“Oh No”
from the album Noble Beast
2009
iTunes
It’s fairly recognizable what constitutes an Andrew Bird album at this point: acoustic ensembles, whistling, violin loops, Bird’s quivering tenor, poetry and harmonies. All are present here, so if anything distinguishes Noble Beast from its predecessors, it is its seriousness. From the super-simple “Tenuousness” to the pensive instrumental intermissions “Ouo” and “Unfolding Fans,” there’s a constant spooky and dreamlike whir to all 14 songs. “Not a Robot, But a Ghost” is practically violent — refreshingly so, coming from Bird — with its hot tempo and distorted guitars. “Masterswarm” intermingles warm tropical guitar chords with dramatic, chilling strings. Specters of voices and orchestras linger in the background of such tracks as “The Privateers” and the upbeat “Fitz and the Dizzy Spells.” With its cuteness and shimmying pace, the opener “Oh No” gets your seat in the chair, while the other tracks keep you there.