Andrew Bird – Break It Yourself (2012)

Ever since I first heard Andrew Bird on the compilation album Dark Was the Night, I have been a big fan of his. His folky baroque pop sounds unique because of his amazing whistling and picked violin. His clear voice is also a pleasure to listen to. Break It Yourself was the first album Andrew Bird released after I was already familiar with his music. In the beginning it didn't make that much of an impression on me, since it sounded very similar to the earlier albums, but more recently I have found many amazing songs on this album that are among the best ones in his career. It is true that his musical style hasn't much changed, but then again, that might just be a good thing. I know so many other artists who have changed their style into something so much worse. At least Andrew Bird makes consistently great music.



I already wrote about this in my previous Andrew Bird post, but I really enjoyed his gig at Field Day here in London in 2012. This album had come out previously that year so he was playing many songs from this album on that gig. I didn't necessarily know these songs as well as the songs on the previous two albums. It didn't matter one tiny bit since these songs worked live so well. The warm sunshine through the rain clouds made his gig quite special.

If there's one piece of critique towards this album, I'd say it's a bit too long. It has 14 songs and most of them are over 4 minutes long. As a background music this might be a good thing, but if you intend to really listen to this album concentrating, it's difficult to do for the whole length of the album.

The album starts with picked violin and echoey vocals in Desperation Breeds, which is quite experimental by its melodies. I like the bird-like violin sounds in the song. Polynation sounds like it was played on a toy guitar, while the high-pitched violins soar high above the music. Danse Carribe starts in a ver trad folk way. There are some excellent faster danceable scenes that work brilliantly live. Give It Away is the clearest hit on the album with some catchy melodies and an easily followable beat. Eyeoneye is a great song that could almost be called rock. The song grows towards the end and there are even some overdriven guitars. There's a nice authentic echoey sound in the instruments. Lazy Projector shows Andrew Bird's amazing whistling skills. It's very relaxing listening to his bird-like sounds. Near Death Experience Experience is probably my favourite song on the album. It has a great gypsy style rhythm and amazing eerily looming melodies. Lusitania has some experimental and airy blinking and chiming sounds along with some excellent whistling. Orpheo Looks Back has probably the best violins on the album. There are some folky fiddles, some excellent picking and amazing solo violin. Fatal Shore has great vocal harmonies by Nora O' Connor. In the long, over eight minute ballad, Hole in the Ocean Floor, Andrew Bird gets to really show off the full range of his skills. The song might not be that exciting, but the violin sequences are quite amazing. The album ends with chiming bells in aptly named song Belles.

Music video for Give It Away shows 60's-style and very American children's party scenes with a  scary clown. The children are quite excited about him though. In the end the clown turns out to be a human piñata that breaks apart spilling candy everywhere. The kids return the candy to the clown's chest and resurrect him.

I really like Andrew Bird for having such an original sound that's so recognisable. More musicians should explore the use of instruments and sounds that would set them better apart from other musicians.

Listen to the album on Spotify.