The Animal Show » Andrew Bird

Birds Aren’t Muppets.

Edward — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 15:42:32 +0000

It's about time for this to go down.

There are a few things I’m incredibly passionate about that I don’t end up giving much attention to here at the Show. Usually, this is because a lot of people are writing way too frequently about them, like Mad Men, the Red Sox, or Star Wars. I mean, do you really want more Star Wars than I’ve already given you? Get lost, nerd! This isn’t a Star Wars-based music blog! It’s an egocentric, me-based music blog. (That said, icebergxc has a pretty shweet album of Star Wars Breakbeats I may finally be able to convince him to post.) But, like every new relationship, I ended up oversharing in the beginning of my blog career, and, as a result, it should come as no surprise to you that I love the Muppets*.

It may surprise you, however, that so does Best Album of 09 competitor Andrew Bird.

At some point in the past few months, the Birdman was across the pond, and played a radio show in France, on which he performed a beautiful rendition on Kermit the Frog’s timeless signature song, “Bein’ Green.” In French, no less. Ladies and gentlemen, the man can do it all. According to my #1 source for Muppet-related news, the Muppet Newsflash, this song will be released (presumably in an English version) alongside Weezer’s highly-anticipated cover of “Rainbow Connection” on an upcoming album titled Muppets Revisited (as corroborated by the Muppet Wiki). Can’t wait, ya’ll. So sit back, enjoy, and reminisce. Remember, we can’t be young forever, but we can listen to Andrew Bird without being ashamed for at least another couple years.

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Bein’ Green (Muppets Cover) – Andrew Bird (YSI)

*reading those first few posts is sort of like watching the first season of the Simpsons, because some of the jokes are funny, I guess, but everyone’s voice sounds weird and seriously, why is Bart’s hair so pointy? So my apologies for that.

Let's Fly Away

Edward — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 20:37:21 +0000

The above picture is a joke

Here at the Show we’ve been crazy busy. I don’t know if you’d heard, but I’m currently subsisting on Rite Aid generic-brand Red Bulls and Goldfish straight out of those enormous cartons, you know, so it looks like the supersized milk containers from your elementary-school cafeteria. Life is hard. I’ve been doing my crossword puzzles in class to save time out of class for interwebcasting, and I make all the meals I can afford to get into meal-mash smoothies. The only thing keeping me going is music. Adrenaline-pumping music. Adrenaline-pumping, melodic indie rock music. Enter Andrew Bird.

As if you needed another reason to buy Bird’s phenomenal Noble Beast, here’s yet another sampling of its excellence. There is no one like Andrew Bird on this earth. Trust me; I’ve met him. The man is such a low talker that I literally had to crawl into his mouth like a lion tamer to hear what he was trying to say. His stage presence is bizarre — he’s quite obviously uncomfortable, and yet you can’t help but stare enraptured at him the entire time he’s swaying spastically on his Persian rug. If you get the chance, go see him. Nobody is doing what he’s doing. More to the point, no one can. So listen to “Fitz & Dizzyspells,” and maybe you’ll understand how I’m still on my feet now. And by “feet,” I mean “butt, typing furiously at my laptop.” You get what I mean. No lion-taming antics necessary.

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Fitz & Dizzyspells – Andrew Bird (mediafire) [Buy the album.]

Februaremedy: 25/28

Andrew Bird's "Noble Beast" Takes Flight

Edward — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 18:05:50 +0000

God, I love titular puns!

This man will fiddle you to death. And you'll like it.

In 5 days, you will sprint out to your local **INDEPENDENT** record store to purchase Andrew Bird’s Noble Beast. Or you’ll sit at your mailbox waiting for your pre-order to arrive. And it will be splendid. So splendid that you might even forget to watch the Inauguration. However, if you do so, you’re a bad American and Andrew Bird doesn’t respect you. C’mon — he’s playing an inauguration bash! He’s all about the Presidency and new puppies.

You’re probably dying of anticipation, like me, so let me put you on proverbial life support with a Bird IV. Here are a few tracks off Noble Beast, a live cut of the so-called “single,” “Oh No,” and the entirety of the bonus disc, Useless Creatures, in streaming form.

Stream Useless Creatures at Andrew Bird’s website (NB: although this is Andrew Bird in full grace and orchestral elegance, it’s a lot less accessible than the rest of his canon of work. Great background music, but it’s not the direction he’s moving in. His choice of the title ought to tell you enough about his opinion of instrumental music like this.)

The Privateers – Andrew Bird

Tenuousness – Andrew Bird

Oh No – Andrew Bird

Oh No Live:

This guy is absolutely amazing live. His musicianship is unparalleled, honestly. If you can, be sure to catch him on his upcoming tour. Either way, buy his albums.

The Hood Internet Strikes Again!

Edward — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 18:46:00 +0000

OMFG, HIPSTER DJS??

The Hood Internet is responsible for many of my favorite A+B mashups, and they’ve just dropped a doozy of a pairing: Beyonce + Fleet Foxes.

In terms of pure musical grace, this isn’t their finest work, but it’s still a fun listen.

Catch it and some of my other favorites from their material after the break!

The Hood Internet:

Single Foxes (Put Some Wood on It) – Fleet Foxes vs. Beyonce I’m still not sure how I feel about that title.

Superbowl Jesus – Kanye West / The 1985 Chicago Bears vs. Wilco I don’t think I’m exposed to the super bowl shuffle frequently enough. Thanx, Hood Internetz!

Simple X-Plosion – Diverse feat Lyrics Born vs. Andrew Bird Is it just me, or does Andrew Bird lend himself to being sampled in hip-hop songs perfectly? Plus, the pairing of him with a rapper with intelligent and literate flow like Diverse is a match made in heaven.

Shut Up, American Boy – Estelle feat Kanye West vs. the Ting Tings Notice now that 2 of my top 5 songs of 2008 are represented here. Those Hood Internet kids know what I like.