Andrew Bird — Noble Beast

While Andrew Bird created the achingly haunting musical accompaniments that accentuated some of the darker images painted by his lyrics on his last two albums, 2005's The Mysterious Production Of Eggs and 2007's brilliant Armchair Apocrypha, the overall tone of Noble Beast is generally free of his dark despair. It instead radiates a sense of hope, joy and personal growth.

The album begins with the masterful "Oh No," which features a stunning introduction to Bird's whistling. It sets the table for his double-tracked vocals that briefly match the sugar-pop sheen of some of The Hidden Cameras' sweeter moments.

Bird's whistling is increasingly used here with improved clarity and strength. It's used prominently on "Masterswarm" and tints the song with a summertime freshness. This result is in direct contrast to the whistling on the last two studio recordings, which darkened the mood of Bird's material.

That lighter touch continues on "Fitz And The Dizzyspells." Whistles and razor-sharp fiddle licks trade musical jabs throughout this uplifting song. The lyrics here are less introspective and use more worldly cultural references that seem almost transparent in meaning.

While Noble Beast doesn't have the haunting dominance of Armchair's "Imitosis" or "Plasticities," the acoustic airiness of "Effigy" and "Natural Disaster" come close to matching the aural intensity of previous albums. Bird even gets a bit jiggy with "Not A Robot, But A Ghost," which features a shuffling dance beat that propels his usual array of sound elements.

The grandeur of Bird's musical arrangements is highlighted on "Anonanimal," with a wonderful build-up of violin, guitar and percussion that supports his sumptuous and emotive vocals. Noble Beast is yet another creative notch in Bird's growing catalogue.

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