Andrew Bird - "Armchair Apocrypha"

This isn't your song, this isn't your music / How can there be wrong, when by committee / They choose it all, they choose it all

You’ll notice in the last email, I mentioned that this week’s installment would cover Apples In Stereo’s “New Magnetic Wonder”. This is not that album in more ways than one. When confronted with having made that mistake and subsequently asking myself which album I should cover next, I had something of a decision to make this morning— should I blog about what was already announced or stick to the format that dictates my CD choice? Reader, you already know the answer to this question.

I bopped along to the music on the freeway this morning, soundtracked by Andrew Bird’s “Armchair Apocrypha”. This is a musically breezy album with deep lyrical themes. It really hit the sweet spot for an early morning drive as his trademark whistle set the tone for an easygoing commute that let me concentrate on the poetry of his words.

where did i get this album?

I got most of this album on LimeWire by downloading almost assuredly mislabeled tracks because I enjoyed what I had heard to-date, and as per usual, I wanted to hear more. I downloaded this album’s most readily-accessible songs as well as some of his older music, that of his backing band, Andrew Bird’s Bowl of Fire. Despite the fact that my MO was usually to try to collect the discography of an artists, it’s a failing that I only own this CD by Andrew Bird. I’m not sure why this was the case— this is an artist I find compelling and I think the music is genuinely striking. Anyway, I bought this CD and still really, really enjoy it, even if I’ve shelved it for the past several years.

Upon revisiting it this morning, I found that I still really enjoy the music, even though I haven’t listened to it at all in recent years. It certainly fits the profile for music that I still listen to regularly, but I think I’ve separated from Andrew Bird’s music from the rest of my regular rotation because, funny enough, he was the favorite of more than one of my ex-girlfriends.

It’s a fairly common phenomenon to associate music with certain relationships. For me, Andrew Bird has fit that profile on more than one occasion. I am not going to get into the details of those relationships here, but at some point, as those relationships ended, I either made a conscious decision to stop listening to Andrew Bird, or I just moved on. Today though, after those relationships have long since ended, hearing this music wasn’t the painful reminder of the someones I once cared about but is no longer in my life. Rather, it felt like a symbolic stepping stone for both my musical tastes and the person I am today.

what is the deal with this album?

Andrew Bird’s vocal performance is the focal point of this album. He surrounds himself with swirling strings, his virtuosic whistling, and some distortion on his acoustic guitar. The songs though, are always centered around his baritone voice and dense lyrical content. Over the course of 48-plus minutes, 10 of the 12 songs (the other two are instrumental) feature topics that range from the natural world and biology (“Imitosis”, “Darkmatter”) to making historical events personal (“Scythian Empires”, Plasticities”). Despite covering such large topics as the Battle of Waterloo and nomadic tribes, he also reminds us we’re in the 21st century with references to “Lou Dobbs on CNN” and “Haliburton attaches”. Quite the range!

And despite the grand allusions and metaphors about mycology and cosmonauts, the music is as grounded as can be. He makes the music groove and sway, despite being an album filled with rigid orchestral instrumentation. The musical atmosphere doesn’t belie the grand themes but supports it and gives space for his personality to shine through. It’s understated, but stunning.

the bottom line

This is a CD I wasn’t expecting to listen to today but am glad that I did. Yes, it brought back some memories of exes that I haven’t spoken with in some time but given what I’ve learned and how I’ve grown in the years since, my only regret is not listening to this album more often.

Artist: Andrew Bird

Album: Armchair Apocrypha

Label and Year: Wegawam Music Co. under exclusive license to Fat Possum Records, 2007

Standout Track: #10, “Scythian Empires”

Queued Up: Animal Collective’s hallucinatory electric freak-out “Strawberry Jam”