ANDREW BIRD
Armchair Apocrypha
Fat Possum
· The last 5/5 I gave was for Andrew Bird & the Mysterious Production of Eggs in 2004.
Andrew Bird is an absolute genius at crafting songs that are more than mere mortals of the pop canon.
While incredibly engaging, Armchair Apocrypha is more unique than is apparent on first listen. When you devote yourself to it, Apocrypha will take you everywhere.
Starting with a "Fiery Crash" and ending with an apocalypse, Bird sings to general themes in incredibly specific ways, allowing you to take what you like from his prophecy. With a voice that I have mistaken, once or twice, for Rufus Wainwright, and musical details reminiscent of Mark Mothersbaugh, Andrew Bird’s artistry is his own. I hesitate to choose a single highlight, however, "Heretics" is an absolutely brilliant arrangement of metaphor and melody.
Armchair Apocrypha is not just a clever name – this album effortlessly operates outside the music industry stream, and yet it will earn as much notoriety and longevity for becoming what it is – what it had to be: 12 songs that are not only beautiful, but also smart and sacred.
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