His early work, which echoed gypsy jazz and traditional folk, has led into his current sound, which mixes rock with more broad compositions. His years of solo song-craft have now enabled him to produce a sound that is uniquely his own.
Trained by the Suzuki method from a young age and a graduate of Illinois' Northwestern University, Bird released his first solo album, Music of Hair, in 1996. Vastly different from his later releases, this first album showcases his violin skills and pays tribute to his fascination with both American and European folk traditions, as well as jazz and blues.
His initial commercial exposure was in collaborative work with the band Squirrel Nut Zippers. He was quickly lumped in with the swing craze that swept the United States music industry in the mid '90s; this is an affiliation that he is still working to shed.
Taking on the role of band leader in 1997 with Andrew Bird's Bowl of Fire, he released the album Thrills. This was followed by Oh! The Grandeur in 1998. Both albums were heavily influenced by traditional folk, pre-war jazz and swing, with Bird relying on the violin as his primary musical instrument.
In 2001, Bird released The Swimming Hour, his third release with the Bowl of Fire and a dramatic departure from previous recordings. The Swimming Hour featured a mixture of styles, from the zydeco-influenced "Core and Rind" to more straightforward rock songs. He has often referred to this record as his "jukebox album".
The Bowl of Fire unofficially disbanded some time in 2003, having featured many skilled Chicago musicians including Kevin O'Donnell, Nora O'Connor, Andy Hopkins (aka Mr. Rudy Day), Jimmy Sutton, Colin Bunn and Ryan Hembrey.
Bird then released two subsequent solo albums, both distributed through the label operated by Ani DiFranco, Righteous Babe Records. The two records, 2003's Weather Systems and 2005's The Mysterious Production of Eggs, continue a progression towards an eclectic indie folk sound that has proven challenging to classify.
Bird's live solo shows have been notable in that he uses a multi-track system to sample and loop his own performance. For example, he may record a snippet of his performance on violin, then play a "loop" of that sound. This provides a more full-bodied sound and aurally suggests a band performance, rather than the sound of a solo artist.
Bird's next full-length album Armchair Apocrypha (Fat Possum) was released on March 20th 2007.
November 2007 saw the Soldier On EP originally a European tour-only release. But due to high demand and unanticipated critical acclaim was released digitally and in CD-format on both sides of the Atlantic. Critics and fans alike have hearkened to the EP's first track, "The Trees Were Mistaken", a complex yet austere looping composition that marks a departure from Bird's earlier body of work. It also contains a cover of Bob Dylan's "Oh Sister".
January 2009 saw Noble Beast, also available with instrumental album Useless Creatures, released worldwide to positive reviews.
The Fatal Shore Songfacts reports that Break it Yourself, Bird's sixth solo studio album, was released on March 6, 2012 through Mom+Pop records in the US and Bella Union in the UK. The origins of the LP lie in a couple of jam sessions by a gathering of Bird's friends in the singer's western Illinois barn, near the banks of the Mississippi River.
Of his 2019 album My Finest Work Yet, Talia Schlanger of NPR says "Bird zooms way out on humanity across history's timeline, seeking insight about our current age, in a way he hopes 'stays above the news feed noise.'" Many tracks, including the opener "Sisyphus," include Andrew's trademark whistling.
Angle?
Andrew Bird Lyrics
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Fandango tango angle
And it keeps things curious
Yes, and it makes folks furious
It takes two part tango
And a little tingle tangle
And two orangutans
I used to think that you were a tomboy
Hair like a bird's nest, clothes so shoddy
Then I found that you were a Rhomboid
Not an oblesque bone in your body
So don't mess around
With my extemporangle fangle
Everybody's entitled to a little
Existenstialrangle fangle bang
In this song, Andrew Bird is expressing his excitement and newfound perspective on life. He describes his “new found fangled fandango tango angle” which keeps things interesting and unpredictable, and makes other people angry. He says that it takes two parts tango and a little tingle tangle, as well as two orangutans (like himself and the person he’s addressing) to achieve this perspective.
Bird then goes on to describe how he used to see the person he’s addressing as a tomboy, but has since come to see her as a rhomboid. He appreciates her unique qualities and encourages her not to mess with his “extemporangle fangle” or everyone’s entitled to a little “existentialangle fangle bang”. These phrases are playful and nonsensical, but suggest that Bird is embracing the unpredictability of life and encourages others to do the same.
Line by Line Meaning
I've got a new found fangled
I have discovered a novel and unusual perspective
Fandango tango angle
A unique approach or method that adds excitement and intensity to the situation
And it keeps things curious
This perspective maintains interest and intrigue
Yes, and it makes folks furious
Though it may cause disagreement, this method can also provoke strong emotions and reactions
It takes two part tango
This approach requires collaboration and cooperation
And a little tingle tangle
Incorporating a bit of unpredictability or spontaneity adds to the excitement
And two orangutans
Emphasizing the need for an unconventional partner with an open mind and heart
Like me and you
The listener and speaker in this moment/share this perspective
I used to think that you were a tomboy
The artist once had a limited understanding of the person they are addressing
Hair like a bird's nest, clothes so shoddy
The person's appearance was the artist's only reference point at first
Then I found that you were a Rhomboid
The singer discovered a hidden depth and complexity, challenging their original assumptions
Not an oblesque bone in your body
The person's character and demeanor are far from predictable and defy rigid definition
So don't mess around
The singer warns the listener to take the following seriously
With my extemporangle fangle
The singer's creative, spontaneous approach is not to be trifled with
Everybody's entitled to a little
The singer acknowledges that their approach may not be for everyone
Existenstialrangle fangle bang
A unique perspective can be powerful and transformative, but also unsettling and even frightening at times
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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