though he made an effort to defy those expectations and write a straight-up, easy-to-swallow mainstream record. That said, there's nothing bad about the disc. The near-lack of peculiarity is, in itself, surprising and peculiar enough to appreciate.

For example, the dizzying fiddle-and-whistling solo that comes toward the end of "Fitz and the Dizzyspells" (purchase/download) is the one moment where Bird's mark appears on the song. Aside from that, it's a classic-style pop tune that could have otherwise been pulled off by any random artist.

"Effigy" (purchase/download) could have been a predictable lament if not for the sudden and lasting close harmonies. The playful piano opening of "Souverian" (purchase/download) is far more accessible than the melancholy lyrics would let on. Even as Bird's violin builds the song up, it's a nice display in the emotional power of restraint.

Noble Beast's best songs

"Tenuousness" is perhaps the disc's best song. As it builds from just vocals and shaker to a larger arrangement that includes a distant choir, a piano, whistling, perhaps a musical saw, and finally understated percussion, the song marries all of Bird's disparate musical styles, oddities, and story-telling skills. Even with its thick instrumentation, it still manages to come off sparse and subtle, and ends without warning. With all its sonic surprises and intricate stories, it marks the sort of artistically defining moment fans have come to expect from him.

"Ouo" (purchase/download) is another bright point, pulling together various world music influences. A scratchy, static-like rhythm builds over electric guitar almost to absolute white noise behind an emotive, warbling vocal melody.

Bird has always done a tremendous job with musical experimentation, and Noble Beast is no exception. The only difference is that, this time, he seems to be experimenting with how to fit his innate ability to think outside the box, into the box. He's even successful in some places, but his best work is still the stuff that refuses to fit anywhere. Luckily there's a little bit of that in every song on this disc, as well.