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.
Scythian Empires
Andrew Bird Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
While handpicked tenderness kid-gloves tear at the inseam
Their Halliburton attaché cases are useless
While scotch guard Macintoshes shall be carbonized
Now they're offering views of exiting empire
Such breathtaking views of Scythian empires
Scythian empire, horsemen of the Russia steppe
Routed by some Achaeans, thwarted by the Thracians
Scythian empire
Scythian empire, exiting empire
Scythian empire, exiting empire
Routed by some Achaeans, thwarted by the Thracians
Scythian empire
Kings of Macedonia, Scythian empire
The song Scythian Empires by Andrew Bird is a commentary on the destructive nature of empires throughout history. The first verse describes a violent storm approaching, symbolizing the chaos that accompanies the rise and fall of these empires. The "handpicked tenderness" tearing at the inseam represents the harshness of rulers who use their power to control and harm others. The Halliburton attaché cases and scotch guard Macintoshes are symbols of the wealth and power that these rulers acquire, but become useless and meaningless when their empires collapse.
The chorus is a reflection on the Scythian Empire, which was a powerful nomadic empire that existed on the Russian steppe from the 8th century BCE to the 3rd century CE. The Scythians were known for their fierce warriors and skilled horsemen, but despite their strength, they were eventually defeated by the Achaeans and Thracians. The chorus emphasizes the transience of empires, highlighting the fact that even the most powerful and seemingly invincible civilizations will eventually fall.
Line by Line Meaning
Five day forecast bring black tall rains and hellfire
The weather forecast predicts a violent storm with heavy rain and thunder.
While handpicked tenderness kid-gloves tear at the inseam
While delicately handled gloves tear at the seams.
Their Halliburton attaché cases are useless
Their expensive cases are of no help or importance.
While scotch guard Macintoshes shall be carbonized
Even durable raincoats won't protect them from the extreme weather conditions.
Now they're offering views of exiting empire
They are now showcasing views of the falling empire.
Such breathtaking views of Scythian empires
The views of Scythian empires, although historically great, now depict a crumbling society.
Scythian empire, horsemen of the Russia steppe
The Scythian empire was known for its skilled horsemen on the Russian steppe.
Scythian empire, archers of an afterthought
The Scythian empire's archers were somewhat overlooked or disregarded.
Routed by some Achaeans, thwarted by the Thracians
The Scythian empire was defeated by both the Achaeans and the Thracians.
Scythian empire, exiting empire
The Scythian empire is now collapsing.
Kings of Macedonia, Scythian empire
The kings of Macedonia and the Scythian empire are both examples of great rulers of the past, now fading into history.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Andrew Wegman Bird
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind