Noble Beast Makes a Splendid Symphony
Andrew Bird seamlessly combines new sounds with classical motifs
Andrew Bird
Noble Beast
Released on Jan 20, 2009
I like to think of myself as having a decent amount of musical talent. I can play the piano, as well as the clarinet. Oh, and I played the viola for about a year in elementary school. Every now and then, when I’m feeling less than special, I tend to comfort myself with that knowledge. Then I listen to Andrew Bird, and remember that really, I’m not that big of a deal. Not only is he a stellar whistler, but he excels at violin, glockenspiel, and guitar.
Though I can’t be comforted by my musical prowess when in the audible presence of Bird, I’m comforted by something much better—his fantastic musical stylings. He’s had quite a few incarnations as both a solo artist and a member of a band, and those familiar with his earlier works will see yet another shift in Noble Beast. However, change can be a good thing, especially since Bird continues to display his violin skills, as well as his enviable way with words.
More often than not, opening tracks that clock in at just over a minute are barely worth noting. “On Ho!” though, is a beautiful, melancholy meditation that should be looped to hear over and over again. It stands on its own nicely, but it also perfectly sets up the second track, “Anonanimal.” This flawless transition becomes a trend on the disc. Thanks to Bird’s aptitude with a variety of instruments, and his resulting comfort with including their varying sounds on the album, Noble Beast plays like a well-executed symphony, rather than a mix of fourteen songs that connect, but only by a tenuous thread.
That’s not to say that certain songs don’t stand out—“Souverian” is its own masterpiece. While it seems impossible that a song can be both simple and layered, Bird pulls it off with this seven-minute gem. However, it doesn’t exactly take him out of his comfort zone. That’s where “Not a Robot, But A Ghost” comes in. It still relies heavily on Bird’s multi-instrumental sound, but incorporates a more distorted, mechanic sound. This track is certainly the unexpected movement in the symphony, but he executes it with ease.
If you’re not interested in listening to a veritable orchestra, and rather verbose lyrics, you most likely know by now that Noble Beast is not the album for you. However, if you’re looking to add to an existing Bird collection, or open yourself up to thoughtful, expertly executed songs, you’ll want to snatch up this next stage in Bird’s musical development.
High Point
At times, Bird’s songs might seem somber—but “Fitz and Dizzyspells” has enough joy in its measures to lift up the remaining 13 tracks if necessary.
Low Point
Am I allowed to complain about a track that’s only 20 seconds long? I will anyway—“Ouo” is, at best, mildly pointless.
Posted by Alyssa Vincent on Jan 29, 2009 @ 7:15 pm